After Navy Pier, we walked south along the lakeshore through Grant Park, turning east before reaching the Field Museum, then returning north to visit Millennium Park.

We were intrigued by the Frank Ghery designed Pritzker Pavilion, named for its main donor, Jay Pritzker, owner of the Hyatt hotel chain; that’s it on the left, below.

But, we found the Cloud Gate sculpture – referred to by Chicagoans as “The Bean,” to be much more interesting.

The Bean is fun to photograph. The photographer can get in the picture, too…

…and you can use the Bean’s reflection to capture the Chicago skyline…

…or use it for its shape, in juxtaposition to the surrounding structures.

And from underneath, you can take a picture of the natural kaleidoscope created by the curves of this 100 ton stainless steel structure.

The Bean was privately funded and was originally supposed to cost $6 Million, but it came in a little over budget at $23 Million!

The Bean is not, however, the only cool reflective surface in Chicago. On our walk back to the Hyatt, we passed this office building, nearly lost to us in the clouds.

I wouldn’t want to be one of those window washers you see near the top!