First challenge - parking the car. There was only one spot left, obviously there because no-one else could squeeze into it. But with a 50 point turn, I managed to slide (actually bump) my way in. Breathe out. Then the train comes. Hats and gloves have to go on, open the door again to get Gracie's blankie, then run onto the platform, and onto the train. No time to stop to get that parking ticket for the car. Oh well, worry about that later.
Doubledecker train - fun. Of course we have to try both levels. The top level only has single seats. The second photo is green because the windows were tinted green. The conducter walks through the carriages to check your tickets, and sell you one if you haven't got one. Working out the system wasn't terribly easy, and I spent most of the trip reading my booklet, and a leaflet on the train, trying to work out where we would get off. The rest of the time I was trying to get Angie to stay in her seat.
We made it to Union Station. It took a while to find our way onto the street. I looked at the map and decided we could walk. After a while, the girls needed gummy bears as an incentive at each light to keep going. They were sure that they had been there before with Bobby (who has taken them to the city in Melbourne) I guess one tall building looks much the same as another when you are four. We finally made it to Michigan Avenue! Yeah! This is where Centenial Park is with the ice-rink you see in movies, and some big scultpures.
The girls decided that skipping was much easier than walking, so we had fun holding hands and skipping. It's OK to do that when you are an Aussie in a foreign land. No-one knows that Aussie's don't usually skip down the main road in the city.
After looking at the map and seeing how far we still had to go, and with the girls coughing in the cold air, we decided to catch a cab to our destination....
"American Girl Place" This is a three story shop dedicated to the American girl dolls. Check out their website at http://www.americangirl.com/ It is quite amazing. They have dolls from different periods in American history, with books that go with each doll. Or, you can choose a doll that looks like you, and even have matching outfits. There is a hairdresser who will do a new style for your doll's hair. You can have a photo shoot with your doll, or see a live theatre performance. For a special treat, you can have a restaurant style meal in their specially designed cafe, where your doll can have a special chair next to you. The girls loved it. Fortunately, we managed to have fun looking, and left having only bought a pink flower biscuit each.
We hailed another cab back to the station, and arrived having just missed our train. It was a one hour wait for the next one at 2:30pm. This should be OK. I had to be home to meet the school bus at 3:30pm, and the trip takes about 40mins. Being the first ones on the carriage, Angie and Grace decided to say hello to everyone who got on. Then there was a long conversation with the lady across from us. After a bit, Angie decided she had to go to the bathroom. So we gathered up all our bags and coats, and walked through to the next carriage and the bathroom. Going back, our seats were taken, so we had to sqeeze in next to some other people. The man sitting next to Grace made the mistake(?) of answering a question she asked of him. For the rest of the train trip he had both the girls nearly sitting on top of him, looking at his newspaper, and engaged in constant dialogue. I nearly got my book out to read! Except that I had to keep saying, "Stop squishing him Angie!"
Unfortunately the train made an unscheduled stop for nearly ten minutes. Uh oh. I called our neighbour to see if she could pick up Dante from the bus, but she had been about to call me because she was running late too! So I called Scott and told him he had to rush and get a taxi and go and meet the bus (this was at about 3:15 by now). Scott borrowed a mate's car (What are friends for!) picked up Dante, and dropped him at our neighbour's house (Americans are great neighbours!)
When we got off the train, the chatty man, called Chuck, somehow quickly disappeared. I stopped a lady to ask her how to get to the other side where my car was parked.
"Are you going our way?" asked Angela.
"Yes I am" replied the lady.
"I'll hold your hand" said Grace, and Angie decided to take the other one.
It is kinda wierd walking along with your daughters while they hold someone else's hands. We quickly found out that she had three sons at home, and was quite delighted to have little girls to hold hands with. After a big warm hug from Grace around her legs, we made our way back to the car. No ticket on the windscreen - phew (except maybe they post them). Another 50 point turn to get out, then off to pick up the boys.
Overall - we had a great time. It was certainly much better than staying at home.
My girls - who still both like to have a cuddle on my lap at the same time!
