Vacation 2013

10 September - 7 October 2013
Mini-vacation in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

Page 4

Monday - 23 September 2013

University of Chicago - matriculation, officially and ceremonially entering the college

The previous night was Joseph's first night in the dorm.
Mona, Jenny and I were back at the hotel, tired and slept well.

We got up fairly early to do some shopping for the dorm room.
First to Home Depot for a board and hardware,
then found Epples, a small excellent streetfront restaurant for a hearty breakfast.
Then walked to an Office Depot and found a 2 drawer filing cabinet to act as a stand for the laser printer and some supplies.
After a very short stop at the Target store we drove to dorm (New Graduate Residence Hall) to meet up with Joseph after his morning meetings.
We arrived early (just before 11 AM) and found a metered parking space behind the dorm... oh joy... finding any parking on a univ. campus.
Problem was that there was a limit on how much you could feed the meter... we worked it out.
We found someone opening the otherwise locked back door and used the opportunity to enter and
haul the stuff we brought into the dorm, then waited for Joseph to come back from his meeting.
It was a little odd waiting in the lounge in stuffed chairs with a 6 ft. 1x8 board and
a box containing a - to be assembled - wood/pressboard filing cabinet propped around us.
Joseph arrived shortly and we got all the stuff up to the room. His roommate arrived.
We left the - to be assembled - furniture as a project for the lads to deal with later.

-
crane on SE part of campus across Midway Plaisance from the dorm - the green space between Midway Plaisance N and S - crossed to get to main campus.

From the dorm we headed across the streets

past the main Quad

and half the campus to the Reynolds Club, there was a formal box lunch to be picked up there.
Actual pick up in Hutchinson Commons,

which looks much like the great hall at Hogwarts from the Harry Potter movies.

looking at East end of the room

In fact, we took our box lunches outside where Midway House had tables

under the big pavillion set up for the whole beginning-of-year event.
The scheme had the desired effect, allowing the families of the members of Midway House to meet one another.

~ ~ ~

After lunch we walked back to the Rockefeller Chapel where the formal formal ceremonies took place.

A long line began forming in front of the Chapel, down the walk in front
and down the sidewalk going west. It was over an hour before the ceremony would begin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The outside of this building is very decorated.
an example of some of the details below.

~ ~ ~

Just above the doors.

-
The knight guarding from above and between the doors. - - - - - - - - - - - - - One of the 6 statues which flank the big stained glass window.

~

The Rockefeller Chapel picture taken from the Southeast also showing the bell tower.
~ ~ ~
It began to chill down... well at least it felt so by our Texas standards,
so Joseph and I hiked over to the dorm and got sweaters for Jenny and Mona from the Suburban.
We got back in good time to wait for some time, then the chapel doors opened and we all filed in.

Some details of the inside of Rockefeller Chapel

Looking up at the vaulted ceiling

-
Looking left - - - - - Looking right

settling in

As we were seated and for over half an hour we were entertained by
some quite good pipe organ music.

The man playing the organ from the front of the chapel.

Joseph resting his eyes.

while listening to organ music in the chapel

Joseph's sister is quite awake.

~ ~ ~
There were 3 addresses from various of the officialdom,
among them a particularly good one by John W. Boyer, Dean of the College.

~ ~ ~
Leaving the chapel after all the speeches

The flags processed first and

Then the chapel slowly emptied.
The crowd filed out and walked through the main quadrangle toward the Hull Gate.

Out of the Chapel we turned right and walked down State Street

Then turned right and walked down University Street

Joseph and Mona walking

to the SE corner of the Main Mall

walked past Eckhart

we walked at an oblique angle across the Mall NW,

then turned North past Ryerson Labs toward the Hull Gate.

Hull Gate in the distance.

Family - taken by a passing stranger
as we all took pictures of one anothers families returning the favor.

Hull gate - as the students said good by to their families
pictures were taken and the families turned right to the reception.

The Reception for the families. The new students had gone through Hull Gate
to have their picture taken and join their houses, becomming full students.

On the way back to the dorm where we had parked we passed

Leon Mandel Hall - a classic ivy covered University building.

Crossing Midway Plaisance on the way back to the dorm and where our Suburban was parked.

We had been concerned about not getting back to the parking meter on time...
as it was, we had 2 minutes left.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Next page - 4b - the last part of the day - Chicago - Navy Pier

page 5 - Wisconsin - Michigan etc.

previous - page 3 - Chicago - moving in U. Chicago

Oriental Institute Museum - page 3b -

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update 11 November 2013

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