Day 1

After long and demanding preparations, our team once again set off for the FIRST Robotics Competition in Chicago.

We began our journey on Monday, March 23, in the early morning hours. After a short overnight drive, we arrived in Venice at Marco Polo Airport. After security checks and a short wait, we boarded our first flight of the day, heading to the European metropolis, London. We landed at London Heathrow Airport full of excitement after a little more than 2 hours of flight, which many of us spent sleeping. At Heathrow, we went through security, checked our luggage, walked around the terminal, and soon after boarded our flight to America. The flight was long and exhausting, but our excitement and happiness overcame any feeling of fatigue, hunger, or exhaustion. We arrived in windy Chicago at 4 PM local time.

We were tired after the long journey, but also hungry since our only source of protein had been airplane economy-class food. Shortly after arrival, we checked into the hotel, rested a bit, and unpacked our already quite heavy luggage. After a quick refresh, we went for a short walk around the city, did some quick shopping, and grabbed a fast dinner. In the early evening hours, fatigue took over, so we returned to the hotel and got ready for sleep in order to be fresh and rested for the demanding days ahead.

Day 2

Tuesday, the second day of our trip, was reserved for exploring this million-strong American city. Chicago is the largest city in the state of Illinois and is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The city itself has a population of just over 2.7 million people. It is known for its impressive architecture and skyscrapers and is home to the world’s first modern skyscraper. Chicago has very cold winters and is famous for its strong winds, which is why it carries the nickname “Windy City.”

That day, we woke up early and took the metro toward the city center. Our first stop was Willis Tower. Willis Tower is one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world and a symbol of Chicago. Including its antennas, it reaches a height of 520 meters. The most famous attraction in the building is the observation deck on the 103rd floor, where the well-known “The Ledge” is located—glass platforms that extend outside the building, allowing visitors to literally stand above the city.

Of course, our Crobotics team walked around the observation deck and stood on the glass floor, looking at the busy streets beneath our feet.

We enjoyed the beautiful view of the city, took several photos, and then continued on to discover what other wonders Chicago has to offer.

Our next destination was the famous monument “The Bean,” located in Millennium Park. It is made of polished stainless steel, which makes its surface function like a mirror. This reflective surface allows visitors to see distorted reflections of the city, the sky, and themselves, creating a memorable and fascinating experience. We admired the monument, enjoyed the unique reflections, and took photos.

That day, we also visited the Shedd Aquarium, one of the largest and most famous aquariums in the world, located along the shore of Lake Michigan. There, we saw more than 30,000 animals from different parts of the world, from freshwater fish to marine mammals such as dolphins and beluga whales. We were especially impressed by the Atlantic seals and California sea lions, which are the stars of the aquarium’s show program. They perform tricks and skills, “dance” in the water, catch balls, and swim through hoops.

We spent the rest of the day walking through beautiful streets surrounded by tall, modern skyscrapers and buildings. We watched and listened to street performers and realized that Chicago is not just a city of steel and glass, but a place with incredible energy and warmth.

We had a meal at the well-known American fast-food chain “Raising Cane’s” and then headed back to our accommodation to rest for the next day, when we would reunite with our robot.

Your Crobotics team!