Behind schedule before we even started . . .

(Sean) Well, our trip didn't get off to the greatest start. After a full 4th of July weekend schedule, we were supposed to board our train for Chicago at 9:40 PM Sunday. Arriving at the station in plenty of time to check in,



we immediately found out the train was 20 minutes delayed. The delay ended up being due to "mechanical problems", extended to 2 hours, and finally we boarded at about 11:30. Unlike an airplane, the train still needs to stop along the way, so there was no "making it up on the trip." We arrived in Chicago, after not a very restful night (hard to sleep in the train chairs), at about 10:45AM.

Grand Hall of Union Station(Slightly different than Syracuse RTC)



("The Untouchables", as well as other films, had scenes filmed here)

The delay meant we would not have a full first day to begin exploring this fabulous city, but at least it enabled us to check in to our hotel soon after 12:00 without having to pay for lockers for our stuff for more than the hour it took us to have breakfast.

View of the Chicago River from our hotel room: