As we had chosen to set off early from Chicago, our breakfast consisted of half a packet of fig biscuits which were eaten by the time the bus started to leave the Chicago Metropolis. It was only a short trip of two hours to Milwaukee. We didn't know what to expect and so our expectations were not too dampened when we realised it was a very quiet and lifeless city. With no cultural sights to take in we headed for cover from the wind and cold to a shopping centre, which for a Saturday was like a ghost town. We indulged ourselves in a shared lunch of roast beef sub and endless cups of coffee. The coffee took its toll on my husband and he left me to pay a visit. Fifteen minutes later and we were both searching for each other in vain - my husband believing I had been abducted, kidnapped or escorted off the premises for speaking a foreign language?! Just when we had both panicked ourselves into a frenzy, I bounded toward my husband shouting his name and we collapsed together hugging and laughing, relieved that we had found each other.
We explored the remainder of the centre before boarding another bus at 5:15pm, to return to Chicago. From the Greyhound station, laughing hysterically, we sprinted through the streets trying to keep warm to the bus stop where we could catch our bus back to Lincoln Park.
Once the local bus came, we jumped on ready to head north. It was the night before Halloween and people were already celebrating..so many people dressed up heading to parties. Two partygoers boarded the bus in very odd outfits. The driver didn't batter an eyelid. Within seconds of them sitting down, a rather intoxicated man headed towards them. His opening comment, 'Can I ask you, what the hell are you supposed to be?!' Everyone on the bus started laughing, as the guy turned to us to ask if we knew. We didn't. The game of guessing had started. My husband thought the man was dressed as a condom and the woman was dressed as a tampon - wrong!! It was a guy opposite who guessed right - a cotton bud and ear, complete with ear wax and hair! The comments came thick and fast and the couple took it all, loving the attention. The drunk man was also centre stage with comments like 'who came up with that idea, not that it's wierd or anything', and 'if my queue tip (cotton bud) looked like her, I wouldn't have any wax!' We continued to wet ourselves (not literally)! Another passenger who joined later looked quizically at them for a long time before making his move - the familiar phrase 'can I ask...what are you?' The ear man replied with a deadpan expression, 'I can't hear you!' So he repeated the question. The same reply came back. He gave up asking the ear man and asked his partner, 'what is he?' She replied, 'he can't hear you'. The penny finally dropped and the man shuffled away from them looking even more confused. We on the otherhand, continued to laugh, our ribs now aching! Our stop came too soon, we didn't want to get off the bus!
It had been the best laugh of the trip so far. Such an unlikely place with unlikely characters (appearing quite intimidating initially) had ended up being very sociable, lively and entertaining!
The next morning, with melon in one hand, and cheese and sour cream pittas in the other, we followed directions to the library. It was closed - of course, it was a Sunday and Halloween. We headed to the University to use their facilities but not being members we were turned away, so headed to a local internet cafe. It was a race against time to download photographs onto a CD so that we could send it home, by post, so that it could be checked and saved so that our camera memory stick could be cleared of photographs. Out on the street, we argued about my husband not helping and me charging ahead racing against the clock due to the few cent we had spent on the internet. We walked towards Lincoln Park, still arguing - the area was beautiful - filled with yachts and speed boats in the harbour, green parkland and views of downtown including Sears Tower, the John Hancock Observatory and Navy Pier. We were enjoying the sun but not talking, this was probably the first real argument we had had, since setting off on our travels 28 days prior. It was a minor thing blown out of proportion by our tiredness and exasperation. Being two business people who live a good life in a lovely house surrounded by lovely people, it has been a difficult and trying time. Our adventures and the sights we have seen will remain with us forever, but so will the hardship - the constant worry about money, the want for things knowing we can't afford them, the dirt, and strangely the fear of the unknown. Wandering along the side of the lake, we were so cold, all the argument in us disappeared, and we just hugged together to keep warm and safe.
Our food that night should have been a treat, but with limited cooking utensils, it didn't come out as expected - at least we could eat slightly better than a guy who arrived in the lounge with a cereal box and some milk - a student from the local university staying at the hostel for cheap digs. Back in our room, after watching one too many scary Halloween films, and visiting the bathroom at break neck speed, we emptied and repacked our backpacks - it's no good reading a book about people planting drugs on each other whilst travelling, you become very suspicious!
Tomorrow, is a new day and a journey to Seattle.
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