Move In Day in Chicago plus Family Visit

Labor day weekend was the assigned move in date for Columbia College.  We arrived Saturday night and slipped out of town just 24 hours later.  

In the mean time, we got to stop by Target and bunch of stores to purchase what we couldn't carry on the plane and also too a nice drive up past Schaumburg to Crystal Lake, IL to visit cousins, Paty and Rafael Mezo, at their new grocery store called La Rosita.

After all these years, Selena finally got a chance to get on a flight that offers DirectTV on each seat.  Of course, she slept through experience.

Finally on the ground 4 hours later and on the rental car bus.

Time for lunch at the midwest chain called Steak and Shake.

We then took a trip to Crystal Lake, a village so far north its closer to Wisconsin than Chicago.  Destination, the store call La Rosita.

After a period over 25 years, Selena and Sonia get to see cousin Paty Mezo at their store that they opened in February of this year.

See the family resemblance?

There's a carniceria, lots of fresh produce, and a great taqueria featuring fresh tacos al pastor.

Our hosts, Rafael and Paty.

These are pictures of pictures taken from Paty's phone.  First, her son's, Isaac and Alberto - better known as el Chino.

Not long after Paty moved to Chicago, her brother Tavo followed.  Here his is with his trusty companion.

These are Isaac's kids, Elizabeth (Elsie) and Matthew.

This is Paty's niece, daughter of her sister, Lorena, taken at her quinceneria.  Miriam is her name.

Moving day on Sunday.

Selena's new roommate is old friend Taylor French, also an OCHSA alum.

First day in and already a few loads of laundry to get done.

Time for shopping for missing items.  First stop is the brand new Target on State Street.

 Also needed new shoes for her first trip to the dorm gym later.

View from Selena's 11th floor room.  This is the public library.  That's the Sears Tower in the back left.

Selena can also keep an eye on her favorite shopping location, the corner CVS.

Unpacking continues before more errands.

Famous Chicago Theater on State Street a few blocks north of the dorm.

Across the river looking at the Marina Towers.  They once had a car drive off the parking garage floors in the lower section into the Chicago weather for a Steve McQueen movie.

A final stop to grab breakfast and a special treat, banana and nutella crepes from Selena's favorite local restaurant, called Yolk.