For learning to develop custom controllers using APEX Salesforce offers another 5 day class,  Dev-501 – Apex and Visualforce Controllers…which hopefully I’ll get to experience sooner rather than later.

So now I’ve got a week of in depth training…a Salesforce account with 10 seats…a couple of big projects on the horizon at work where I can apply my newly learned Force.com skills…which makes me all set for an interesting Fall I think.

I stayed at the Hampton Magestic 22 West Monroe…a short walk from where my class was held at Microtek. (see photos below).  This was an outstanding place to stay…conveniently located in the middle of the Theater and Financial districts and only a couple of blocks away from Grant Park and the lake. Clean, reasonably priced…great breakfasts every morning too! I’m staying here every time I’m in Chicago from now on!

Every day after class I went for a run along the shore of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River (see pics below). Even though it’s August the temp each day was pleasant with a cool breeze blowing in from the lake…pure heaven coming from Hotlanta…especially this Summer one of the hottest on record.  And I wasn’t alone there were hundreds of other runners, walkers, and bikers on the same paths with me…very cool!

I tried to sample some traditional Chicago food…a slice of pizza and a hot dog…other than these two “samples” I went with fish and chips every evening. It wasn’t the healthiest week of my diet this year that’s for sure but I survived!

One observation about Chicago I have to mention…NO SMOKING inside any building…not a bar or pub or anywhere! And no smoking within 15 feet of any entrance either so you weren’t forced to hold your breath as you entered buildings. What a great idea! Who knows maybe Atlanta will get up to speed on eliminating this health risk one of these days too! But I doubt it.

Last but not least (well maybe so I gained two Foursquare mayor ships in Chicago…Microtek and a small French restaurant along the Chicago river running path. It was a good week!

The "Bean" in Millenium Park was very cool!

The CTA blue line took me from O'Hare almost to my hotel door for only $2.25!!!

Street scene from the Microtek building at 230 Monroe Street

Fish and chips from Millers pub was absolutely yummy

The water fountains at millenium park were something different for sure!

Running path along the Chicago River

Cyrano's on the river along the running trail...I became mayor of this place!

Scene along the Chicago river running trail

Running path along Lake Michigan...cool breeze even in August.

Another scene along the Chicago River running path

Fantastic hot dog (Chicago Red Hot) at Halsted Street Deli

The "Bean" at millenium park

Everyone takes their pic in front of the Bean!