Tuesday 28 August

Got up at 9:00 after waking at least twice during the night. My room is 406 bed F. At six I checked email, LJ and finally downloaded the Chicon7 app. Very slow and tends to crash.

Had a wander around the hostel. Best one I've ever stayed in. Comfy beds (if a bit soft) excellent toilets and shower. Even has a TV room, library and lounging area. I also got an IHUS membership when I checked in. This gave me one free days stay and remitted the $3/day charge if you weren't a member (saving around $70+/-

Discovered that free breakfast is available from 7:00 to 10:00 at 10:10! So went searching for food eventually had a Subway breakfast roll with flat lemonade.

Went looking for a Walmart for various stuff including new iPod and t-shirtsbut didn't have either. Only got a lock and some gum!

Caught the 10 bus to the Muesum of Science and Industry at 12:30 (just saw it on State St). Arrived twenty minutes later. My main reason for going was the "Mythbusters" exhibit of props and other stuff from the show. This was $10 in addition to the general admittance cost of $13. however for 4.5 hours of wandering that's not too bad. I didn't see everything but manage most bits. Apart from Mythbusters I think the Science Museum in London is better, it's mostly free after all.

Bus back to town left at 5:40 and I got off a block from the hostel. Locked up my locker then went looking for dinner. Instead I found a Radio Shack where I got a super charger for the iPod for $25.17 (I should have ordered one from Amazon before I left.

Then found a Barnes & Noble and bought a book!

Finally got a hot dog with fries and ice tea at DQ Grill & Chill for $4.43 then followed this with an ice cream cone for $2.20.

Spent an hour uploading yesterday's events to LJ, writing today's and charging my iPod.

Then to bed.

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Wednesday 29 August

Woke 7ish read email and LJ until 8:00 went for breakfast on 2nd floor. Had cereal, OJ, coffee, waffle fingers and a blueberry muffin.

After cleaning my teeth ;) waited for 10:30 free walking tour, met Michelle who is also going to Chicon but she is decamping to a vin hotel over the weekend. Chatted about Hugos and authors.

At 10:30 we started the tour led by HI Chicago volunteer, walked Downtown, inside a couple of building ending up near city hall at noon.

Wandered north to the con hotel, partway on the Chicago riverbank.
Had a sub of the day with cookies and lemonade for lunch for $5.45

Got to Hyatt at 1:00 collected badge, program book and pocket program, met Michelle! Read for an hour and a half then walked to the Navy Pier arriving around 3:00.

Bought a Chicago style hot dog and a draft of cold Budwiser at Landshark Beer Garden. Updated todays entry.

Exited the Navy Pier and walked
North along (as in next too) Lake Shore Drive a ver busy road. At Chicago I took the underpass to the Visitors info centre in the old library, opposite Water Tower Place.

The centre has free wifi as do all the public libraries.

Walked west to State Street and got on the Red line at Cichago and went south to Jackson, the nearest station on the Red line to the hostel. Dumped program book, got an ice cream then took the Brown line from H W Library to State with a 25c transfer. Walked to Hyatt saw Jo Walton outside Houlihan's. Left phone message for filkferengi and spouse M. At around 8:00 decided to leave and bumped into them both at Houlihan's. As we were chatting Ruth B also from Bujold list stopped for a word.

Went to a grocery store near the Hyatt, fair prices the to their room to catchup, it's been over two years since we last met up in person!

At 9:45 filkferengi and I went down to the filking but no one there so explored the basement food court (all closed). Returned to Gold Coast room and people were arriving but decided to pumpkin. Walked back to hosted, found 7/11 open and got an Italian style hotdog journey took half an hour. Bed around 11:00.

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