Friday, 7/2/2010. 1:20PM Game time Left our hotel and boarded the bus this morning at 7:00AM so we’d have time to tour around Wrigley Field before the game started. This is a very old and historic field with lots to do and see. When we left for the tour one week ago I was told to be sure and try the “Italian Beef” roll at Wrigley, that ‘s the only place you can get the original 
“Italian Beef” so I set out to 
be sure and do just that. And I did! Whatta treat! You can load it up with sweet and/or hot peppers and condiments of all kinds, but I chose to take just the beef on a bun with sweet peppers, because that’s what I was told to do! It was exactly as described to me and I’ll be sure and thank those who recommended it.
The most popular food at Wrigley I’m told, and it must be true if you look at the fans waiting in line, is the Chicago Dog! But the dogs here are Ballpark Franks unlike the Nathans used at Yankee stadium and I think there’s a 
difference. Maybe I was just a little more hungry at Yankee Stadium or could it possibly be that I’d already eaten that huge Italian Beef? But officially the Chicago Dog is the food of choice at Wrigley Field! Also prices are better here. Hot dogs are $4.75 vs $5 – $7.50 at Yankee Stadium.
I really have to spend just a bit of time talking about the ballgame today. Final score Cincinnati 12 – Chicago 0. Ugghh……. Reds scored 8 runs in the 7th inning alone! The Reds went through their entire lineup in the 7th inning with only one hit before it all broke loose (this included 5 walks)! What’s interesting here is the Cubs have lost 20 of their last 30 games but you’d never know it by looking in the stands. Over 40,000 in attendance cheering as if this was a game of monumental importance in the 
standings. Cubbie fans have a reputation of being rough and rowdy and I’ve experienced this before. But not today. Today these were just loyal fans hoping for better from their beloved team. It wasn’t there. But I’ll bet tomorrow they’ll be back at the ballpark cheering the team on. Lots of parks are losing attendance and it’s usually because the team is doing poorly, i.e., Baltimore Orioles. The Oriole game we just saw had around 25,000 in attendance. This was a beautiful park with the visiting team (Washington Nationals) located only a few miles away. The stadium should have been packed. So you have to hand it to the Chicago Cub fans. They’re definitely not fair weather fans. They love their Cubs!
I’ve always had this stereotype of Chicago in my mind that resembles inner-city slums and poverty. Perhaps of recent we’ve been made to believe that or maybe it’s just the 
politics of the whole thing that slanted me in that direction. In any event, don’t believe it. Chicago has some beautiful areas and I tried to capture a few thru the bus windows as we were driving the Lakefront area on the way to the park. That, along with the incredible skycraper landscapes, puts a whole new idea of Chicago in my mind. Here are a few so you can get the idea. If you’ve been 
to Chicago you already know this. So there you have it! We leave tomorrow morning for home and I’ll write some final notes on our trip! 
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