Happy Anniversary to Us!!

So...we decided to spend our actual anniversary IN the city. And this time, we were takin' the train, baby!

Please do bear in mind that neither of us had ever ridden trains before {well, I rode one with my parents when I was in junior high, but I mean in the adult life, we'd not done this thing}. And may I again reiterate HOW MANY episodes of Law and Order SVU I've watched in my day. Too many to make for comfortable train riding...that's for blessed sure!!

We went to the train station in Schaumburg and bought our tickets - and then we waited for our little train. Choo choo!!!

What we did NOT know was that it stops in every single little burg between there and Chicago - and they are numerous. So we had about an hour to sit on that train. Ryan relaxed. I perused every single person who climbed aboard as a potential murderer.

BUT - in the end, we did arrive safely, and unkilled, in Union Station in the heart of Chicago. We wanted to get some lunch, so we asked Siri for a pizza shop. Her completely uncooperative answer SHOULD have told us something about her behavior for the day. Alas, it did not. Basically everything was "pretty far from us" - except, you know, the pizza shop I spied with my little eye across the street. Good night, nurse.

So we scurried over and had lunch, and then we headed toward our first tourist-y destination of the day: The Willis Tower.

It was so. stinking. cold. so we hurried over there and ran inside to look for the observation deck.

Just FYI, if you ever go there, the entrance to the SkyDeck is actually OUTSIDE in a whole separate area. You really can't get much of anywhere INSIDE the Willis Tower, other than Starbucks, without some serious badges. So after we ran around the side and got in the RIGHT part of the building, we went through security and mazes and all sorts of stuff just to make our way up to the 103rd floor.

The worst part was the elevator ride up. It only lasts one minute,but a whole lot of anxiety passed through me in that 60 seconds. Especially when the recording that plays all the way up starts telling you what earthly landmarks you're sailing past as you shoot up into the sky. LA LA LA LA LA!!!!

The day was kinda cloudy, so we couldn't see too terribly far, but it's still so stinkin' cool to see so much of the city from up there!

Check out the souvenirs we WANTED to get, but couldn't afford:

Yeah those were seventy bucks EACH. But I mean, seriously!?!?!?!!? Could there be a more perfect coffee cup?

There was the one thing I wanted to do...so badly...but I was so afraid.

You've heard about the ledges, right? They have four ledges that stick out from the side of the building and are glass all the way around. You can look straight down and see ground. My hands have gone cold and sweaty just TYPING this to you.

Ryan, of course, was all about the ledge.

And then there was me.

 

You guys, I was so scared! I mean if that bottom falls out - it's Bye Bye Bekah!!!! The worst part was that {much like in the grocery store} people were pushing their way out for their turn and I'm standing there wondering how much weight this thing actually holds!! WAIT FOR YOUR TURN, PEOPLE!

A really sweet lady who was apparently there by herself offered to take our picture for us:

 She asked if we would take her picture, so I was only too happy to grab her phone and scamper OFF this thing to return the favor. Once she handed it to me, though, she started to be attacked by nerves, and she wasn't sure she could do it. Ever the helper girl, I said, "Oh HE will help you!!! Ryan took her arm and helped her out onto the glass. She was SO CUTE!! She was so proud of herself for being brave, and I took her picture.

Yeah this is the down-view. SHIVER.

 With the city!!!!

 It's our anniversary. You can't escape kissing pictures. Sorry. But not.

 Getting braver!!

 After we felt we'd stayed long enough to get our money's-worth, we headed back down the elevator. Pretty excited to have it to ourselves! The TV with all its announcements was far less obnoxious on the way back down!

After successfully touring the really tall observation deck, we rewarded ourselves with some Starbucks, baby!!!

Next up...we had to figure out what to do with the rest of our day until our mystery dinner reservation. It was close to 4 p.m. by this point, and our reservations were not until 7 p.m. Ryan had arranged them and all I knew was the time. Everything else was a surprise for me.

This may be our best adventure OF THE ENTIRE TRIP. You are going to seriously love it. It is so Shaffer.

Come back tomorrow. And please love us.