We met up with a friend who wanted to check out the Pompeii exhibit in the Museum of Science and Industry. She picked us up and drove there and told us about different sights on the way. I think that is the best way to see a place, through the eyes of someone that lives there, but it’s not always an option. We bought our tickets online. The one thing I did not like about this museum is that everything had a separate ticket price. You needed to pay for entrance and then any extra exhibit you wanted to see. It would add up to a pretty pricy day for a family.

The Pompeii exhibit was really cool. There were a lot of items that had never left Italy. Jef and I have been to Pompeii, but we learned a lot about their society and exactly what happened during the eruption. It was fascinating. I think the cool thing about learning about the past is that it is very similar to today. They had tools and cookware like us and also enjoyed showing off their wealth. There was even a section about graffiti during their time. My favorite part was the bodies. These are not actually the bodies, but the space that was left from where they turned to ash. The one above is special though because it still has part of the skull and teeth. I’m not sure how it survived. The picture below is of a guard dog. He was still on duty during the eruption.

We wandered around the museum a bit, checking out some of the Bodies exhibit as well as Tesla’s coil. There were a lot of school groups exploring the museum as well. We wanted to check out the submarine (yes, the entire thing is in the basement), but it was at an extra cost and my friend is claustrophobic.

We had a lovely time at the museum, but I think it’s even better if you have children with you. After returning to the hotel, we got ready for a fancy dinner out at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse. It’s one of the few steakhouses that actually serve you a substantial salad before your meal. The steak was well seasoned and we really enjoyed ourselves. After dinner we decided to walk back to our hotel down The Magnificent Mile. We only went into one store to browse, but it was also fun to window shop and people watch.

The next morning, we went to the Art Institute of Chicago. They had a special exhibit on Dali and we made sure to get timed tickets for it. We arrived at the museum before it opened, so we waited in line. You are not allowed to bring in a backpack, so we dropped it off at the coat check. We went straight to the Dali exhibit and it was mobbed. It was two small rooms, but it had some of my favorite pieces and ones that I taught to my students.

We went upstairs and checked out some modern art, which can be hit or miss in terms of whether I like it (or think it’s actually art). They had one of my favorite Rene Marguerite paintings. This is not a pipe is the translation to English. Get it? (It’s a painting of a pipe.)

There were plenty of Picasso paintings. My favorite from his blue period is the first picture on this post, “The Old Guitarist”. After lunch, we wandered through Impressionism and other European works. My grandmother taught me a lot about art as a child and therefore I have a love of various artists including Renoir, Monet, O’Keefe, Van Gogh, Dali, Picasso, etc. These are some of my favorite paintings that we saw for various reasons. The sky of O’Keefe I saw as a child at the National Gallery. I never forgot the size of that painting and the wonder it gave me as a ten year old.

The Art Institute is massive. We did not get to see everything, but most of what we wanted to see. They have maps with highlights so you can visit the most important pieces. I really enjoyed this museum. It has an amazing variety of art.

That evening we met up with a friend who was attending the conference at the hotel. It was quite a coincidence since we have not seen each other in several years. We walked to dinner at Volare, an Italian restaurant recommended to me by a friend who used to live in the city. My friend and I both had risottos, which were delicious and plentiful. My husband enjoyed his chicken parmigiana as well.

Our last day was spent visiting my friends at their condo outside of the city. It has a lovely view of the lake. I really enjoyed Chicago. I found it to be less hustle and bustle of NYC (although the weekend was a little more busy) as well as cleaner and not as loud (if that makes sense). I loved the architecture, the L train, and the cool places we visited. It was a successful trip and I would love to go back.