Fib, Most people from either coast of the US regard Chi-town as an IQ test, i.e. the smart ones leave. As for traffic circles, Washington DC (About 80 miles down the Potomac River from here) has all the traffic circles you could want. I have taken foreign vistors to sit in the parks in the center of the circle (they're much bigger than Ireland's) and we wait to see how many nations will be represented in the pileups that occur during rush hour.

But for all of DC's faults, it is truely a world class beauty in the spring (and truely horrid any time else). It ranks right up there with the approach into Shannon Airport for beauty. I look forward to seeing it once again.