Welcome to
Sacred Heart School of Theology's
English as a Second Language Program
The ESL Times / Summer, 2003
The Windy City
By: Sergio Pinto
(Portugal)
Al Capone, the “Dry Law”, machine guns, Richard Kimble, jazz nights… All of these items have filled my mind since I was a child. Unfortunately, I didn’t discover any of them during my trip to Chicago, but that didn’t disappoint me. The distant skyscrapers were like what I had seen in movies, and as we came closer to the city, and as the skyline with all its lights brightening the night, got closer and closer, I became more and more excited.
I stayed two too short days in Chicago (no matter the number of days, I do not think it would be enough). We visited some of the hallmarks of the city. On the first day, we saw The Field Museum, The Shed Aquarium, and the amazing view of Michigan Lake with its small boats. I liked to see the people taking walks or just standing still near the lake shore feeling the wind and watching the seagulls flying.
On the second day I had the opportunity to “wash my eyes” at the Art Museum – this is one of the places that makes me wish to be everybody at the same time and to have more eyes than nature allows me; I was amazed by all that beauty all together in one place. I was surprised to find one piece by Amadeo de Sousa Cardoso, a cubist Portuguese painter, near the Picassos, the Monets, Dalis and Van Goghs (my favorite artist). Unfortunately I had to eventually leave the museum and move to Navy Pier, a meaningful place, where I bought some souvenirs for my family and I enjoyed looking at a beautiful collection of glasses and mirrors from old Chicago at the exhibit there. At our next stop – The John Hancock Building – I could see the whole city and the lake…I think that there are some moments that the best description is to say nothing….to just observe in an amazed silence, and I had nothing but silence at the end of that day to explain to you about the time I spent in Chicago.
There is a Portuguese song that says that one must “never return to the place where you were happy”. The sentiment is probably right, but I keep wishing for the day when I must return once more to Chicago. I know that the Windy City will wait for me, patiently lying on the lake shore, as the time goes by making my return come closer, and closer, once again…
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