Gary at O'Hare

Chicago 2018 – Day Eighteen – Last day in Chicago

The morning

Well, today marks the bittersweet finale of our Windy City escapade – our last hurrah in Chicago! Yup our last day in Chicago.

Julie, our early bird cousin and host, had already jetted off to Atlanta while we were still embracing our love affair with the comfy beds at her house. We indulged in a leisurely breakfast, thoroughly inspecting our luggage, gearing up for the swift journey to O’Hare airport. And let’s not forget Elle, who spent that precious last hour with us. We’ll miss her like crazy, and I bet she’ll miss our charming company just as much!

Our suitcases, seemingly laden with souvenirs and maybe a slice or two of deep-dish pizza, were strategically maneuvered into the car. Next stop? The gas station! We filled up our trusty steed for a mere $25, a price that could make our British counterparts turn green with envy. At $3.05 a gallon, we were practically saving enough to treat ourselves to another round of Chicago-style hot dogs!

O’Hare Airport

With the car safely dropped off, we hopped onto the shuttle bus headed for Terminal 5. But, hang on a second, it decided to make a pit stop at Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 first. Well, a scenic route never hurt anyone, right? Plus, we met a delightful couple on the bus, fresh from witnessing the Buffalo Bills’ misfortune against the Green Bay Packers. Tough luck, Bills fans!

After a brief wait, we breezed through check-in, but the real nail-biter was yet to come for Michele. She was toeing the line with her shopping haul, determined not to exceed that pesky 23-kilogram limit per bag. The verdict? A triumphant 22.7 kilograms for each bag! Phew, talk about living on the edge. The security line, though longer, couldn’t keep us captive for more than 25 minutes.

Instead of languishing in the main terminal, we waltzed into the KLM lounge. I, for one, cozied up, watching the Chicago Cubs duke it out with the Milwaukee Brewers, all while sipping on a couple of frosty brews. Michele, on the other hand, decided that “Sober for October” was a noble endeavor but not exactly her cup of tea. She opted for a double dose of Baileys on the rocks – moderation be damned!

Our departure from Chicago was initially slated for 15:50, but life had other plans, delaying us until 16:06. As we boarded the plane, it seemed like we were rooted to the tarmac until 16:45. Now, that had us sweating a little, considering our tight connection window in Dublin – a mere 75 minutes to hop from one flight to the next.

Michele couldn’t help but grumble about the pint-sized passengers joining us on this long-haul adventure. There was one snugly settled behind her, and another strategically placed in the middle section of seats just a row ahead. However, shortly after take-off, the family behind us received an upgrade to the back of the plane where they could stretch their legs. I did have to playfully remind Michele that she was becoming a modern-day Child Catcher, a la Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and suggested a touch more tolerance wouldn’t go amiss! ?

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment to find out if we miraculously made our connecting flight in Dublin. The suspense is real, folks! ?

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