I can probably use the word record, without any addition or beautification, just completely true content and stories, recording our five-day trip to Chicago and recording all kinds of stories and accidents of young people in the dragon boat team. They have the recklessness and carelessness of young people, but it does not affect that they are young elites. They work harder and make continuous progress, their experiences are enviable, and their lives are more fulfilling and wonderful.
? City Impression
I had no impression of Chicago before I came here. I wonder what kind of city it is. On my first day in Chicago, I borrowed my dragon boat teammates to drive and took us across the city. It is found that the city is characterized by straight roads and tall buildings on both sides. Too much reinforced concrete is a bit depressing, which is unsightly and unfavorable for people who have escaped from cities like Shanghai. I haven't begun to understand that Chicago has begun to miss the quietness of Boston and the smell of grass as soon as I go out.
Chicago is a midwestern city and the third largest city in the United States. Same latitude as Boston, the distance is about 1400 km, and the time difference is one hour. In my impression, Chicago is synonymous with cold, but its summer is our dream. The highest temperature is only 30 degrees, and the lowest temperature is about 18/9 degrees. This weather is good for tourists. The sky is blue, the temperature is right, and the ultraviolet rays don't seem so strong. What Asians fear most is tanning, and hats are necessary, but occasionally taking off your hat here won't make you feel particularly sunburned.
? Dragon Boat Racing
June-September is the dragon boat race season in all parts of North America. From east to west, from the United States to Canada, there is a game every few weeks. Dragon boat originated from Chinese, but it is no longer an exclusive sport for Chinese in North America. More and more foreigners are involved, and many 40/50 women are also involved. There is even a team of cancer patients' organizations. Dragon boat race is not only a physical exercise, but also a social platform.
The Chicago Dragon Boat Race was held in a park not far from the airport, and the hotel for the first two days was set near the competition site. Last time I went to Montreal, Canada, I played for two days. I also watched the game for two days stupidly, leaving little time for travel. This time, more than one day. I just came to the park to take oxygen for leisure and watch the game.
In addition to competitions, many weekends in the park are family outings. Several people in a family can bring a pet dog, a tent or a blanket on the grass, and a simple hot dog or sandwich can solve lunch. In the shade of the tree, the wind is a little strong, it will be a little cold when you fall asleep, and the sun will not feel too hot. Children bask in the sun on the grass, chase each other and play with pets, while the old man lies or sits quietly, reading all morning. Perhaps this is part of American holiday life, simple and natural, and you can enjoy a relaxed life all day without spending money.
I have seen several dragon boat races, and there are dozens of teams in each race. People come and go, and the tents built are all open, which plays a role in sun protection. After the game, everyone will rest in the tent. Young people are very casual and like to take things out and put them on the ground. Things are always scattered throughout the tent. As soon as the game time came, people ran away, as if completely worried that things would be taken away.
Miss Linlin is a beautiful girl. Although she is over 30, she can't tell her age at all. She has a soft voice and a good temper. I thought she was the kind of girl who would take care of things. When I was playing in Boston, I saw her cell phone on the ground and rushed to the game site. My nosy heart ran out and I was afraid to leave the tent for fear of being snatched away. In this competition, the girl dropped her mobile phone with one stroke. The tent is very big, and it is surrounded by open air. People coming and going want to cut corners and go straight through the tent. I was worried about her mobile phone, so I had to get close to it for fear that someone might accidentally take it away. There is even an Apple laptop next to the phone. I don't know whose it is. Are they really not afraid of losing things?
I had a bitter experience, and I don't believe that no one stole it. I would rather believe than not believe. I'm curious that Linlin won't lose her mobile phone, but Linlin told me frankly that she didn't lose her mobile phone, just her computer … I'm speechless …
Taking part in the competition is serious, and ranking is secondary. The contestants in this competition are so strong that those who compete for the championship in Boston dare not expect their own achievements. It doesn't matter to me whether my grades are good or not. I hope they finish early and help themselves to lunch. We are going to Michelin restaurant for a big meal, and we should have a good time.
? Urban cycling
Every city has its own unique scenery, and Chicago is no exception. People who are used to seeing the West Lake and Yangcheng Lake in China have a marginal impression of the lake. People always want to keep some hairy crabs in the lake or carve a place to get some fish and shrimp. The top floor is the West Lake, with pavilions and broken bridges and snow.
Lake Michigan broadens people's view of the sea, and the shore is completely open. You can sit down like a swimming pool and put your feet in the lake. You can stare blankly at the lake with nothing to do, watch someone swimming in the lake, watch someone playing kayak, the lake is endless, and the clear water and blue waves beat against the shore. You should be careful, occasionally a wave may wet your whole body.
Cycling by the lake is an item of Chicago tourism. When I went to the bicycle rental station downtown, I found it expensive to rent a bicycle. An ordinary bicycle per hour 17.5 yuan, two hours is about 25 yuan. The longer the time, the cheaper it is. If an advanced bicycle starts, it costs more than 30 yuan an hour. Parking in the city center is expensive, and there is no hourly charge. Drive in and ask for 30 yuan. Small basin friends also think it is a bit expensive. They simply rented bicycles for four hours, thinking about diluting the hourly parking fee. Young people can't live, and they don't think it costs 30 yuan for five people to rent a car for an extra hour. Suddenly I miss our bike very much, it is almost free, and I often dislike and spit.
There are many cyclists like us by the lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery while riding. Lily is a music lover and takes a small speaker with her wherever she goes. Taylor Swift's Gorgeous is her favorite, with a loud voice. The music from the wind changed a little, but it didn't affect everyone's interest in cycling at all. With the rhythm of the music, I can hardly keep up with their speed.
Lawyer Zhang is a standard elite male, under 30 years old. Hangzhou people entered the Beijing National People's Congress in the college entrance examination and continued their studies in the United States. Now I work in a well-known law firm. When chatting, I learned that his lawyer's fee is now 620 yuan per hour. It's not easy to ask him about his monthly income, but judging from his hotel and the way he spends money, he has a strong ability to make money. He seldom comes out and has the opportunity to spend money. He doesn't want the best, he wants the most expensive and chooses the most expensive car. Out of the car rental agency, he turned and rode in the street. He rode the most proudly in front, and he could ride along the shore of the lake after crossing the road. I saw him get on his bike and go with the wind, but he stopped about 100 meters away from me in 5 minutes, playing with his bike from side to side. Everyone thinks he rides too fast, afraid that he can't keep up. In the past, it turned out that his car chain was broken.
Huantan
Chicago is the midwest of the United States and belongs to the inland. People's yearning for the sea can be seen from the artificial beach. There are some small artificial beaches along the lakeside avenue. You can lie in the sun with a big bath towel for free.
While Mr. Zhang tried to change bicycles, we pretended to go to the seaside for a holiday and bask in the sun. Lily sat quietly on the beach in a daze according to the luggage prepared for going to the beach, and Taylor Swift's songs continued to play in the small stereo. I feel the seaside ...
? Fengcheng gourmet
Deep-dish pizza is Chicago's food business card. What is the difference between it and those enchanting pizzas outside? Some Americans describe it as like putting cheese in a swimming pool. Although calories are evil, the satisfaction they bring is irreplaceable.
Obviously, wait without an appointment. American restaurants probably often do this and engage in hunger marketing. When we arrived at the restaurant, it was past the normal meal time. I heard that we don't have an appointment. The receptionist said we had to wait for 20 minutes. We rode our bikes for two hours and drove for another hour. At this time, the young man's stomach was hollowed out, and waiting for two minutes was torture. Call another store 10 minutes' drive and answer that you don't have to wait for a seat. When I turned to leave, the front desk quickly stopped us and said to confirm whether there were any seats. Sure enough, there is one, and it is not the position where a customer just left.
All five people are dizzy with hunger. There is no need to discuss what pizza to eat. It's good to decide alone. I don't understand or understand anyway. I can eat anything I order. In a short time, two oversized pizzas were pushed over, mixed with the milk smell of ketchup. Everyone opened their mouths and their eyes were on the pizza tray.
? Jiang jingyou?
Chicago original architectural tour? It is a water tour project that can quickly visit famous buildings in Chicago. Chicago River is a tributary of Lake Michigan, similar to our Suzhou River, but different from Suzhou River, there are high-rise buildings on both sides of the river, and the buildings have their own characteristics, which are spectacular and unique. The cruise ship departs from the Navy Pier, with a journey of 75 minutes. A commentator tried to introduce the architectural stories on both sides, but I couldn't understand them at all.
? Night drunken bar
The night in Chicago is lively, and blues and jazz are its most vivid business cards. Follow the young people to Chicago to enjoy the best house at night in London. Lawyer Zhang made an appointment in advance, so we don't have to wait in line downstairs. He is still very rich, and generously ordered a bottle of champagne and a fresh oyster for everyone. I am a conservative person, neither drinking nor eating oysters. Just drink orange juice. I just want to enjoy the night view of Chicago.
There seem to be many seats left in the bar. Most people prefer to run to the top floor with wine glasses to drink and chat. This is a social place for fashionable young people. When chatting with friends, I occasionally take a sip, mainly for chatting, and drinking is a foil. It is almost impossible to find a place where you can enjoy the night view on a crowded terrace. The Trump Tower opposite the outdoor is close at hand. I bored to count how many floors there are in the parking lot, and actually stopped at 1- 10. Domineering!
Chicago is a big city, as can be seen from its nightlife. There are all kinds of luxury car beauties at night, accompanied by elegant and deep jazz blues. They dressed up, accompanied by tall, powerful and domineering figures. By contrast, Boston is a country.
? highway
Nightlife is definitely not a big city if there are only bars. Big cities are a paradise for young people, and discos are places that young people, especially those from rural areas, want to try. At my age, going in is death. The sound inside can break my heart and deaf my ears.
Lily followed me back to the hotel, and lawyer Zhang didn't want to play anymore. It was night 12, and it took 40 minutes to get back to the hotel by car. At midnight, there are still many cars on the Chicago road. Expressway at night is much better than during the day, but there are still many cars. Lily drives carefully, and Taylor Swift's songs are still playing in the car to keep her from dozing off.
I was nervous when she was driving. There seems to be a brake under her right foot. I can help her at any time, staring straight ahead without blinking. Suddenly I heard a whoop on the way ~ ~ A black motorcycle? Flying by, whistling away in the next lane, in an S-shape, constantly shuttling in the driveway in front of us, the speed will soon become a black spot and disappear into the front line of sight. If you think that only one person is not afraid of death and goes home at night, it is wrong. Then there are motorcycles whistling around us. They overtook every car at an extremely fast speed, and even a motorcycle lifted its front wheel and flew by like a show. What I saw was that they were dumbfounded and shorted out. They are really not afraid of death, and they are not afraid of other people's death. Maybe this is the stimulus they seek, and maybe our fear is their stimulus.
? Meet a thief
The scene of high-speed fright passed quickly, and what was even more frightening was a group of young people who went to disco. They are not satisfied with just listening to music with a glass of wine and enjoying the night scene quietly, but need to move and release young hormones. A group of young people from China walked into a nightclub. They didn't know what was waiting for them next.
The clothes you wear in the nightclub are exquisite. Tim is a young man from Shandong. He works as a programmer in a furniture company and is used to wearing casual clothes. He wears a pair of slippers to hang out. I thought it would be okay at night, but Americans are so rigid that they won't let in, which puts Tim in a dilemma. It's not cheap for a person to go back to Uber. He can't get in without going back. Final decision, wait!
Everyone in the nightclub will drink some wine to make themselves excited, let their bodies dance with deafening music, forget themselves and clear their minds, only music and dancing bodies. But you can forget not only yourself, but also your valuables. Playing too high, only two people found their wallets stolen. After the excitement, it is a painful blow.
Frank is a young man from Taiwan Province Province. He is small and dark. I met him several times and played badminton together. He plays badminton like a professional player. Spike can provoke 1 meter, which is particularly handsome. Frank sat next to me for dinner. He deeply remembered his wallet. Gucci's big wallet logo is very conspicuous. Maybe it was his gorgeous wallet that made the cat smell the fish. Six credit cards, 2000 yuan in cash, check 1, and all passports were stolen. I'm not familiar with another girl who was stolen. Her bank card and passport were stolen, and there seems to be no cash. Only call the police!
A group of young people came to Chicago mainly for the dragon boat race, and they had a good time after the race. They didn't expect such an encounter. At about three o'clock in the morning, the young people were exhausted. Since they called the police, they had to follow them to the police station to make a record.
It takes a lot of time to report a case to the police. Although a group of young people are sleepy and confused, no one wants to go back to the hotel first. Even Linlin, wearing high heels, still gritted his teeth. It is suggested that we go to Lake Michigan to watch the sunrise later, but it seems that everyone has found the excitement again. Looking at the slow police, they were in a hurry. It's past four in the morning. If we slow down, we will miss the sunrise. Someone quickly communicated with the police and told them to hurry up. It's too late for them to watch the sunrise. The police are speechless ... son, you still have the heart to watch the sunrise. Have you considered the feelings of those two people who lost their wallets? ...
It is worthwhile for them to stay up late. They saw a different scenery from the sunrise at sea, and the photos they took were enough to comfort their sleepless hearts.
? Sunrise in the morning
I was surprised by their experience and curious about the spectacular sunrise lake. I have seen the amazing sunrise on the sea, and I don't know what the sunrise on the lake is like. I heard that the lake was pink at sunrise, which tempted Lily and me to get up early.
After the dragon boat race, we moved to a hotel downtown, about 5 minutes away from Lake Michigan. Set the alarm clock, jump up and go straight to the lake without washing your face or brushing your teeth. Walking fast all the way, imagining the scenery of pink pictures at sunrise.
I thought I could watch the sunrise by the lake, but I didn't realize that the sunrise is in the east until I got to the lake. We need the lake facing east to have a chance to see it. But I ignored this truth without common sense. When I came to the lake, the Navy Pier was nearby, blocking the view from the east. If I want to go to the innermost part of the pier, I will definitely miss the sunrise, and I will miss it if I stay where I am.
It is for this moment that we got up early in the morning and were delayed by ignorance. Looking at the faint red sun in the east, the sky was gradually illuminated by the rising sun, and the sense of drowsiness disappeared when I got up, but it was really too early, so I went back to sleep.
? Du You Zhicheng
It is better to get up in the morning and watch the sunrise before going to bed than to feel refreshed until dawn. Today is Monday. Lily will go to work for the Chicago company. When I woke up, Lily had gone to work. I have to arrange how to play this day. People are still a little confused, but I can't sleep anymore, wasting time. Living in the city center, you can visit all the scenic spots on Michigan Avenue with your feet without driving out.
The night view of Chicago is very charming. If you carefully taste Chicago in the sun, you can have many different feelings. 187 1 year, a fire destroyed most of the buildings in the city and brought the city back to life. Skyscrapers draw a magnificent skyline, and landmark sculptures and world-class museums in the city attract tourists from all over the world to punch in.
I don't know anything about architecture, and I have no right to evaluate it. What I can notice is the unconventional and unusual style. Pier city is that kind of interesting building. Two thick corn cobs go straight into the sky and look like two corn cobs. They are not as heroic as the Trump Tower next to them, and even seem a bit rustic, just like a rich man in fashion standing next to two stout farmers. I passed this building the day before yesterday when I was on a cruise ship. Commentators say this building is the object of ridicule by many people. I don't know why this design scheme passed, and there are many problems after use.
I'm also curious about the appearance of this building and the design of his parking lot. I don't know how many floors there are in the underground parking lot. In the dozens of hollowed-out parking lots, all the cars are facing outwards, and there is no low wall cut outside. It seems that it was blocked with only a few thick steel bars. I can't imagine whether the parking people are worried, but when I look out, I always think, what should I do if I meet those people who mistakenly use the accelerator as a brake? I don't know if there was an accident.
Chicago is the capital of architecture. Walking along Michigan Avenue towards Chicago River is like browsing a huge architectural museum. Modern architecture demands simplicity, while old buildings pursue complex and gorgeous decorative styles.
There are many suspension bridges on the Chicago River, all of which are steel structures. It used to be hoisted to let big ships pass, but now it is not needed.
Standing on the bridge, you should stop and look at all kinds of pedestrians passing by. You can also look at the Chicago River and buildings on both sides, as well as cruise ships passing by the river. Many people on the bridge will wave to the tourists on board in a friendly way.
There can be different scenic spots along the way. You can't miss the beans in Millennium Park. You can't take pictures alone. You choose to sit down and rest, look at the tourists around the beans and look at the buildings reflected on the metal surface of the beans. Nothing is absolutely special, probably because I don't appreciate them and don't understand what the designer wants to express.
Only when architecture has the soul of art can people admire it, and only when art has accumulated time can people follow it. There is an art and humanities channel in Shanghai, which introduces famous European oil paintings. Every painting will explain the story behind it, and it is even more desirable to see the original after the explanation.
The Chicago Museum of Art is near Millennium Park. There are many classic works here. Although it doesn't feel like it can be compared with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, there is a classic I like.
I went to "Sunday afternoon in Big Bowl Island", which is a canvas oil painting created by georges seurat. Different from oil painting techniques, this painting mainly adopts the method of stippling, and the picture is quiet and harmonious. This painting was exhibited on 1886, bought by a rich American and donated to the museum. It was almost destroyed by the museum fire and was rescued. Now it is collected here to attract people to watch. I think this painting is as important to the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts as Mona Lisa's smile is to the Louvre.
Some people say that I have never been to the Chicago Art Museum, just as I have never been to Chicago. I don't see what's so great about a person who knows little about history and culture. Only when you know a little about oil painting because you often watch TV introductions will you have a sense of accomplishment when you see the real thing. Tickets are not expensive, 25 dollars. Quite a few people visited the museum on Monday. When buying tickets, a pair of China and his son looked like mainlanders and looked very artistic. They whispered to each other as if to borrow a translation machine. I guess people really learned, so I got mixed up with ink.
? Navy Pier
As can be seen from its name, it used to be a military dock and now it has become an important tourist base in Chicago. Ships visiting the river view and lakes in the city center stop here. There are many restaurants near the pier, and there are people outside in the weather with suitable temperature. There is a children's museum and a children's playground next to it. There are many children on the road, which is very lively. I guess all the tourists who come here are tourists, so are we.
There is a band performance by the pier, which attracts many tourists. Foreigners are more open-minded and dance to the music regardless of other people's eyes. Strong music makes the wind blow rhythmically from the lake, strolling in the navy pier and walking to an empty place nearest to the lake, where there are some chairs to lie down. Lying with lily for a while, watching the quiet lake and sunset, I didn't realize that this was the best place to watch the sunrise.
Random thoughts?
The journey is very special, and there are stories worth recording and sharing. Traveling with young people and chatting with young people can make me young and know their true thoughts on life. Admiration aside, it is a pity that most children have independent American ideas after their parents have trained their children to be excellent children from other families, and their first appeal is to protect their own space. Some didn't even realize the successful education of tiger parents in those days, but increased the distance between them when they grew up, while their parents were still in the dark.
As parents, we gradually feel that it is not the distance but the heart that is far away from our children. Our hearts are like grass trampled by thousands of troops and horses, and it takes a long time to repair.
The purpose of traveling is not to see many scenery and buy many souvenirs; If you can make yourself feel better and have more hope for the future, it will be the most unforgettable trip. ...
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