This story starts just over two years ago when I embarked on a crazy adventure. If some of you remember, I sailed across the Atlantic ocean in the summer of 2022. Aboard Vela, I made many memories and many friends, some of which I am still happily in contact with.

Max is one of them. The definition of smart and adventurous, Max always has a great story to tell and knows how to get the fun going. Born and raised in the South, he also is the definition of a gracious host. Max had visited me last year and it was now my turn. While he is now hard at work making his way through corporate America, he still made time to receive my boyfriend and I at his place over a long weekend in early September. I couldn’t wait to catch up.

With my boyfriend being back from his own adventures in Europe, we both packed our bags anew and headed off to the Windy city (all the while totally ignoring those pesky little things called assignments).

Chicago is the third biggest city in the United States and is located just off the lowest end of Lake Michigan. While it sometimes makes the headlining news because of gang violence and a terrible murder rate, those are mostly confined to the south part of the city and as Max said, the north feels like a great, sprawling Brooklyn.

And it really is! We arrived Thursday midday. A train takes you straight from the airport to the city which gradually appears in front of you. First, you get to the brooklyn-ian suburbs with their brown-bricked houses and graffiti-speckled walls as you pass at roof level. Then, the famous architecture unveils itself through the rising skyscrapers appearing above the horizon. Suddenly, you are in the “Loop”, the underground part of the train lines and up you go, walking up the stairs to the grandiose Town Hall, the heavens seemingly tamed by the surrounding iron heights.

Max was waiting for us at a delicious bahn mi spot during his lunch break. Gosh, you gotta love the man. Tired, after a long morning of travel, us weary travellers were ready for something good. And he did not disappoint! We caught up on the past year and made plans for the evening, our sandwiches quickly gone.

I love travelling to see friends. As locals, they know their city and the best it has to offer. It’s not just about seeing them and having access to their insider knowledge, it’s that they always seem to make the city magical. And for that, I’ll always be the first to say yes to seeing friends abroad.

Our afternoon was spent walking to Lincoln Park and its Conservatory and Zoo. The sky was blue, blue, blue with warm 30 degree weather. Walking towards the lake, the smiles were big when we saw Chicago’s beaches. Being a waterfront city, you’d think that there might be rock-pebbled coastline. Instead, Chicagoans decided nah, let’s put a beach there. Feet soaking in the water, the blazing sun above, we were happy kids!

Over the next few days, my boyfriend and I visited Sue at the Field Museum, saw a baseball game at Wrigley Field, ate Chicago dogs and deep-dish pizza. We sang ‘Bring me back to the ball game’ and had way too expensive beer. We ran down to the River walk, past Navy Pier and back up along the waterfront. We had an awesome architecture tour where our tour guide explained Chicago’s colonial and industrial past. We met up with a bunch of Max’s friends and chatted the nights away. And finally, we saw the Bean!

It was great to have a travel partner while visiting someplace new. Being able to share the experiences lived abroad with someone you love makes all the difference, and I’m forever grateful, after having traveled with friends and family, to have done so with my partner-in-crime!

Thank you Max for the warm welcome and see you next year!