Chicago Day 1 - July 10

Up early at 4am for a 6am flight to Sydney. All goes smoothly until we get ther when I find out the flight has been delayed due to mechanical failure. Ok, not problems, better to be safe. But now there are two SYD->LAX flights within 10 minutes of each other. Where this becomes a problem is bording. The two gates used are adjacent, and the ground staff don't allow extra time for security clearing 600 instead of 300 people. Both flights delayed further - mine being over 3.5t hours late :-(

Sunrise over Sydney

600 or so people going through security

Arrive at LAX and yes, I missed my connecting flight. No problems, rebooked on the next one. Only just made it after getting through security. I've learnt that a young male travelling alone is always a terrorist suspect - even if he's while skinned.

Arrive at ORD, must lusher than I expected given Chicago's reputation as the hub of the US automobile industry. Get into a cab and start driving off only to find out he'll only take cash. I leave the cab without payiong for the 100 meetres or so travelled to the disgruntled look of the driver. Tough, to expect cash is a bit rich I think.

Finally arrive at the hotel, still about 3 hours later than planned. The new cab driver was good, but needed me to do the navigating. Huh? I've never been to Chicago before - he admitted to being new to the area too.

Dinner at RAMS, watched "A Few Good Men" on TNT, finally to sleep at 2am. Cold Turkeying the body into the timezone is the only way to go.

travel/chicago | 10 Jul 2004 | #