Boat Ride 1
Every conference has to have its element of fun. Li Mei and I decided to take a tour of Chicago on one of the two "Seadogs," speedboats that leave from the Navy Pier, travel down a bit of the Chicago River, and then take in the skyline from out in the lake. Here we are about ready to start. You can see what a beautiful day it was.
The Seadog in the background was just like the one we were in. Don't try this kind of ride at home, kids!
This is the view in the other direction. We were just about ready to pull away from the dock. You can see the seat belts that we were required to wear the whole time. That meant that I couldn't stand up for any of the pictures.
Here we are starting down the Chicago River. For those of you who have forgotten, that's the one that runs backward—out of Lake Michigan instead of into it. Each St. Patrick's Day the magical river suddenly turns green.
The next few pictures show something of "Chicago from the river." It's a different perspective that I highly recommend.
No, this is not a commercial message for Sorriso Ristorante/Bar. But it does show a typical new skyscraper, of which Chicago has many. Note the Westin Hotel on the right.
Another glassy modern building. No square offices in this one! Some of the buildings behind us are reflected in the glass.
One of the first things you notice while cruising down the Chicago River is how many bridges there are. In fact, I'd say there is one bridge per main street. Duh!! It's not like New York City, with its 47 bridges (or something like that), for they lead from Manhattan Island to the solid ground around it. The Chicago River cuts right through downtown. Here we are about to cross under the famous Randolph Street.