So seeing as how I am most active on my Instagram account, I made it public so that you can all see the pictures of my travels (I haven't posted pictures/albums directly to Facebook in years).
Instagram --> @roberto_evans_sip
SnapChat --> @Roberto_evans
I will be adding links to my photobucket or google drive to see all the pictures I've taken on my trips in the next post.
I'm hoping to write once a week but will be posting more pictures via Instagram/SnapChat/Facebook. This post will just be about the first day in Chicago.
I arrived Tuesday 08/12 and went straight to the hostel. Here I met a Brazilian named Felipe that I ended up exploring the city with during my stay. That evening we met up with a couch surfing host, Mark, who drove us around the city to give us a quick tour. The following pictures were some of the places that he drove us around to.
Chicago Theatre at night downtown (ask me about the history!)
Stepping on the grounds of Chicago University, about to enter Arley D Cathey Learning Center
Another side.
Inside the Library with Felipe.
---
Next are a couple views where Mark drove us of the skyline from the south side.
After that we went to a Blues bar. Another place I would recommend going. 2 things that made this place unique: 1) Kingston Mines has two sides with two bars and two stages so while one live band is playing, another one sets up on the other side, and 2) live music plays until around the bar closes 3:30-4:00AM. I mean how GREAT is that??
Ronnie Hicks Band on one side...
...and Mike Wheeler Band on the other side
Black santa has got some game
Kingston Mines was our last stop of the night and we ended up leaving around 3:00 and stayed the night in Ravenswood, a neighborhood north of downtown Chicago.
So the hostel (Freehand): Very nice but not my style and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who is traveling alone that wants to not only get out but meet lots of unique interesting people, like me. If you're looking first for more of a cheap hotel with a good bar and food options then is for you. This was The Freehand located in downtown Chicago. Nice place, good location but I've learned that not all the action is downtown. The hostel offered cheap shared dorms at $32/night up to private king suites $150+/night. Anyone else I talked to was during breakfast and half came alone or in groups.
The people at Freehand: 24-hour desk staffed with very knowledgeable employees that do their best to answer your questions help you whether you need to get a taxi, find the best margaritas, or just find a food view of the skyline.
As for the residents, only spoke to a couple but were nice. Can't really say too much about the people that stay there.
So that's all for the first day. Tomorrow I'll post about Thursday (10/12) and Friday (11/12) when I decided to switch hostels.
Until then!
So the hostel (Freehand): Very nice but not my style and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who is traveling alone that wants to not only get out but meet lots of unique interesting people, like me. If you're looking first for more of a cheap hotel with a good bar and food options then is for you. This was The Freehand located in downtown Chicago. Nice place, good location but I've learned that not all the action is downtown. The hostel offered cheap shared dorms at $32/night up to private king suites $150+/night. Anyone else I talked to was during breakfast and half came alone or in groups.
The people at Freehand: 24-hour desk staffed with very knowledgeable employees that do their best to answer your questions help you whether you need to get a taxi, find the best margaritas, or just find a food view of the skyline.
As for the residents, only spoke to a couple but were nice. Can't really say too much about the people that stay there.
So that's all for the first day. Tomorrow I'll post about Thursday (10/12) and Friday (11/12) when I decided to switch hostels.
Until then!
No comments:
Post a Comment