North American Traveller

Well, it’s been a month since I last posted, and I’m back in Chicago. I understand why they call it the windy city, the wind is crazy. But even more crazy is the parking.
I’m currently staying at the Chicago Getaway Hostel, and I didn’t make a reservation at any hostel because I wasn’t sure what would be best. Plus I like to wing it.
So I punched hostel into my trusty GPS and the first attempt was the HI-Youth Hostel. Epic Fail. It’s right downtown, which is really cool, but the parking was going to cost more than the night. CRAZY! So I got to see chicago and the city. It truly is a beautiful place, the water, the buildings, the roads. And fortunately the traffic wasn’t too bad.
Well, since the Youth Hosteling International was a no go, I went back to the GPS, the next one was under renovations. Now here was where I had to get creative. You see, my cell phone doesn’t exactly work in the states (CA-CHING $$$), so I found a starbucks (with free parking), and looked up the other hostels that I had checked out online.
Then I used my GPS to guide me to the Getaway Hostel (www.getawayhostel.com). It cost me $50 w/tax, and lucked out to get the last guys dorm bed (Note the $50). And then I went in search of parking. I managed to SQUEEZE my car into a space with in inched. Emphasis on the INCHES!
Then I made my way back, found my bed, and sat down at the neglected, but playable piano (Yes they have a grand piano).
Last, I found myself a wifi signal and a couch, and blogged away.