Saturday, March 17, 2007

Happy St Patty's Day!

So I learned today that St Patrick's Day in Chicago is a BIG! DEAL! There's a parade, vendors selling all manner of green everything, lots and lots and lots of Irish pubs, and they dye the river green! Not forest green. Not even emerald green. Bright, near-glowing, radioactive green. Apparently it stays like that for days. I had the morning in the Windy City (and yes, it was wiiiinnndddyyy) for exploring, and I met up with a girl in my hostel who hung ot with me for the morning. We did a walking tour with a guide from the hostel, who we decided to ditch (sorry, but it's St Patty's Day, and you were talking about the how many freight containers come into the city by rail. Borrr-ring.). We battled the hordes of green-clad revellers to see the radioactive river then caught the tail end of the parade before I had to bob and weave my way throught the crowd to make sure I caught my trian.

I was near giddy walking around this morning, cause I'm finally ON HOLIDAYS!!! That, and I really really love arriving in a city and jsut figuring it out. Transit, what to see, where things are. It was grand.

Even more grand is that I'm here in Iowa now with Rachelle and Nathan and two of the cutest little boys in the whole wide world!

So, I'll leave you with warm wishes for a Happy St Patricks Day. I hope you remember at least some of it! ;-)

17 comments:

Robert W. said...

Yes, Yes, Yes ... I'm ecstatic that you're in my favourite American City!!! Sounds like you're having tons of fun!

Remember that I have tons of connections there in case you need any kind of help or guidance.

nachtwache said...

Green water ??!!! Happy holidays :)

Anonymous said...

I am SO happy for you - celebration time, unwind time, adventure time... Take time for you, too, OK?

sarah cool said...

I hope you brought your swimsuit, because we are SOOOOOO going swimming in the river next weekend!!!!

Robert W. said...

Hillary

Sarah must be soooooo pulling your leg. I've never seen anyone swimming in that river, not even in the summertime! Just watch you show up in your swimsuit and all of them in their winter parkas!!!

Robert

Nikki said...

This is soooo awesome. I think they dye the river neon green, because it is normally kinda darkish green. I live only 2 1/2 hours from Chicago, but I have never been there for St. Patrick's Day. Now I feel sorry that I did not suggest meeting up with you in Chicago.
Have fun on the rest of your trip!

Unknown said...

There is no way that is a real picture. You are too ridiculous... :) Can't wait to see some more green on Friday!! Wooo!

Jean said...

HAAAA!!! That is HILARIOUS!!!!!
Right now the temp for Friday is 72. 72!!!!!! YAHOOOO!!!!!!!
Five more days! FIVE MORE DAYS!!!!!
why do i feel like i'm repeating myself. probably b/c i'm so EXCITED!!! EXCITED!!! :)

Hillary said...

Sarah...you can jump in first, how 'bout that? I'll jump in right after you, I promise! *snicker*

Pelalusa - Sarah would never do that... noooo!

Nici - maybe next time! :-)

Anne - nope, baby, that ridiculousness is all me! I really AM that crazy. Perhaps I forgot to warn you...

Jean - I KNOW!!! I have to laugh that for like 2 weeks now, every comment we've been leaving on each other's blogs has been some kind of giddy countdown or reference to Chicago! It makes me laugh! I'm sure everybody else is sick of hearing it.... too bad for them! (hehe, sorry, everybody else,but nyah nyah! :P )

leesepea said...

Nice hat!

:)

Glad you're having a good time.

sarah cool said...

72!!!!!!!!!!!!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AfricaBleu said...

Wow -- even the rivers in Ireland aren't THAT green.

You look cute in the pic, by the way -- sort of like an Irish Cat-in-the-Hat.

Have fun on your trip in these United States...

Karen said...

Whoa! That is green! Are you sure there is no photoshop going on there?

Hillary said...

Nope! No photoshop! I didn't even have a program to reduce the size of the picture (if you wanna see it really really big, click the picture) let alone add the green!

Paul said...

I'm wondering if they don't dye the river, but just put green dye in beer* and people drink the beer, and...

...Okay, I'll shut up now.


*a daft idea anyway, because Irish beer is black or at very least a deep golden-brown.

Paul said...

Oh, and I'm liking the silly hat btw.

Queen Bee said...

Wow that is GREEN!!

Love your hat :)