Pushing a Tour to the Edge

All the big cities have them, you know, their “Highlights”. They lure tourists in with long lines, then stuff them in small elevators and force them through money sucking gift shops. Willing victims succumb to the promise that they will be raised to a nose-bleeding, knee- weakening height just to admire the view. New York has the Empire State Building; St. Louis, The Arch; Eiffel tower in Paris and The Eye in London. Although I have only done two of those four (politely declined the Eye in lieu of a museum), I know enough to steer the crowd to more pleasant sites in a city. Ok, ok, I do have a slight height phobia. In fact I got stuck, completely & unexpectedly immobilized by fear, on the top of the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza, Mexico. My poor colleague had to turn me backwards and hand hold each ankle, sequentially placing one at a time on the many many steps to the bottom. But I digress.

As we all know, “steering the crowd” is not always allowed or possible. Even with the flexibility of choice in the itinerary, the peer pressure can be, at times, overpowering. This was such the case during my recent trip to Chicago. Chicago is a great city to visit. It has history, art, culture, FOOD, beauty and yes, the Willis Tower. But really, with Millennium Park, The Bean, the lake, the aquarium, the Million Dollar Mile, the FOOD, the museums, the shows, who needs stuffy small elevators, right? Well, my friends did. We took the double decker tour bus and saw all the city had to offer and what did they insist they do? Yes, they simply had to do the Skydeck at the Willis Tower. I offered up my long lines & gift shop arguments, so they chose late at night when there was no line and the gift shop was closing. As we headed that direction afterdinner (a great dinner, by the way, did I mention FOOD in Chicago?), the physicality of height phobia began to take possession of my body. My knees were losing their stability, meniscus and ligaments being replaced with a slippery gel-like substance. My palms began to sweat in spite of the chill in the air. I tried to take back control by telling myself I could just wait at the bottom. But noooooo, do you know peer pressure? I didn’t really care if they thought I was just flat out scared, which I was. It’s that I have this other emotional disorder… I HATE to be left out! If there is a group good time to be had (within laws and morals, of course), I’m there to have it. So I wobbled my jellied knees, drying my hands on my jacket, into the elevator. I had seen pictures of the Skydeck. Emily Grandgeorge had sent me some with a light note, “You should check this out while in Chicago.” They showed brave humans standing in an all-glass area that extended out over the city… a legitimate, exact and terrifying “bird’s eye” or arial view of Chicago. I was certain the elevator would open into a huge completely transparent space and to step out would be akin to jumping out that airplane door with a parachute, but without a parachute. I was certain that staying in that elevator would be my only choice and my peers would understand because I would have already collapsed to the floor in a pool of my own palm sweat. As I struggled to push the photos out of my mind, the elevator doors opened.

Whoa, I was wrong. The doors opened into a large, warmly lit, solid-floored, mostly solid-walled room with welcoming soft music. It was a lovely, fearless observation area that circled 360 degrees to offer views of the entire city. The windows were at a safe height and accompanied by maps of the city to identify the sights and telescopes to get a closer look. I was relieved and I was actually enjoying myself. I was so relieved, panic stayed at bay even as I realized I was no longer with my friends who I assumed had sought out and found “The Ledge”.

Rounding the corner, it came into sight. There it was… as shown in the photos, the “glass balcony experience” extending four feet outside the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, providing a straight down look at the city from over 1300 feet! Nervous giggles emanated from the crowd. There was an excitement in the area that churned the molecules in the air. I watched feet gingerly step over the edge and back. I watched feet slowly slide over the edge and stay to be followed by the other foot slowly sliding over the edge. I watched hands covering eyes. I saw teasing pushes and heard squeals of glee. All took place in a strobe like light created by the multiple flash cameras snapping. Those I didn’t know finished up and those I did know began their dance in and out of the glass. They held their breath and closed their eyes and each took the time and steps necessary to finally enter a zone comfortable enough to look straight down. Then there was the “Ah hah” moment for each and all of them. The moment that was like no other they had ever had. The moment they were certain I just had to have also and obnoxiously insisted I do. You know, there is something to that idea of desensitization… when one exposes oneself to a feared event or thing over and over until the fear subsides. My fear had not come close to completely subsiding. I will say though, the watching combined with the pleasant ambiance in the rest of the observation tower and the intensity of peer pressure eventually eased me into that Skydeck, albeit backwards and on my knees. I must say, it was amazing. It was like nothing I had ever done. I was proud and pleased that I had done it. And I would recommend it to all, even the sweaty of palm. The best part was I didn’t have to climb down! I simple crawled back out and took that elevator down to the closing gift shop.

Go to Chicago. Do the Skydeck (www.theskydeck.com). Then go grab a great meal!

Written by Susan Grandgeorge, who owns a restaurant in Alexandria, VA and who, together with her management staff, attended the Food Show in Chicago and enjoyed the elevated elation of the Skydeck at Willis Tower.