Chicago Trip 2013 (Part 2)

Are you ready for Part 2 of a glimpse into my last month's USA trip? If you haven't seen Part 1 yet, please, do so.

Well, during the first week, we (my mum, my aunt, and me) spent our time in downtown Chicago. We toured the city and enjoyed seeing many different places, including the Adler Planetarium, the Shed Aquarium, the John Hancock Building Observatory (see photos in last post!), Navy Pier, and Macy's Store on State Street (the one with the mosaic ceiling and the vintage-looking clock!). We also went on the double-decker tourist bus and a river cruise and enjoyed sightseeing and learning about the different buildings in Chicago and their history. It was real fun! 

The second week we spent it in Wheaton College, IL. (about 1 hour by car west of downtown Chicago) for a Christian Conference. It was an amazing week and we were greatly blessed. Perhaps I'll share some highlights of those spiritual blessings sometime in a future post. However, today, I'll show you a glimpse of the Wheaton College Campus. Wheaton College is full of history...Billy Graham was one of its illustrious alumni, as well as such missionaries as Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, and most of the other missionaries who were martyred with Jim Elliot in Ecuador...just to name a few.

It's a beautiful college...not only in the natural, scenic way, but also in its spiritual heritage and present influence.

Beautiful, peaceful college grounds...It was just lovely spending my 'quiet time' there sometimes...so peaceful.

'The Castle'...beautiful, isn't it?

The Fountain!

One of my favourite places in Wheaton College was The Marion E. Wade Centre...a museum and research centre for the works of seven British Christian authors: Owen Barfield, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams! A paradise for anyone who's interested in these great writers and their works! Guess what I saw in this centre, too...

Well! Can you guess what this is?
It's the wardrobe that was in C.S. Lewis' home.
It's the one that inspired The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe!!

Yes, the coats!!!

I just loved this warning sign they put on the door of the wardrobe...
"Warning! Enter at your own risk. The Wade Centre assumes no responsibility for persons who disappear
or are lost in the wardrobe."
LOL!!!

C.S. Lewis' desk and bust!! The one on which he wrote his works, including the Narnia books...

J.R.R. Tolkien's desk!! The one on which he wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings!

At first I wondered why this lamp post was lit in the middle of the day...and then,
I got it! The Narnia Lamp Post!!!

Another place I really loved in Wheaton was the Billy Graham Museum. Unfortunately, it's impossible to really portray what I saw there in photos...one has to enjoy the exhibitions in person...they're just amazing! But here is just one example...

An amazing experience to pass through this narrow cross-shaped passage to get to the cross.

As you can see, Wheaton College campus has quite amazing things! It's really worth visiting. 

I really hope you enjoyed these photos! 

Chicago Trip 2013 (Part 1)

Mum and I just came back last month from our very first trip to the US. It was a really wonderful trip! The Lord really blessed it with His goodness and guidance. It was a really long trip, though - a 13-hour non-stop flight from Brisbane, Australia, to LA and then from LA to Chicago via Dallas, not counting the hours spent between flights in airports, and the same trip back home! It was long and by the end we were just totally feeling all wobbly and exhausted...but it was an excited sort of wobbliness, I guess. I can say that it all proved to be really worth it! 

Unfortunately, we only had the time to visit in Illinois the entire trip. However, we enjoyed visiting Chicago and also enjoyed a lovely stay in Wheaton College in Wheaton IL. for a Christian Conference. It was a marvellous time! Mum and I also got to have a wonderful time with my aunt (Mum's sister) who was also visiting the US at that same time!

Now, one of things I really enjoyed in Chicago and Wheaton was the history. We went on an architectural land and river cruise which was absolutely amazing. The tour guides were really good and I learned a great deal...especially about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It was just amazing to see and learn how the city grew out of those horrific ashes. 

Here are some of the highlights of this trip...in photos!

Chicago Cityscape and Lake Michigan!
Photo taken in front of the Adler Planetarium. 

Chicago Cityscape and Lake Michigan
Don't you love the colours of this cityscape! Beautiful!

Chicago and Lake Michigan
- from the 95th floor of
the John Hancock Building Observatory!

Chicago Cityscape
from the 95th floor of the
John Hancock Building Observatory!

Courtyard and Fountain
Fourth Presbyterian Church
N. Michigan Ave.

Courtyard
Fourth Presbyterian Church
N. Michigan Ave.

Beautiful Mosaic Ceiling and Arches! Looks quite Byzantine to me...not sure...beautiful anyway!
Macy's Store on State Street.

The Clock!
Macy's Store on State Street.

A closer look...The Clock!
Macy's Store on State Street

I hope you enjoyed these photos. Please, come back soon to see part 2 of this post...more photos waiting...next time I'll be showing you...well, you'll find out soon!