kaia | We were wide-eyed dreamers and wiser too.

Pride Parade was yesterday, and I don't even know where to start. The day was full of both good and bad moments (the bad weren't actually related to Pride, another post for that so I don't have to f-lock this one). If you ever get a chance to go to one, especially in a major city, do it. I don't think there is anything quite like it. Just pulling into the train station in town you could see the rainbows already. It was glorious.

The train was so packed that by the second stop, people were already having to stand and so even took to standing in the bathrooms just for room. Shots were being taken even at 8:30 in the morning, whole train cars singing songs togther, people already completely wasted, and just general awesome craziness.

After fighting the traffic to the bathroom when the train got to the station, the woman guarding the men's bathroom (seriously), and attempting to get 3-4 groups all in one place, I took my first ride on the L (Chicago train system). Which, considering I've lived here my entire life is a little weird. As the train slowed into the Boystown station, all you could see out of the window was a sea of rainbows and people.

Then you get into the sea of people. There are shouts of free hugs, people dressed in costumes, hardly dressed at all, and people selling beer just about everywhere. I think I would've had fun just finding a place to stand and watching the people go by. And the best part? People were all smiling, all laughing, and just all enjoying the day. You could strike up conversations with anyone, and people would comment on yours as you're walking by if they felt like it.

Finding a place to stand for the parade was the hard part, and we didn't find a great spot but it worked. Next year, I'm definitely taking the 6AM train and not going to the most populated part of the parade route for the parade itself, but the most crowded part also had it charms. The floats with music blasting and people dancing had a lot of us in crowd dancing too. People were coming and going, so there was always a new face standing near us. The parade itself was full of so many different people too -- young, old, from various places of the world, and it was amazing. You can be yourself completely there, with no one to judge and put you down.

After the parade, we went on a quest to find one of the many beaches in the city. A couple L and bus rides later, and a trip to CVS in which I met two actual models (Who stared at me, I mean, I guess the girl in a bright orange tanktop is an odd sight at a CVS in Downtown Chicago), we were close, but were also at a crossroads. One part of the group wanted to go straight to the beach and another part wanted to go get some food. Having not eaten, I naturally went with the group to go get some food. They wanted Panda Express, and so another quest started. We knew the adress, but still ended up wandering a little bit of Michigan Ave to no avail. It ended up being inside one of the stores in a four story mall we thought was only one store. We did find it. And guess what?

It was closed.

They gave us free egg rolls though, since they had JUST closed and it ended up working out, since I had the biggest, hottest, most amazing burrito of my entire life instead.

We made it to the beach eventually and wandered Navy Pier afterward, since we had time until the train home. That was an adventure too. We had no idea what bus to take, so hoppped on one and then jumped on the only color (L trains are colored) that doesn't go directly to our train stop. That was okay though, because we got into the car with drunk craziness going on. Two girls were trying to get the whole care in our the White Sox vs Cubs rivalry that is so loved here, but were completely wasted. The guy standing next to me was watching them, looked at me and said, "They would make the worst cheerleaders." Since, they had said the complete wrong team name in their song. That had everyone that was in the earshot laughing.

The adventure wasn't over yet. On the way back to LaSalle from the L station, we finally found it.

Panda Express, right there, through a few intersections and the light about to change (5 seconds to run across two intersections) and cars about to start moving. What does my friend do? He jets across the intersection, screaming. And what do I do? Follow, naturally. The people in the cars had to think we were nuts, but we didn't care. That is one of those memories that will never leave, running across an intersection in Downtown Chicago screaming.

You ever have one of those moments you just feel alive? That was one of those for me.

That was the most suiting end, finally finding a Panda Express at the end of the day right before boarding the train.

About 30ish pictures below the cut, so sorry if I blow anyone's connection up. Pictures are fun.

Train station after everyone got off.

There was a lot of this.

See.

I make friends everywhere I go.

My sister and her best friend at Navy Pier, waiting for the bus.

Proof we made it. That trash was just left by the people before, how rude.

Reflection from the Metra train.

Later, Chicago.

Current Mood: content

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't realize it was possible, but this entry has made me even more excited for Thursday, when I finally get to leave for Toronto. It's going to be my first Pride ever, though I have friends who have been going and telling me about it for nearly a decade. From the pictures and the descriptions, it just sounds like an amazing atmosphere and I can't wait to finally get to experience it! Haha. Glad you had fun, and I hope the bad parts weren't too bad.

This one was my first, and I'm so glad I went. It'll be something I'll try very hard to make every year. I really loved the diversity of the people there, from every line of work and of every age, race, etc and all there being happy to be who they are. I don't know if I've ever seen so much dancing all in one place in my life either. I loved it. There is nothing I've ever done that is like it.

Thanks! And nah, the bad parts definitely didn't ruin the day at all. Pride is much too amazing for that, and now I know better for next year.

Glad you had such a great time!

The pride event in our small town on Saturday was a tiny little potluck picnic. We didn't go, but we saw lots of people with rainbows and whatnot at roller derby that evening.

Thanks! :D

A picnic would be a lot of fun too, and I would love to go to a Pride event on a smaller scale too. I loved how big and crazy the Chicago one was, don't get me wrong, but smaller scale would be fun to experience too.

Sounds like you had an amazing time! And there are some, err, nice views ;) And the weather looks good as well. Pride's not really my thing, although I've only been to my city's one which is small. Still, I imagine a big one is pretty fun. Well it looks it anyway!

I'm looking forward to seeing Chicago in September!

Haha, there were so many nice views there. ;D That was totally one of the best parts of walking down the street. They had said we were going to get rained out, but there was no rain at all. The sun was shining all day. It was hot, but not anywhere near as bad as the days before were. Just hot enough to make the beach feel amazing.

Oh, it is such an amazing city! Some of the buildings just look awesome, like the library. I love even just picking a bus and riding it, just to see if I can spot something I haven't seen before. There is so much to do and see too, and even though I've lived incredibly close my entire life there is still a huge list of things I haven't done yet that I want to.

a few of my friends went to pride in columbus last saturday. they said it was one of the best times they've ever had.

It was amazing. <3 Definitely something I'll go to next year.

Wow, this sounds like such a fun and exciting experience.

Chicago looks beautiful. If I ever make it back to the US that's where I'm gonna go (I've only been to NYC once so far).

It really was. <3

It is. I've never been to NYC, so I don't know how they compare, but Chicago is completely amazing. There is so much to do there, and even just walking through the buildings downtown is amazing. There is so much diversity in the buildings and then the lake is right there. I could go on and on about how much I love it.

Glad you had a great time *^^*

Chicago is really beautiful - I miss it so...

Thanks!

It really is.

Glad you had a good time. I want to experience one next year.

Thanks! I say definitely do it. It is an amazing experience.

MY CITY <3 <3 Oh god I miss Chicago!

Thank you for sharing this post.

Also DAMN at all the sculpted guys in their underwear lol

I KNOW! Everywhere you look, bam, super sculpted guy not wearing much. It was glorious. And they're all super nice too.

I'm glad you had such a great time! :)

I love free hugs!! :D Those pictures look so terrific and happy and all kinds of equal love ♥

Thanks!

Me too, and people would walk around with signs that said that. Free hugs are great.

Hahaha, when I saw it across the street I HAD to take a picture.

Wow! These are great pictures! I am glad to hear you had a great time. It looks amazing. I've never been to a Pride Parade before (mainly because, for the last four or so years, we haven't had one) but I would love to go one year. I'm sorry to hear there were some negative moments. I'm not a fan of people who can't make the most of an experience and have to drag people down with them. I'm glad it didn't ruin your day.

Thanks! The good of the day heavily outweighed the bad, so I'm glad for that. I can't wait to have an even more amazing experiencen next year.

Ohhh, it sounds like it was pretty awesome :D There's just something really nice about being around a lot of people who are all having a good time and enjoying the day and well, just celebrating :D

Chicago looks a lot nicer when there's not snow everywhere and you're not lost XD

It was amazing. :D It really is. The atmosphere is just so great when everyone around you is having just as good of a time. I loved the dancing in the streets as I was walking down one.

Hahaha, definitely. The winters here aren't much fun.

Windy and cold and more windy was my experience. Though the city itself looks nice with the snow, it could do less with the wind.

The pictures are fantastic! Thanks for sharing! :)
I miss Chicago so much!

Thanks! Everytime I leave, I can't wait to hop back on the train to go back.

This looks like such an amazing time! I have to get to a pride parade sometime in my life. I love that everyone is so accepting and all smiles :) The rest of the world could take a lesson!

Totally! People would walk around, blowing kisses and saying "You're all beautiful!" to all the passerbys. You just can't feel bad about anything there.