Chicago …. the big city! From the beginning it was all about the food. John from Chicago met the Matriarch and I at the railway station, poured us into his little super duper car and roared us through the streets from market to market. I am sure he felt like he had a wind up toy come to visit. All he had to do was turn me and point me in the right direction and off I warbled, clattering about, thrilled to bits, tasting cheeses and cured meats, pastas and pastries, spices and divine fat fresh vegetables. People are so friendly up here in the city. We shopped Italian, we shopped Asian, we shopped Indian but we did not get time to visit the Greeks.
then we had Thai for lunch. 
The city is the city. Big and shiny.
Tall and reflective. I grew up on a beach in Napier, New Zealand, as you know. But I love cities. All of them. If you put me in a suburb I would probably wilt to death like an overwatered pot plant. But the big city, the sea and the wide open spaces of the plains are where I most love to be. Eclectic? Maybe just easy to please. 
Chicago is fascinating. 
Big city christmas lights are for every night of the year.
But country girls get tired, and it was way past my bedtime when we eventually called it a night. 
We stayed in a lovely little low tech boarding house in De Witt Place. Right by the lake.
The Matriarch and I stayed out way too late last night so words are few now. And look at that it is 7.30 am! City hours!
It is time to get back to farm life. But I will be back. John from Chicago and I are working on a plan to meet with others of our blog community up here, so watch this space. Life is a glorious place to be!
See you all tomorrow. Have a lovely, lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
49 responses to “The Big City goes all farmy like!”
Your photos do such a good job of punctuating your delightful time, Celi. John is such a wonderful blogging friend, I am positive this was a lovely day and a very exciting culinary tour. Each time I’ve met someone from the warm and friendly blogging community I have come away feeling enriched. You gave me a big smile this morning. 🙂
Cities are so full of energy that I sometimes get very over-whelmed.
Linda
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I’m so excited for you all…I was so looking forward to reading about how you got on and it looks liek you had a ball. Very happy for you!
Lovely photos Cinders! I can only imagine what a wonderful time you had! Chg. John seems like just the perfect person to explore the city with! I was hoping you had a server take a photo of the 3 of you at dinner with big lovely smiles, enjoying a wonderful dinner and each other! 🙂
I am so please you both had a good time! I love how blogging connects us to others we otherwise never would have known. Great photos in this post too.
I love big shiny cities, and I can certainly attest to the over-watered pot syndrome.
I’m with you. If I live in the city, I want to be right in it…by the sea, as close as possible and the same with the mountains. I have, in fact, organised my life just this way.
Life is a glorious place to be! – it certainly is when there is a Celie to point us in the right direction and show us all the goodies! I hope you’re not too tired from all your gadding. Enjoy the weekend,
love,
ViVx
Sounds like a FABULOUS time was had by all Celi!!!! I just knew you three would be ‘kicking up your heels and having a ball’!!! Everyone meeting in Chicago sounds like such fun!!!! Who knows, right??? Such wonderful things happen on a daily basis, don’t they??? xo
if you ever go back, check out the Baha’i House of Worship on the north shore – it is open to all –
How wonderful! I love the photos and have gotten equally hooked on Chicago John’s site!!
What a contrast! Love your Chicago photos. Thanks for sharing Celia.
And a good time was had by all!!!
The City and I are waiting for your return …
Oooh yummy! I loved Chicago but didn’t see a tenth as much as you did! 🙂
What a glorious day in the city