Anthony's Travel Adventures

By Anthony T. Eaton

Not long ago, I took an unforgettable journey from my home in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to the heart of Chicago. This trip to Chicago was not my first, but it was my first time traveling with Stephen, who would become one of my favorite travel companions. My previous trips had been different, taken when my husband was still alive. I would experience the city differently this time, stepping into a new travel chapter with a fantastic travel companion.

We both anticipated this trip because we would take the Amtrak Empire Builder from the Saint Paul Union Depot to Chicago’s Union Station. First, we were unsure we could go due to recent snow that had canceled the Empire Builder north of Saint Paul. Amtrak certainly could have communicated better. As luck would have it, the preceding day’s westbound train had stopped in Saint Paul and would return to Chicago as our train!

It was cold as we boarded Amtrak’s Empire Builder at Union Depot in Saint Paul. I had initially purchased a roomette because Stephen had never experienced a private train compartment. Because the train had not come from the West Coast, there were very few passengers, and the car attendant put us in a bedroom for the seven-hour ride. The bedroom offers a lot more room with a chair, a sofa, and a private bathroom.

I love the rhythmic sway of the cars, the sound the wheels make on the steel tracks, the distant sound of the train horn, and the ever-changing Midwestern landscape outside our window. There are distinct smells and sounds on the train: the mechanical and sometimes diesel smell of the equipment, the brewing coffee, and meals being served in the dinner. Along with the clatter of the rails, there are opening and closing doors, things that rattle, and other noises from outside and within.

The moment we stepped off the train at Union Station, we could feel the pulse of the city. Chicago has a look and feel all its own, different from other cities like New York or LA. There is a distinct scent, a mix of street food vendors, deep-dish pizza, and other ethnic foods. There is a constant buzz with the elevated trains overhead, horns honking, and snippets of conversation from passerby’s on the crowded sidewalks.

After settling into our hotel, one of our first stops was the Museum of Science and Industry, where we marveled at the streamlined beauty of the historic Zephyr train. Stephen and I are train buffs, and it was amazing to tour the streamlined stainless-steel train. We could imagine riding in this sleek Art Deco-styled train with its light pastel interior. You could almost smell the cigarettes being smoked by businessmen in hats and the perfume from well-dressed women travelers.

We also stood beneath the fuselage of a retired 727 jet and toured its inside. Last but not least, we walked around and went inside a captured German U-boat—a chilling piece of history not for the claustrophobic. You could still smell the oil and grease in the cramped compartment. The noise of the motors running must have been defining!

One of the other things we experienced was taking in some nightlife and stopping in for a drink at one of the local LGBTQ+ bars. Chicago has excellent nightlife, and the LGBTQ+ area of the city is known as Boys Town. There is a welcomeness in finding neighborhoods where you fit in and feel safe. While I consider Chicago reasonably secure, it was also good to have a travel companion as there is more safety in numbers. Getting around Chicago is easy; the Metra and “L” make getting around the city, especially the loop, simple.

But the true highlight of our trip was something I never saw coming. Stephen had managed to get us tickets to see Blue Man Group, and not just any seats—we were right on the center aisle, just beyond the splash zone, imagine four or five rows from the stage.

It was ironic that Stephen had gotten the tickets because, on our train ride to Chicago, I had mentioned to him that when I was in high school, I loved theater and dreamed of being an actor. I never imagined that childhood dream was about to take center stage—literally.

Partway through the show, one of the Blue Men stepped off the stage, and almost before I could process what was happening, I was being pulled onstage. The next few moments were filled with comedic wild energy. I was handed a set of drumsticks and gestured to mirror my abductor’s movements on the drum. Then came the wig—a long, flowing mane—while a fan blew my “hair” like a rock star in a music video. The audience erupted in laughter. Although the experience lasted a few minutes, it was the absolute highlight of the trip!

I hadn’t been on a stage in forty years, and here I was, in front of a packed house, part of the paint-splattered world of the Blue Man Group. You could smell the scent of paint in the air, and I was glad we were out of the splash zone; there were no raincoats for us.  No photos were allowed, but I didn’t need them—Stephen was my witness, and the memory was seared into my mind forever.

This trip was a travel turning point for me, bringing me new experiences and a deeper connection with my travel companion. Though the city’s Blue Man Group show has since closed, it can still be seen in Cities like Las Vegas.

The next day, as our train left Union Station and headed back toward Saint Paul, I was already thinking about our next adventure. Chicago had set the bar high, but I knew this was just the beginning of more incredible journeys. As for repeat visits, Chicago is absolutely in the top three!