During a layover at the Chicago airport after our east coast college tours, I was SO tempted to venture over to the moving walkway in terminal 1, and not just to add clicks to my pedometer.
But, it far from our gate {we were in that new section at O’Hare, with a sleek looking sushi bar and white linen table cloth Wolfgang Puck restaurant}, and we were feeling weary, so I found a few photos and a video on line for you, in case you haven’t seen this spectacular presentation before.
Over the years, I have deliberately diverted my kids through Chicago, just to take the moving walkway with them, as you travel down the walkway these rainbow lights reach out to you and the moody music and echoing voices are positively captivating.
I have a great little memory about this section of O’Hare. After college, I was first employed by a Congressman in Washington D.C., Les AuCoin, from Oregon, so I frequently travelled from one coast to the other.
One night I was taking the red eye back to the District, and a young girl {not more than 10 years old} was seated next to me, unaccompanied. We landed in Chicago at some unseemly hour, and it was going to be awhile until other passengers would board and join us for the continuing journey to National Airport.
Realizing we had quite a bit of time to kill, I asked this little girl if she wanted to see something special. She said yes, and off we went. We rode back and forth on the enchanting rainbow trail a few times. Then we went back to the plane and continued on to Washington D.C.
This was the best of the videos which were available, but I must say this doesn’t really capture the ethereal essence of the dynamic neon light show that reaches out to all who take the moving walkway in this tunnel. Click here to see the video. I hope you have the chance to experience it sometime with a youngster, it is a special walkway.
I wonder where she is now.
all images are from Ted Lansing.
Emily, thank you for mentioning Les Aucoin today. I am 5th generation Oregonian, now living in CA's O.C., I googled him and had a good read of OR's political history. What a great life experience you have had working in US politics. Cheers! Linda
Thank you Linda, I am near you as I write, at a ranch in the Santa Monica mountains, what wonderful weather we have had for our hikes in this beautiful area! Les is a great man, if you'd like to learn more about him, you can visit The Les Aucoin blog.
I don't think I've ever been to O'Hare!! Or at least not long enough to experience this very special sight!! Amazing!
Someday I’m sure you will Q!