May 2018 – Pilsen, Day 2

Jun 6, 2018

4 min read

Okay you guys, this is like two times longer than the last one, so: this is your warning. Make sure you got the time. Sorry in advance.

So: Day 2! I’ve got a few pictures of our rental, and our breakfast. Breakfast was not as impressive for Scott and I, as we are not huge fans of stale donuts. The kids were happy though, and I guess in this case that’s all that counts. We have our coffee (blessed coffee) to keep us happy.

Here’s the right-side view out the front window. The best park of all time. I didn’t track to the Left, or you would have seen the National Museum of Mexican Art. We had a prime location with this airbnb, guys.

The airbnb was no frills for sure – seemed like a lot of it was cobbled together by the owner, including the plumbing and electrical. Also, it was tiny. But! It was clean, the window air units kept it cold once we got them fired up, and the location could not be beat. So we had no issues.

The boys certainly enjoyed it. Both are already badgering us to stay there again.

Also the 2 bedrooms had very entertaining signage, and you can’t beat that (the kids took the front bedroom, us adults stuck to the back bedroom).

After some coffee to the face and kids munching up the donuts, we hit the road. Pilsen is known for its murals, as I mentioned before. It was already meltingly hot (ugh) but we slathered on the sunscreen and hit the road. The 16th Street railroad embankment was chockful, so we headed that way first.

This Sentrock piece was on the corner down the street, and Moose was more than happy to pose for a shot.

I am embarrassed to admit this, but here goes: I frequently ask my kids to stand by a mural so I have an excuse to take a picture, so now it’s so ingrained in them that they just freeze and get into position as soon as they see something they like or that they anticipate I would like.

Whoops.

Also: thanks, my dudes. (But still kinda embarrassing.)

Sentrock x Bear Champ, be still my heart…

After walking 16th Street we looped back to 18th, then did Linus’ dream: caught the El line.

I have never seen him happier.

(I know he looks more pissed than happy, but trust: this was a lifelong dream of his.)

ANYWAY. We took the stop in the West Loop, to check out murals and grab some lunch.

It was SO HOT. We limped our way to BomboBar, got some frozen overpriced gourmet lemonade for the kids and a giant cold brew coffee, which Scott and I chugged in two seconds flat. I wasn’t super impressed with the frozen lemonade but it kept the kids from getting heat stroke, so whatever.

For lunch, we hit up Nandos. I first heard of this chain through this UK fitness vlogger/bad-ass cancer survivor I’ve been following for awhile named Emily Hayward, and I was curious to check it out. And the kids, they LOVED it. They have both mentioned several times that they want to go back. And hey: for fast food, it’s decently good for you (even the chicken fingers are roasted strips, no fried here) and the food is yummy to boot.

Also the AC feels like a dream on a super hot day.

I got this roasted veg in spicy tomato sauce thing for my side and it was tasty.

And Moose liked the Heat Flags.

After lunch we took the long way back to the El station. My Linus, you guys: he’s already got a hairy back. He’s gonna be such a hairy adult dude. Sorry, kid.

(Moose totally wiped up at the top of these stairs, and busted up his drink cup. We wrapped it in extra napkins when we realized the situation, but it still leaked all over the El train car. Sorry, later El passengers.)

El Surfer Dancer Dude.

On back to the rental.

We got back to the airbnb and chilled and the kids kinda sorta napped and we really didn’t feel like venturing back out to the heat so we just hung for awhile.

Until Pete could not be separated from his favorite park any longer, then we headed out in the mid-day heat.

(Yes, I am a very nice Mom, thanks for thinking that as well.)

After awhile I convinced him to go to the National Museum of Mexican Art with me.

Pete was REALLY into the art. He stopped and carefully read all the placards and asked tons of questions. Finally you guys, I am raising an art nerd. We had a really enjoyable, educational time in there.

Linus and Scott even joined us for a moment. (Pretty much only a moment, then Linus got too squirrelly and they headed back to the airbnb.)

We got a bunch of fun things at the gift shop, then headed back to the airbnb. By that time we were ready to just relax for a bit in the nice, cool AC.

By dinnertime we were still in full-on LAZY mode, so we dispatched Scott to Carnitas Uruapan for some MEAT (that YouTube link is so worth a watch, guys). This place, though: it’s legit. Scott got 3 lbs mixed, stopped at the Mexican bakery on the way back for some fresh tortillas, and ta-da: dinner is served.