Unexpected touring

Getting back to Chicago within twelve months was not my plan but the snow in New York City (a storm which has been a long time coming) had the effect of us having an enforced holiday. While still in Memphis we had a phone message from the travel company (Expedia) to say that we needed to contact them. American Airlines had cancelled our flight for the following day. Sue rang them and they said that due to the predicted storm coming to NYC the flight had been cancelled and so we needed to reschedule our flight. The options were to go the next morning early (6am) or later in the day. We asked what they thought the best thing to do was and they said to get out of the city as soon as we could.
So we caught the flight they suggested which got us to Chicago and then to a flight to NYC. Unfortunately by the time we reached Chicago the storm had hit NYC and all flights into and out of the city were cancelled. We had to queue to find out what flight we could get on and the only flight we could get is on Monday morning at 6am – this was Friday morning we were finding this out.
We could sit out at the airport and hope for a standby but given that they were trying to get however many thousand people on to a limited number of flights we figured we had to accept it all and make the most of it. We could have a voucher for a hotel near the airport or look after ourselves. We figured we can claim some of all this on our travel insurance (we’ve looked it up and there is a chance we can get reimbursed) so we are staying at the Hilton opposite Grant Park in Chicago. We have a room with a view over the park out to Lake Michigan, which is frozen. Snow on the ground in the park. The room looks east so a great view of sunrise this morning.
The major disadvantages of all this , apart from the expense are that we checked our suitcases in Memphis so have no luggage (we have bought toothbrushes and toothpaste and oversized t-shirts for pyjamas- and much washing of the smalls) and I have to cancel a day’s work on Monday making it up at some time in the future. So Sue and I have settled back in to the hotel life and trying to make the most of being in Chicago for the weekend- if unplanned.
Today we joined an Art Deco tour with the Architecture Association. There were 13 people on the walking tour that went for about 2.5 hours. We had only our outdoor gear that we had taken to Memphis so no great warm gear to survive the entire walk without feeling like absolute ice blocks by the end. However it was really worth all the pain and suffering as there are a large number of great buildings here in Chicago. We had been on a cruise down the river when we were here in April last year so were confident that the tour would be a good one. We ended up at a spot near the river and had the chance to take photo of the frozen river.
On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the art gallery to go to the Hopper Exhibition that is on as part of the American City American Art Exhibition. The crowds were too much for us so we plan to go again tomorrow earlier in them morning given that the gallery is about two blocks away and that way beat the crowds. On our way out this morning we stopped at the theatre and I bought a ticket to see the Joffrey Ballet tomorrow afternoon. They are from Chicago and when we were here in April it was either before or after their regular season so I missed out. As you can see we are making them most of being here. Each afternoon we have also done some serious napping so should go back to work relatively rested but then that’s the purpose of holidays isn’t it?!