Chicago Travel Writing
Group: Shehani, Mary, Clarissa, Grieselle
Class: Grade 10 D
Subject: English Language Travel Writing Assignment
Chasing Chicago
I remember the cool breeze of the night that greeted me as I stepped out of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. My mind was a melting pot of thoughts and emotions, threatening to bubble over as I take in the overwhelming beauty of the city before me. The problem was that the only planning that went into this spontaneous vacation was: "architecture, pizza and gangsters". And I had no idea how or if I could satisfy the hunger for this city that suddenly encased me. But I thought, for now, getting to my hotel, The Talbott (an incredible place and reasonably priced with an amazing view), and finding a few tours wouldn’t hurt. The next morning I prepared for the city to ravish me. I was lucky to be there in the fall, the gentle wind and tranquil surroundings easily beat the nose-chiselling blasts of icy air in the winter, and the stuffy, over-crowdedness of the summer. I decided the best way to get accustomed to this intriguing city was by exploring a little on my own. Michigan Avenue, an arterial road in downtown Chicago, was bristling with theatres, art galleries, restaurants, museums and an enigmatic metal sculpture by Picasso. Little had I known, the magnificence of the city's diversity, captured me so thoroughly, I had walked face-first into a street artist! The young girl laughed and brushed herself off, as I apologised profusely. She introduced herself as May Cartwright, a Chicago native and offered to take me around the city. Even though my parents taught me never to trust strangers, she seemed quite good natured. May took me around State Street, as the iconic 'CHICAGO' theatre signed beckoned. I paused to take in the five-storey high grand entrance. Gilded embellishments, velvet drapes, Renaissance art and glittering chandeliers, plays up Chicago's flashy, "show-biz" persona.
Class: Grade 10 D
Subject: English Language Travel Writing Assignment
Chasing Chicago
I remember the cool breeze of the night that greeted me as I stepped out of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. My mind was a melting pot of thoughts and emotions, threatening to bubble over as I take in the overwhelming beauty of the city before me. The problem was that the only planning that went into this spontaneous vacation was: "architecture, pizza and gangsters". And I had no idea how or if I could satisfy the hunger for this city that suddenly encased me. But I thought, for now, getting to my hotel, The Talbott (an incredible place and reasonably priced with an amazing view), and finding a few tours wouldn’t hurt. The next morning I prepared for the city to ravish me. I was lucky to be there in the fall, the gentle wind and tranquil surroundings easily beat the nose-chiselling blasts of icy air in the winter, and the stuffy, over-crowdedness of the summer. I decided the best way to get accustomed to this intriguing city was by exploring a little on my own. Michigan Avenue, an arterial road in downtown Chicago, was bristling with theatres, art galleries, restaurants, museums and an enigmatic metal sculpture by Picasso. Little had I known, the magnificence of the city's diversity, captured me so thoroughly, I had walked face-first into a street artist! The young girl laughed and brushed herself off, as I apologised profusely. She introduced herself as May Cartwright, a Chicago native and offered to take me around the city. Even though my parents taught me never to trust strangers, she seemed quite good natured. May took me around State Street, as the iconic 'CHICAGO' theatre signed beckoned. I paused to take in the five-storey high grand entrance. Gilded embellishments, velvet drapes, Renaissance art and glittering chandeliers, plays up Chicago's flashy, "show-biz" persona.