Arriving in Chicago: the Long Way Round, Without a Suitcase

This is a translation. The original post is in German.

I only made it to Chicago by a detour. Unfortunately I missed my connecting flight in Iceland, so a few hours later I was flown from Keflavík to Baltimore instead of Chicago. We landed in the US shortly before midnight. The plan was to continue to Chicago on the next United Airlines flight at seven the following morning.

A night in Baltimore

Immigration dragged on, because at that hour there was only a single officer still on duty. It went without a hitch, though: I have a B1/B2 visa, valid for ten years, which I got through my work for the company in the US.

Then came the next shock: my suitcase hadn’t made it. That was more than annoying, because my marathon kit was in it. I slept for a few hours in a hotel a little outside Baltimore and then took the shuttle bus back to the airport.

A marathon runner at the gate

In the departure lounge, that early in the morning, I got talking to Tobias from Bensheim. I’d already noticed him the evening before at passport control, because he was dressed head to toe in marathon finisher gear: shirt, cap and jacket. He was running the Chicago Marathon too, but luckily for him he was travelling with hand luggage only. We talked about running, about training and about the marathons of the world, until we went our separate ways at boarding.

Sunrise over the Potomac

The flight was a real experience. In the light of the rising sun I could see from above how the Potomac flows into Chesapeake Bay. A huge, mighty river, and a beautiful sight from the plane.

In Chicago I went straight to Icelandair to ask about my suitcase. It was supposed to come on the next plane from Iceland. But that one only lands in Chicago in the evening, so delivery wouldn’t be possible until the next day, Saturday at best. Two days before the marathon, that was too close for comfort, so I headed into the city for now. Chicago welcomed me straight away with its river, its red bridges and its skyscrapers.

Shopping first

Luckily I had a nice apartment hotel downtown, right across from Nordstrom. Nordstrom is a big American department store, but a very pricey one. My plan: after a short break at the hotel, first get a burger and then buy new clothes and underwear at Uniqlo. For the race itself I’d get kitted out again at the marathon expo.

On the way, by the way, a Tesla Cybertruck was parked at the kerb. You don’t see a vehicle like that back home.

Shopping in the US is no bargain, though. Prices are clearly higher than in Germany, and it’s basically the same brands and shops you know from home.

By bus and train

Chicago has a good public transport network. Admittedly, the ticket machines are very old, don’t take international credit cards and give no change if you pay cash. But for 10 USD you get a day pass for the whole city and can ride the buses and the subway, although the “L” mostly runs as an elevated railway above the streets. The commuter rail costs extra, also 10 USD for a day pass.

At the marathon expo

The atmosphere at the marathon expo at McCormick Place was fantastic. At the Nike stand every sale got a loud cheer, whether it was a pair of socks or a shirt. Ha, it’s quite something how they keep the excitement up here. I bought shoes and a pair of trousers there. And in case my suitcase didn’t turn up, the old finisher shirt I’d worn on the plane would have to do.

An evening walk among the skyscrapers

From the expo I took the commuter train back to Millennium Park and walked the five or six blocks to the hotel. The sun was already low, and I couldn’t stop marvelling at the skyscrapers.

On the bridge over the Chicago River the water was glittering in the evening sun, and down on the Riverwalk there were crowds of people.

Only one tower made me think my own thoughts: the big one with “TRUMP” emblazoned on it in huge illuminated letters!

What happened next with my suitcase and the marathon is in No Marathon.