Day 97: Normal service resumes...

Day 97: ... a welcome home, welcome...

Doesn't take long for things to return to normal. A pleasant, though long flight (about fifteen and a half hours once you take off) so today has been about catching up on work, largely. 

A wonderful garden fragrance greeted me on return so I had to go out and explore. The bees were pleased I gather. Also noticed some jacarandas flowering on the way home this morning...ah, spring, er autumn...um, whatever the season may be trying to be...here or in Chicago.

Bee business 1

Bee business 2

Normal transmission resumes...

(Camera : iPhone 4S, 2.43pm, 2.45pm)

Day 96: An ode to Chicago...

Day 96: ...before a day goes missing...

Last day of the conference today, 6 April. I fly back to Australia this evening, from Dallas to Brisbane. The last session of the conference finished around midday which gave me two or three hours to wander the streets, taking in the sights. This time last year, I headed directly to the Art Institute, one of my favourite places. This year, as tempting as it was to revisit, I decided to turn left on Michigan Ave to explore Millennium Park and the surrounding sights. 

Chicago really is a place for photographers and I really should have had my big camera, but oh well, I was here for a conference after all. Here, as a tribute to this marvellous city, are just a sample of the pics I took during my two hour stroll around this part of town. 

Icons

Bridge and spring buds

Pritzker Pavilion dominates

Pritzker Pavilion

Contrasts...

Skyscrapers...

Contrasts

Fire escapes...

Good, good...yep

It starts here...

The hotel, Palmer House,  Wabash entrance.

The Loop, from the corner bakery

Resting apostrophe

Millennium Park Fountain

Same fountain, perched gull

Fascinating architecture

Leftover snow, yep, not completely thawed

 Cloud Gate ('The Bean'), one view

Cloud Gate ('The Bean'), another view

Jan Pritzker Pavilion

Pritzker Pavilion, lights

Spring sun

Skyline with Pritzker view

Lake Michigan, in the distance

Thanks Chicago, and MPSA, see you again next year.

I'll actually completely miss 7 April, the next time I blog will be from home, on 8 April. 

(Camera : iPhone 4S, 11.56am-3.21pm)

Day 95: A short break...

Day 95: ...not so bleak

Today, 5 April, was such a contrast weatherwise. Blue sky, sun, still a little chilly, but very lovely. I am a big fan of Chicago architecture...there is such a mix (and a series of pics coming up in the next post). Right outside my window was that sense you were right in the middle of it all...

View from the window, 1

View from the window 2

During the lunch break today I dashed down the street to find a particular bookshop I had looked up previously, having been led to believe there might have been a few Hannah Arendt books there. 

On State St, Chicago 2

There were, I bought all but one (because I had it already...). Couldn't help but take in the blue sky and buildings along the way though...#612bluesky in Chicago...

On State St, Chicago 1

Back to the conference then, books in hand, very chuffed.


 (Camera iPhone, 6.53am and 12.51pm)

Day 94: A little noir to begin...

Day 94: ...a touch of elegance along the way

Chicago time 4 April, early morning, and time to duck down to the 'corner bakery' for their excellent breakfasts and refillable coffee cups...like everything here, the serves are big, the cups are big...I probably eat more in two meals than I eat across two days at home. Still, it's good to keep going across almost ten hours of listening and engaging each day. 

When I stepped out this morning, it was drizzling and a little chilly and with the light and the lights, it just looked a little Chicago noir...

Stepping out, Chicago morning

Very Chicago.  Another great day of engaging panels and papers; my interests are diverse--across Northeast Asian politics and security, political theory, psephology of every sort and so on that I have to make some really tough decisions. 

Elevator lobby style

And yes, I'm one of those conference attendees who attends everything going...too interesting. 

(Camera : iPhone 4S, 7.09am, 2.48pm)

Day 93: The conference begins...

Day 93: ...and history reigns...

Early registration (7.00am) then breakfast and a final run through of my paper which is on an 10.30am panel, one of five papers. Yes, along way to travel for a 12 minute presentation and short discussion but so interesting to hear others who are doing similar work. 

The Midwest Political Science Association Conference is big (by Australian standards). This is the second time I've attended. Over the next three and a half days, there will be about 5,500 papers by about 6000 presenters, roundtables, posters and general discussion across five sessions a day. Too much politics is never enough as they say. 

Palmer House is an historic hotel in Chicago, beautifully, perhaps the word is elegantly, appointed, with a rich history (it is said to be the home of the 'brownie', the sweet). The walls on the hallways in the hotel section are adorned with the photos of all who have played in the famous Empire Room, the entertainment centrepiece. Last year, as much as the musician in me wanted to, I didn't get to go in there. This year, however, organisers arranged to have roundtable panels in the Empire Room. Fabulous idea.

Discussion and elegance

Detail...

OK, don't ask me to recall exactly what the discussion was for the first panel I attended there, I went really just to soak up the atmosphere and hear the voices of Sinatra, Garland, Fitzgerald, Armstrong...et al. (It was a special lecture, about the history of ideas...most appropriate.)

Also excited that the day included two panel discussions on Hannah Arendt...my current research project. And so reassuring in the presence of specialists, that I might be onto something...and a paper idea for next year!

(Camera : iPhone 4S, 5.40pm, 4.33pm)

Day 92: Needing a place to rest...

Day 92: ...with choice

And so the journey continued, not only differences in days but a further time zone to traverse. And because of the way the clock worked today (which I recall was 2 Apr US time), I seem to have spent all day and most of the evening in airports, in transit, in the air...at least I got a lot of reading done.

I reached my hotel room in Chicago around 9.00pm so quite apt that this was my first sight. The conference and accommodation is all wrapped into one place: Palmer House. They didn't stay that way too for very long; with all that travelling and lolling around, I made pretty good use of them, quick smart. 

A place to rest...

In anticipation of tomorrow...panel presentation first up.

(Camera : iPhone 4S, 9.11pm)

Day 91: When one April Fool's isn't enough...

Day 91: ...crossing the dateline

Time for my annual political science conference in Chicago. So that means the long-haul flight across the Pacific, first stop LA, briefly, to see relatives. Makes for a bit of variety for the pic of the day then...Manhattan Beach Pier...and a #612bluesky with an American twist.

Manhattan Beach and its pier

Apart from the direction the traffic drives on the roads, LA has a Southeast Queensland feel--the suburbs, the beach, even the same shops in the same sort of shopping centres (including one I learnt was owned by Westfield [though parking remains free]). 

#612bluesky with a twist

The pier at Manhattan Beach has a small aquarium at the end, a pleasant little walk; there was a farmers' market as well, coffee shops and restaurants...probably fish 'n' chips too, but it wasn't lunchtime. Could have compared with Moffat...

LA sunset

Too brief a stop in some ways, but the conference beckons...

[Camera : iPhone 4S, 3.01pm, 3.02pm, 7.22pm]