Hanging Over in O’Hare

So I left you in Chicago!

I was saying that I usually cringe at the thought of connecting through The Chicago O’Hare Airport and that last week (well 2 weeks ago at this point) was no different.  After I encountered a standby snafu and had to make that Plan B I told you about last week which took me to Chicago for about 6 hours before I bought an American Airlines ticket through Miami to Grand Cayman… it was a long day!  And it was a Saturday, and I went to a party the night before so needless to say I wasn’t just layin’ over in O’Hare, I was hangin’ over in O’Hare!!  Don’t judge me.

Having only ever flown United Airlines in and out of Chicago I have not really left the B and C concourses and only sometimes venturing to the F concourse for a United express flight.  Well, let me tell you.  The O’Hare airport is more than the trippy light tunnel with the moving walkway!

When I had to actually look at an airport map to know where I was going I realized how HUGE the O’Hare airport really is! The American gates are on the G, H, K, and L terminals…who knew?!  That’s a lot of space!  And once I started making my way over to my gate in K I got to see a lot of stuff along the way.  I want to give O’Hare, and Chicago really big props on the amount of things I saw in the airport that day.

As I journeyed through the seemingly endless sunny corridors I found many bits of art on the walls and hanging from the ceiling.  Some was really cool and some was really… interesting.  But then it got even better!  As I went past the line I’ve never crossed before – at the intersection of Terminal F – the airport got even cooler! I found a wall lined with photographs at the microscopic level and they were beautiful!  I had to stop and see what they were.  After reading the info plaque I saw that it was an initiative by the Institute of Genomic Biology to bring awareness about their most recent project.

Then I came into an atrium area that was circular and had a staircase going up to a second level.  In between the levels was a beautiful mosaic called “On the Wings of Water” .   This mosaic is made up of 35,000 pieces of Venetian glass and tiles to show how air travel and water link cultures around the world.  It was completed with help from the students in the After School Matters program.

 

I went up the stairs to check it out and I found a complete hydroponic urban garden!!  Say Whaaaaat??  It was not only beautiful but responsible too because some of the restaurants that inhabit the O’Hare airport create dishes using the herbs and vegetables that are grown in this garden!  I also noticed a lot of flight crew members enjoying their coffee and snacks between flights up there on the comfy looking green lounge chairs.  They must have been savvy to this little airport gem for some time!

I have to say, I’m really proud of you, O’Hare!!  And next time you’ve got some time in that airport between flights, take a hike!!  And go check out all the hidden treasures that the Chicago O’Hare International Airport has to offer!!  Cuz it’s a LOT!!

Xoxo,

Em

And so it began…

I was a late addition to the crew of 6. They had been planning this trip of a lifetime for months and I had just 2 days to make it happen. Not exactly the easiest thing to throw together last-minute, but I was very intent on doing so. I’m not sure who would say no to a 10 day sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands. I received the invite on Wednesday and departure was Friday. Five of the crew members left early in the morning on American Airlines and I tagged along with the sixth on her route with United.

Dakota Richwood was my traveling companion. After leaving Denver we met up in Chicago O’Hare. She arrived via San Fransisco and I had arrived at 1am from Denver, which meant I slept in the airport for a few hours before greeting her flight. Groggy and sleepy-eyed we shuffled to what seemed like the best breakfast on the concourse. They were barely open at 6am, but we waited patiently for our made-to-order egg sandwiches then posted up at the bar. Yes, the bar opens at 6:30 and we were having cocktails. Make no mistake, we were, at that point, officially on vacation!

After holding my breath a bit while walking up to the gate of our St. Thomas flight, seeing that I was number 1 on the standby list, then the agent handing me my seat assignment, 2A, I could finally let myself be excited!! I made it happen and I was on my way to the BVIs! I was on my way to another adventure, so see something new, to experience another corner of the world, I was blessed again with the gift of travel.

Arriving in St. Thomas in the early afternoon, I stepped off the plane and into the thick air of the tropics, the smell was so sweet and the sun so warm it was delicious. Within minutes we were on the transportation side of the airport catching a cab to the ferry docks. Next destination, Road Town, Tortola; however, we found ourselves on “island time” at this point. Our tickets were for the 4pm ferry and we boarded around 5.

It was a 45 minute soaking wet ride on the Road Town Fast Ferry! Dakota and I chose to sit at the rear of the boat thinking we’d have easy access to the exit once we arrived. This was the case, however, our choice in seating became pretty comical. The engines constantly spit water up the back of the ferry and directly on us. Our faces, our hair, our clothes didn’t have one dry area. Laughing and still dripping, we cleared customs and walked to the hotel to dry off and meet the others.

Finally together, our complete crew of 7 was about to embark on an amazing adventure and we had no idea how great life was about to become!

Em

Checking in please… To gate C16

I don’t think I can say I’ve actually slept in an airport before!
It’s surprising me that I cannot recall ever camping out in a boarding area any time in my past; especially all the traveling I’ve done.

Well, they don’t make it easy to catch z’s here either. Between the vacuums, janitors who think it’s funny to whistle as loud as they can as they stroll by innocent sleepers, the random security risk level announcements and the armrests in the middle of the otherwise mildly comfortable seats, it’s less than easy to fall asleep.

There was strategy in selecting C16 of all other inviting gates. It is a center gate without windows nearby, those would be colder. I am also sort of sandwiched between 2 rows of seats that are pushed closer together offering a more cozy feel and also making a bag swipe more difficult. Not that anyone at O’Hare wants to grab my bag at 2am, but I’m just sayin.

Ok so I’m off to try to get a bit of sleep. It’s no recliner, but at least I’m horizontal.

Em