Chicago and the North Shore seen from over Lake Michigan
Our return flight to Chicago from Seattle was long and rocky.
Our plane sported a mechanical problem just after we pulled away from the gate. “The mechanics say they’ve never seen anything like this,” the captain announced. Back at the gate, we eventually deplaned. Many hours later, the plane, still broken, was towed away. Seventeen of us left from the once-full flight waited for an available aircraft to arrive. By the time we left, it was getting on toward 10 p.m. Chicago time.
A turbulent flight. Sitting in the dark beside my sleeping husband, I tried to watch Ben Stiller in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty but gave up when a drunken pilot and he set out on a comically doomed helicopter ride. Oh, why fly?
Shortly before 1 a.m., we finally began our descent into O’Hare. It was good to see the lights on the ground, which form themselves into all sorts of beautiful constellations on the approach to the city.
Flying over many miles of organically shaped rainbow clusters (representing the suburbs), at last we reached the Chicago city limits. At the edge of the yellow light grid, the city begins.
We flew from the western suburbs all the way to the east, overshooting the city. Out over Lake Michigan (see the top picture), the grid became void. We were just northeast of Evanston. I could see the northern boundary of the city and the suburbs, with the campus of Northwestern jutting into the Lake below me.
As the plane banked, I could even see the cemetery located above Rogers Park, where Sheridan Road curves around and heads into Evanston toward the northern suburbs. The university became a bright blob at the top right of the frame.
As we neared the airport, I had a clear view of this shadowy exchange that, during waking hours, typically swarms with cars. The banal world we occupy looked beautifully strange. I’ve never seen an artsier looking highway in all my days.
At last, with the aid of some magic, we found ourselves on the ground at about 1:30. I tucked away my camera and gathered my things.
harley says
You sure know the city and surrounding areas well. That is mighty fine identifying you were able to pick out when coming in for the landing. I bet at that hour O’Hare is very, very quiet. It must have been something to see the gate areas and concourses so void of people. By the by, nice cataloging of your trip! Hope it went well.
Celia says
The airport was almost lifeless by the time we got in.
Lori D says
I don’t like to fly and haven’t set foot on plane since the 90’s. But, I do remember floating over the city, and your photos brought back those memories. The skyline looked like a small model of a city from above. I do love that photo of the highway. You’re right, very artistic. So glad you touched down safely and got home to your cozy abode.
Celia says
Lori, I admire you for managing to avoid dependence on planes! There is something very sane and sensible about that, I think. On the other hand, having to fly forces me to confront issues of trust and interdependence, since commercial flight is essentially a communal activity, and one must essentially put one’s faith in other powers when one gets on a plane!
It’s such fun to see “Chicagoland” from the sky. Every time I do, I get more of my bearings. And I love all the various patterns of the lights at night.
Thank you so much for writing in–I hope all is well with you. I am simply thrilled to be at home!