chicago.

if you ever go to cha in chicago, you absolutely have to spend an extra day here to explore the city.
and if you never plan to go to cha, i would suggest planning a trip to chicago if you enjoy visiting large cities.
seriously. i had such a good time today exploring. it was my favorite day of the whole trip!

it was raining this morning when i wanted to head out around 8:30, so i had to buy an umbrella in order to walk to the train station. after about a half hour train ride, i arrived at my chosen stop downtown.
chicago is so beautiful.
as soon as i came up from the train stop, i was just in love.

i walked so much today that my heels started to bleed. that part didn't hurt too badly, but my feet are in serious pain. i can't feel my right big toe still. ack! well. i changed my outfit at the last minute this morning, which required a change to the less practical walking shoes. i was fully aware of what i was doing to myself, but i did it anyway. that's just how i am sometimes. [plus the "walking" shoes that i brought along are coach and they definitely would have been ruined by walking through all the water this morning and today. so i'm glad i changed out of them, even if i did have to buy band aids. ha.]

i will post my photos when i get back home. i've uploaded them, but i took so many that iPhoto seems to be overloaded. it's running really slowly, and i'm too tired to struggle with it tonight.

even though i started my packing last night, i still have a ton to pack. and it's going to require big time effort to make everything fit. i think i'll blow dry my hair [i jumped in the shower 30 seconds after i got back to my room because i knew that the pain in my feet probably won't allow for a shower later] and go grab some tea in the little coffee place. hopefully it will wake me up enough to pack. my eyes getting heavy.

be ready for a big photo post soon. seriously. i took so many photos. :]