a trip to India-only minutes away

We took Lakeshore Drive north until the end and after only a few wrong turns, pulled onto Devon Street. We parked in a side street, and began walking down the main street. We passed stores carrying ornate dresses, restaurants advertising Kebap, grocery stores filled with spices such as curry, shelves with payneer, and walls with pictures of Mecca. As we walked, we passed women with head scarves made of beautiful fabric. I am sure that my two friends and I stuck out, especially when we went into the dress stores. We passed bright fabric with beautiful beads sown on in different patterns. We entered a few stores to browse, and some of the employees knew very little English.
Before we left, we stopped at a restaurant to buy some food. I ordered naan along with my meal of Chiken Biryani. While I was waiting for my food, I walked through the restaurant. I passed a prayer room with rugs facing toward Mecca. I listened to people speaking in different languages, and it seemed for a moment as if I were no longer in Chicago. It is almost unreal, how one can drive a mere thirty minutes and feel like they were transported to a completely different culture and country.
However, it wasn’t long before I remembered that I was in Chicago-a very diverse city. I heard someone speak in Spanish, while another couple of people were speaking a language I had never heard. This clash of cultures is so unique.
It was my first time visiting that area of the city, and I know that I definitely would like to go back again.