Chicago

Oh my God are there a lot of tourists here! Why? I like Chicago. Been here several times in circumstances ranging from major business conventions to getting off a train after a 12-hour delayed 48 hour trip from Montana and a few more normal occasions, and I've always enjoyed myself. But a tourist mecca? Maybe for people from Gary, Indiana, but international? Cosmopolitan? I never would have figured it.

But why not. It has the best architecture of any city in the United States and there isn't even a close second. In the downtown area, any time you look up there's a treat. Art Deco, Romantic, Modern and Post-Modern. Turn of the 20th century buildings paying homage to the great edifices of Europe and turn of the 21st century buildings paying homage to them in turn. On one corner there's a building with real flying buttresses 40 stories up and across the street a modern skyscraper with rectangular structures on the setback to give a respectful nod to it.

It has good pizza too. And lots of stuff to do and great restaurants and a big honkin' lake.

More details tomorrow.