OK. I am about a week late on this, but after a week from hell, I am reliving my trip to Chicago and Wrigley Field.
The way my vacation started, I thought, “Why am I doing this?” My flight out of Reno was suppose to leave at 5:30 a.m., however, someone at Southwest Airlines (and you are fired) forgot to finish the pre-flight check on the engine. How hard can that be? So, we actually did not start boarding the plane until about 6 a.m. I thought to myself, since we are boarding, we must be close to rolling out of the gate to take off. Wrong. We sat on the tarmac for another 45 minutes. This wouldn’t be a problem, but my connecting flight out of Phoenix was leaving at 8:30 a.m.
After a long delay, the plane finally got in the air and to Phoenix. As soon as I walked into the terminal, I hear my name over the speaker system. Yes, Southwest, I know you are looking for me, it’s not my fault. Of course my gate is halfway across the airport and nothing like a short, pudgy Basque running through the airport. I am the last one on the plane (sorry everyone else). So much for that extra fee of early booking. I am in the last row of the plane. I think I could see the front. After the morning I had, I was expecting my luggage to be sitting somewhere between Phoenix and Chicago. But thankfully, it was waiting for me.
Landing in the third-largest city in America was a little intimidating for this Nevada country boy. My eyes widened quite a bit. After a quick stop at the Intercontinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue — which was way out of my league — it was time to get on with the vacation.
As I rolled up on Wrigley Field, I was a little kid in a candy store — or when you are little and wake up on Christmas morning. Out of nowhere, here are a bank of lights and a 100-year old stadium sitting the middle of a residential neighborhood.
I have watched the Cubs since I can remember and have seen the sights around the stadium from TV, but I was finally here. I wasn’t sure what to do first, so I took a lap around the park. Right now, Wrigley is going through a major renovation, which made it a little tougher.
Of course, the tourist I am, I went through all the shops and bars around the area. I could have spent my life savings if I wanted to, but did not. There is Chicago Fire Department Engine 78, across the street on Waveland Avenue.
These days, stadiums are made to be palaces, but remember Wrigley is over 100 years old and there is a charm to it. After going through the gates, you take a short walk up to the field and there it was. It’s hard to explain the feeling I had, looking upon one of the most iconic parks in the world.
I did dish out $114 in two days for two of the best tickets in all of baseball. Hey, it got me on TV a few times. Even once, as I was yawning. That must have been the night the Cubs lost 7-2 to Colorado.
My first game at Wrigley was one of ups and downs. The Cubs held a 7-4 lead, only to blow it in the top of the ninth (they always blow it) as the Rockies scored four runs to lead 8-7. What do all good Cubs fan do? I began to pout of course. However, there was some higher presence that night. With two outs, Cubs rookie Kris Bryant hit a 2-run, walk-off home run to give the Cubs a 9-8 win. Talk about emotions. Going from being grumpy to high fiving and hugging people you don’t even know. That’s the joy of being a Cubs fan.
I had all day to enjoy myself on day two, so I basically did the Ferris Bueller tour. After starting out at the Hard Rock Cafe, it was time for some Chicago style deep-dish pizza. Gino’s East did not disappoint in any way. I just have to remember to get in line earlier. Gino’s East opened at 11 a.m., but people were in line 30 minutes before. I had to remind myself, this is the big city.
After going through every store in the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue, it was off to the Navy Pier. The Navy Pier is iconic in Chicago and is a must see. I did go on a couple cruises (insert single guy jokes here) but it was fun to see the sights from Lake Michigan and the river that runs through Chicago. In addition, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a must see.
After watching the Cubs get their butt kicked, why not finish off the night at Michael Jordan’s restaurant? Sure, a $54 steak sounds good with a beer.
If I am going to Wrigley Field, I need to spend a day in the bleachers. I did that on my final day and still have the peeling skin and sunburn to show for it. My body wasn’t ready for 85 degrees and 75 percent humidity. Ninety percent of the bleachers have been rebuilt this year, but it was neat to sit in them. You hear stories of what goes on in the bleachers and now I can say they are all true. Parents beware, if you don’t want your children to learn some new words in the English dictionary, it might not be the place for you.
It’s fun to see the Cubs winning again and you could definitely see a different vibe throughout the city. The running joke is you go to Wrigley for the party and baseball is second. It is still a party and I am glad I was a part of it, even though it was just a few days. I didn’t want to leave, but I guarantee it will not be another 40 years before I go back.
