I have now ordered a Padres shirt with Darvish’s name and number on it. 
God, it would be amazing if he’s the pitcher that day.
Getting close now - my train departs two weeks from Friday. Reservations for CP&OGC opened up and filled quickly, but I was able to get one for Wednesday afternoon before the game. (Hopefully 2 hours will be enough time to eat and get to the stadium - looks like it’s only a 15-minute bus ride between the two places.)
For a post-game meal I’m considering this place just down the street that specializes in Pittsburgh-style hot sandwiches a la Primanti’s - and since I’ll probably never go to Pittsburgh, this seems like my best chance to try one of those kind of sandwiches. Anybody eaten there who can testify as to whether it’s worth it?
I’ve never been to Chicago but I live in Pittsburgh and have eaten my share of Primanti’s sandwiches. The photo on Lucky’s website looks exactly like a Primanti’s sandwich - I hope it tastes the same!
Heh. I did that boat tour just a couple weeks ago and the docent pointedly avoided mentioning the building that has TRUMP in twenty-foot high gold letters on the facade. But you do get a direct view.
It’s probably up to the docent. On my tour he said that he was not going to say the name, and that if you wanted to know it was on giant letters on the front of the building.
The EB doesn’t have wifi, but the last time I went I had no trouble getting a signal sufficient to use my phone as a hotspot for my laptop (AT&T, FWIW). I also took along a handheld scanner so I could listen to the train crew talking with the dispatchers, which was oddly entertaining in its own way.
Second the recommendation for a power strip. I carry a footlong with a three-outlet cube that takes care of my needs.
Can’t really add much to what’s been posted about the city itself, except to echo the sentiment preferring the Hancock Tower to Sears/Willis: didn’t have much trouble getting into either one, but the fact that I had to run a gamut of gift shops on my way out of the latter was quite off-putting. Not sure whether the Navy Pier was mentioned (I’ve kind of skimmed), but I found it almost a quintessential tourist trap. And the chizbooger I had at the Billy Goat was on the “meh” side. (Well, I did make it a point to visit what was then the Chicago Fire Training Academy at 558 W De Koven, but that was because in 1871 a same-last-name-but-not-direct-relative lived at the site.)
I’ve got a power strip for the train, which departs a week from today. I also picked up some shower sandals at the recommendation of the Amtrak subreddit, and I’ll be stashing some Fireball minis in my carryon so I can have a few after-dinner drinks onboard.
I may yet try to fit the Hancock in if time permits, but I’ve already got Willis booked and I have a lot of stuff planned. In retrospect maybe I should’ve booked five nights instead of four, but nobody says this has to be the only time I’ll ever visit.
Looking at the early forecasts, it sounds like the weather is gonna be about the same as it is here - cool and drizzly. I think I’ll pack my trenchcoat and hat and a small umbrella.
I have discovered that Lou Mitchell’s is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so I’ll have to fit them in on Wednesday morning before the Field Museum, but I think I’ve got my schedule about set.
And I’m underway! My train departed Seattle (on time, even!) about half an hour ago and I’ve just ordered a surf & turf dinner to be brought to my cabin in about 2 hours. The roomette is very comfy and I think I’ll be able to get some good sleep in in here. It’d be pretty cramped if I was riding with someone else, but since it’s just me in here i get to stretch out as I like.
If all goes swimmingly I’ll be in Chicago a little under 48 hours from now.
I’m jealous. That sounds like heaven.
Didn’t get much sleep last night, but I enjoyed lying in my little bed being rocked back and forth. Just got out of Glacier National Park, with some amazing snow-capped scenery, including the obelisk at the Continental Divide and, back in the Cascades last night, a BNSF utility shack strangely labeled “SCENIC SHED” in big letters on the door.
I believe we’re about to be entering the big flat part of the country where nobody lives except varmints and Trump voters.
Looking West and Looking East (from TrainWeb’s page on the Browning MT station) provide a pretty good contrast between where you’ve come from and where you’re going to.
Today was a long day of staring out the window at endless fields of brown grass and barren trees, slowly thawing frozen lakes, dirt roads, abandoned decaying farm houses, small towns who primary exports I assume are meth and clinical depression, occasional gatherings of cows and horses, and one deer sprinting along the banks of the Missouri River.
Somehow we pulled into Minot, ND an hour ahead of schedule and we’re holding for an hour and a half until the scheduled departure. If this run of good luck continues into tomorrow it’ll be the first time I’ve EVER taken an Amtrak that arrived on time.
17 hours to Chicago!
It’s desolate , but soothing.
Post some photos, if you can. I’m sort of following this thread and am interested in reading your observations.
We survived the Big Flat. I spent most of the morning lying in bed while Minnesota rolled by and we’re in Wisconsin now, still on time.
One thing I’d do differently if I take a long distance train again is bring a small fan. These rooms get WARM even with the cool air on and it being sub-freezing outside.
I think I’m gonna have a light lunch so I have room for Giordano’s in about 5-6 hours.
Oh my stars and garters, we’ve arrived on time!
Time to claim my baggage, check in, acquire beverages, get my hands on some pizza, and properly take a hot shower and get a good night’s sleep after two days in this swaying metal tube.
Welcome to Chi-town! The way you planned your visit, it sounds like you can’t miss. Enjoy!
Pizza acquired!
$40 for a “medium” with three toppings, but I’ll definitely get three meals out of this. Definitely good stuff, though now that I’ve had the real thing, I’d say my homemade deep dish is a fairly good imitation.
Seems like most stores in the Loop are closed on Sundays, but I was able to acquire some local hard cider, which had me pleasantly surprised - I didn’t know if that trend had made it to Chicago.
Gonna chill in my room for tonight and rest up for a day of sightseeing and food tomorrow.
Sorry the weather turned a little ‘wintry’ on you.