Spirited to Chicago

We flew Spirit Airlines for the first time today. Our flight was uneventful once we were in the air. We were notified by email early in the morning that we would be delayed by a half hour. Once we were on board we were further delayed another 30 minutes or so due to computer issues at the headquarters in Florida. Our pilot walked the aisle schmoozing the passengers and explaining the problem as best he could. Overall our first experience with Spirit was fine (all airlines experience delays unfortunately) and we would fly them again, especially because we saved several,hundred dollars over the return flight home on another airline.

After arriving at O'Hare and picking up our bags we made our way to the subway entrance for the famous Chicago El train. $10.00 and 43 minutes later we were in downtown Chicago and a 4 block walk away from our hostel. I checked my phone for our directions and Tom used his as a compass to find "East" before we started our jaunt. Is was an easy walk and it only took moments (and a credit card of course) before we were checked in to our private room at the hostel.

This is our first American hostel experience and the most (by far) expensive hostel we have ever stayed in at about $150. per night (reportedly $50. for a single bed in an 8 person dorm). The price we paid is  for a room without a private bath. Our room is as bare bones as it comes, however the common rooms are plentiful and inviting which I believe may be the point. If the rooms aren't overly spacious or accommodating people will be forced to congregate (and therefore mingle) with other travelers in the common areas. This is of course our favorite part about the hostel experience anyway!

Hungry after a long day of travel we found an old style Chicago restaurant (circa 1932, low light atmosphere, heavy wood walls and tables, and lots of loud talking). We had a so so meal before we headed back to our room. Despite it being two hours earlier at home we were ready for bed.

Branson here we come

Branson... Slovenia? Poland? Ukraine?

Don't I wish.

No European adventure for us this time around. We are headed to a family reunion in Branson, Misssouri this trip. We are excited to see our extended family, however meeting in a more exotic local would have been my preference!

We are starting or adventure with four days in Chicago. Our temporary big city home will also be our first American hostel. No $30. room like we are accustomed to in European cities. We are paying $150. a night for the pleasure of sharing a bathroom with several other private rooms. We are supremely excited for the hostel experience though. Our hostel is reported to have a great common room which always makes meeting other travelers easier.

After Chicago we plan to spend the next week with friends and then family before heading to Branson for the big gathering.