NEVER STOP SMILING: June 2006

Monday, June 19, 2006

Weekend in Chicago

Last weekend (9th-12th June) I went, with Murat (roommate and labmate) and Satya (labmate) to Chicago for spending the weekend. The official reason was the wedding of one of our labmates, Nannan, but we use the opportunity to stay some days in that city. It was my first time there, since I'm the only one in the lab who came directly to St.Louis without studying at UIC (University of Illinois in Chicago), but finally I had the possibility to visit it.

Driving to Chicago

Chicago is a really nice city. If you've ever been in New York, Chicago has maybe 1/10 of the skysrapers of New York, but it looks like there are more. I think the reason is that the city is more compact than NYC, and everything is concentrated in a relatively small area in downtown. One thing: even if you go during summertime to Chicago, don't forget to bring some heavy clothes...The equation summer = warm in Chicago doesn't work always...
By the way, the 10th of June was also my birthday...and I celebrated it in some locals with Murat and his turkish friends. It was really funny. And of course, thanks to everyone sent me wishes (and also to those who forgot it, dont worry...)

Millennium Park

In front of the Chicago Tribune

Over the Chicago river

The Michigan Lake

On Sunday 11th there was the wedding of Nannan (with Ben). It was a really nice cermony, followed by a nice lunch and some dance.

The wedding cake

With the groom and the bride

A nice weekend. I'm sure I'll go back again to enjoy more that city...

Chicago skyline

Soundtrack : High and dry (J. Cullum)

Friday, June 02, 2006

Katy and the wineries

Last weekend (the Memorial Day weekend) I went with some of my friends to a wonderful place. I still don't really know which is the name of this region, the only thing I know is that is the Missouri wineries region (around 50 miles east of St. Louis). I have to be sincere, I didn't expect a place like this in Missouri. And instead...it reminded me some places in Italy... It's a wonderful place to relax and have fun with your friends. Besides, there is a very nice trail for biking, called Katy trail.

Katy trail

The name is due to the fact that it was the old railroad for the trains going from St. Louis to Texas through Kansas (Kansas--> Ka, Texas --> Ty). Nowdays, this trail is a State Park that goes from St. Charles to (almost) Kansas City. The nature and the peace you can see and find there deserves to be experienced.
We stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast in the little town of Marthasville, on a hill dominating all the meadows around it.

Bed & breakfast

A sunset on the Missouri river

Me biking on the Katy trail

We biked every day, and the nice thing is that, after all the efforts, you can sit down in some nice winery enjoying a glass of wine, talking with your friends, with some live music in the background.
It was a wonderful weekend, and I suggest you to go there, if you have the possibility. It's really worth...just look at the pictures to find a proof...