Two for the Road

It’s not as windy as you think, but it blew us away (get ready for more of this calibre of pun).

Compared to other American cities we’ve visited, the clean streets and gorgeous architecture were truly a sight to behold. We stayed in the Omni Hotel, just around the corner from the Magnificent Mile. The world’s largest Starbucks was a block away. In typical snooty British tourist fashion, we were sceptical of this as a must-see destination. But there’s not many similar retail coffee chains where you can enjoy an espresso martini on their outdoor roof terrace.

See for yourself in the below video. Yes, we have a YouTube channel now. Don’t forget to like and subscribe and all that jazz (we reserve the right to place VPN ads in later posts).

Breathtaking sights included the Willis Tower (which, in his standard and very cultured way, Matt had first heard of in an episode of Kenan and Kel), the Chicago Opera House, Trump Tower (the name on the building is bigger than our house) and several skyscrapers belonging to financial services business so large they make Canary Wharf look like a new-build estate.

Iris enjoyed some quintessential Chicago cuisine – Garrett’s popcorn. Cheddar cheese-flavoured popcorn mixed with caramel popcorn? Never change, America. You should have seen how bright yellow the residue was on our fingers after eating this delicacy. Not even the owner of Trump Tower’s fake tan was that bright.

Finally, you may be wondering why there are several pictures of us next to a big shiny bean. It’s an art installation called ‘Cloud Gate’ but Chicago locals lovingly refer to it as ‘The Bean’. It’s quite impressive as you approach it, and at night the city lights mean the reflective surface provides one hell of a light show.