6/13/2011
I left the Baron home pretty early in the morning. My body felt great. It was ready to conquer another milestone on this quest. Bridgeview is considered a village like many of the small towns in Illinois yet it’s proximity to the city gave it a bigger feel.
As I approached the city, I began to take notice of the surroundings in the various neighborhoods. I watched the names change from Polish,to Italian, to Korean, to Mexican. I loved the way each barrio had it’s own distinct smell. They are the scents of culture, heritage, and of course food. It all combines together to create an aromatic representation of a place. Im not sure if having so much alone time is sharpening my sences but, just smelling a certain brand of Mexican soap transported me to the age of thirteen when I lived on the border of Arizona and Mexico. The beauty of this journey is certainly in the details. And the thing is, no matter how much I write, I will never be able to capture the tiniest details.
As the skyscrapers began to sprout and the people became busier, I knew I had arrived. Hello Chicago. One thing I will say for this city, is that it has essence of a metropolis like New York without the New York attitude yet it isn’t over the top casual like Los Angeles. It strikes a nice balance between the two.
I hit the end of Route 66 around 1:30. It was a street sign like all the other route 66 street signs. The only exception was that it had the word end written above it. The official end (or start depending on your point of view) of route 66 sits on the corner of Jackson and Michigan street. In spite of the humble nature of the setting, the moment was huge for me. I grabbed a few pictures and met up with JC. He had been preparing for my arrival to Chicago. We toured the city and I took many more pictures. I hope I can catch some of the old gangster hangouts. Perhaps I can even catch the ghost of Al Capone somewhere. One interesting thing I learned on America’s highway was that after the interstate system was erected, these old gangsters continued to use the old roads to transport bootlegged moonshine. I love it.
JC informed me that I have an appointment at the Shriner’s Hospital tomorrow at noon time. We headed back to his place which has an amazing view overlooking Lake Michigan. I dozed off in the tranquil setting. It’s been so long since I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon nap. I had almost forgotten how good they feel. The rest of the day would be pretty lazy. Energy will most certainly be needed at the Shriner’s hospital tomorrow. 
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