Chicago - PIP - Ugh!

BrightFirefly

So - every six months - Abuela has to check in with the Salvadorean Consulate to prove she is still alive to receive her pension. Our district is in Chicago - so FI, Myself, and Abuela drove 5.5 hours yesterday to Chicago..did a bit of sight-seeing..ate at a delicious Salvadorean Restuarant in a very latino part of town outside the downtown area (even the street signs were in Spanish)..and headed home another 5.5 hours.

I had never been to Chicago before - I was working during their last trip.

My impressions? Beautiful city, love the downtown, love the atmosphere..HATE the drivers.

The drivers there are so rude - honking at you if you don't want to cross 6 lanes of oncoming traffic? Uhm..what? Honking at people in the crosswalk (who have the right away..and the walk light) because they aren't crossing fast enough???

Worst driving I have ever encountered before...luckily FI was the one behind the wheel..because if I was the one driving and they honked at me because they thought I should have cut someone off and turned..I would have just sat there for 6 minutes to anger 'em more.

Oh..and 30 dollars to park for 2 hours? That made parking in Boston look like a bargain.

Next time someone complains about our 8 dollar fee at the zoo..I'll let em know it's 12 just for one hour in Chicago.

KatieK501

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_chicago-pip-ugh?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:a965a5cc-c160-428d-94cc-77c4630796fdPost:7f639aa0-174c-4481-b4b4-940df8c63443">Chicago - PIP - Ugh!</a>:
[QUOTE]Worst driving I have ever encountered before...luckily FI was the one behind the wheel..because if I was the one driving and they honked at me because they thought I should have cut someone off and turned..I would have just sat there for 6 minutes to anger 'em more. :p
Posted by BrightFirefly[/QUOTE]

HAHA!  Exactly my thoughts!  I HATE when drivers are annoyed by having to wait for people in the cross walk.  More than once, when I've been at Target or somewhere pushing a shopping cart through the pedistrian crossing to get to my car, someone will drive by, cutting me off.  I have a strong urge to shove my cart into their car.  I'd probably sit their for 6 minutes too.

ceglare4

hahaha your zoo parking fee comment made me laugh. Glad you had a good time, I love love love Chicago! My bachelorette party is there in two weeks.

And the drivers are crazy!! I've never driven in the city but I think I would die if I did.

bells24412

HAHA, it made me chuckle when you said parking in Boston is a bargin compared to Chicago it is good to know Boston isn't as expensive as other big cities. When I ever go to Boston I always take the train less hassle trying to find parking!

Glad you had a good time and hopefully abuela didn't drive you too crazy!

BrightFirefly

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_chicago-pip-ugh?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:a965a5cc-c160-428d-94cc-77c4630796fdPost:acb97077-5b2e-4927-8242-7d8d104a737f">Re:Chicago PIP Ugh!</a>:
[QUOTE]I lived in Chicago for a while. Great city. Did not drive there. I'm still convinced that drivers think that their cars run on honks. 11 hours is a lot of driving for one day!
Posted by Schatzi13[/QUOTE]

Lol! Yeah. It was insane the amount of honking. 11 hours is a lot - but I actually love to drive..so I didn't mind that. Wish we could have spent more time there though. :o)

Katie, people are just so rude! Ugh! Oh and in Chicago, bicyclers just ride between cars. They made me so nervous!

Ceglare, have a great party. :o) I enjoyed my time in the city..just not the drivers!

Bells, when I was in Boston, I paid 14 dollars to park...but that was for like 6 hours..Still more than Cincinnati..but way less than Chicago!

MeaganR12

I've never been to Chicago but my friends who have all LOVE it. I want to see that giant bean. 

k8888

You are a saint.  11 hour round trip for abuela?

Chicago sounds awesome... I've been dying to take a trip there.  I think I'll get there next year for my library association's annual conference.