A Cheeky Shopping Spree in Chicago
Exploring Chicago’s Shopping Scene
An Unfortunate Tollbooth Tale
Oh, my, my! After a leisurely stroll through the magnificent city of Chicago and by the River, Michele’s dainty feet were gently whispering to her in pain. And as for me, my Achilles tendon decided it was time to throw a little tantrum, just in time for a shopping extravaganza. Oh, the timing!
Retail Therapy, Chicago-Style
Today was destined to be a shopping day, and off we went, zigzagging our way back towards O’Hare airport, arriving at the spectacular Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Sure, it might not be as colossal as The Trafford Centre in Manchester, UK, but let me tell you, it’s like retail heaven compared to the rest. Our morning was consumed by aimless meandering through the countless shops in pursuit of that ever-elusive bargain. Some finds were stellar, others merely satisfactory. But let me tell you, the bargains of today weren’t quite as epic as those we scored four years ago during our maiden voyage to the States. The real jackpot of the day was landing two pairs of Levi’s jeans for the astonishing price of $77!
A Shopping Spree with a Dash of Nostalgia
Post-shopping mall glory, we embarked on a 7.5-mile road trip down memory lane, making a pit stop at Oakbrook, a place we had previously explored with our companions, Josh, Elle, and the ever-enthusiastic Aunty Jilla. This time, however, the Abercrombie & Fitch store didn’t stand up to the memory test, leaving Michele in shock. To soothe her shopping woes, we indulged in a scrumptious lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. Michele settled for petite potato balls, while I, the seafood aficionado, went for the shrimp. Our culinary journey concluded with dessert, with Michele savoring the Lemon Meringue cheesecake, and me, delving into the realms of salted caramel flavor. By the end of it, we were both on the verge of being happily stuffed beyond belief!
Taking It Easy Back at Julie’s
And then, it was time to retreat to our sanctuary at Julie’s and put our feet up. However, just before the relaxation could kick in, Julie and I decided to give a little TLC to the yard. But the unforgiving humidity was having none of it, and after a mere 20 minutes of sweating profusely, we waved the white flag of surrender and retreated indoors.
Highway Toll Woes
Now, what’s an adventure without a few hiccups, right? Today, we had our fair share of those, courtesy of the highway toll system. You see, in Illinois, they have these tolls on the highways, and you can choose between the fancy iPass system, a special gadget on your windshield, or the old-fashioned way—good ol’ cash at the toll booths. Our first year in the Windy City, we jumped on the iPass bandwagon, but at a whopping $12 per day, it just didn’t add up for us. So, this time, we went for the cash-on-the-spot approach.
But, oh, the plot thickens! On our way to the Rosemont shopping mall, the exit gleefully displayed “iPass only.” We had no choice but to cruise to the next exit. But that too turned into a comedy of errors, as the cash option was unmanned. We had cash, but mainly in notes, and that booth, well, it only took coins! In the nick of time, we managed to scrounge together $1.50 in coins to make our exit.
And then, as the day wore on, there it was—a toll booth, unmanned yet again. But this time, it had an insatiable appetite for notes. So, like the fearless spender I am, I confidently inserted a $5 bill into the machine, expecting some change back. Alas, there was no change to be found, just my disbelief and a bit of frustration.
Perfectly Windy Weather
On the bright side, the weather played its part in ensuring a great day out. The temperature was a tad cooler, maybe in the late 70s, with a gentle breeze brushing against our faces.
So there you have it, our eventful shopping escapade in the charming city of Chicago. A day filled with bargains, belly-filling delights, and a couple of toll booth troubles just to keep us on our toes. Until next time, Windy City!
