Thursday 27 February 2014

PITTSBURGH: Downtown, Where All The Lights Are Bright

Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh Downtown Pittsburgh1

I have to admit I love driving and walking through the downtown areas of America's cities. Pittsburgh is no exception, in fact it's one of my favorites in a pushing shoving with Chicago kind of way. The 'burg is a city with a great clash of early and contemporary architecture set against a backdrop of the rivers, 10 bridges in the downtown area alone, and the hills that the rest of the city is built upon. While I was talking last week about a mentioned potential interest in moving north to Traverse City - well it's in competition with Pittsburgh. 

Most cities in the US are formed around the square grid system, yet in Pittsburgh the two rivers - the Allegheny and the Monongahela which merge at the tip of the downtown area, come to form the triangular system. One which can be utterly confusing to the traveller but does come to form some interesting insertions, triangular buildings and merging skylines.

Pittsburgh is, like Detroit another great city to look up and be amazed. Reflections of old stonework, ageing outside fire escapes mirrored upon the modern glass of skyscrapers. Even more delightful is spying old painted advertisements upon the side of buildings, while their colors may have faded, to me they are still worthy of being appreciated.

Both Detroit and Pittsburgh were cities born out of industry - Detroit the automobile, Pittsburgh's fortune from steel. Yet their fortunes took opposite twists in the 1950's and onwards. You could get sad thinking Pittsburgh's downtown is what Detroit could have been like now, perhaps it's time to see it has what Detroit will one day be again in the future.

You can see downtown Pittsburgh at night here from Mt. Washington.

14 comments:

  1. Awesome! Lots of facts I had zero knowledge of. I love the old buildings mixed with the modern.

    I gotta ask you Peach, how does a Treki lass from the UK find herself in the states? I'm being nosey, sorry!! Just intrigued!

    Gemma x
    Faded Windmills

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    1. Not nosey at all - I fell in love with an American guy and it turned out much more easier visa wise for me to move to the US than him to the UK (to put it simply!).

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    2. Gosh those pesky foreign men cause all kinds of chaos, don't they?! Hehe!! I have one too, AND am following in your footsteps with a move (next week!!). Not to the states though, which is a bummer because every time I've visited American I've not wanted to leave!!

      Here's a question I bet you get asked a lot… What food do you miss most from home? Haha! I always think with my stomach. Then again the food over there is worth the trip alone! Just shout if you need me to send you a packet of Jammie Dodgers or anything ; )

      x

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    3. Hmm tough question - normally stuff like quavers or mars bars, proper custard and proper sausages. Pretty lucky in being able to shop in a couple of local stores that have good import/British sections so it's easy to get HP sauce salad cream to mushy peas or hobnobs (although you have to be willing to pay extra but needs must). I guess I miss proper fish and chips more than anything, you can order it in a restaurant here but it's not the same - the fish are always little bits and the chips are too skinny!

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  2. I've always wanted to visit Pittsburgh. It seems like a fun place to be tourist!

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    1. There is so much to see there - I still have all the museums to visit!

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  3. Cool pictures. I've only ever been through Pittsburgh. I should stop there one of these days.

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  4. I love reading these posts. It's like I get to learn (and see) little pieces of the US that I genuinely know nothing about which is always good. Plus your photos are always lovely to have a wee peek at!

    Debi x

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    1. Yeah it's the cities and places that really aren't so much on the big tourist trail that always appeal to me more to be honest!

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  5. You have good choice in potential moving spots.
    I love getting out of the main city and exploring the edges or downtown areas. Can you apply the world downtown outside of America?
    I spend most of my time when we go anywhere looking and then eventually walking into something...
    the grid system can be so limiting at times, easy, but a little same-y. Most of the cities and towns in Belgium are based on a outer and then inner ring (in the bigger cities) and then the ring itself is gridded in a way.

    ~ K

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    1. I remember Krakow having those circular rings kind of system at least outside of the really old center - that's a fun city if you ever head in that direction on your trips (if you haven't already and I totally missed it)!

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  6. No I've never been there, I would love to visit Poland at some point! I'll add it to the every extending list of travel locations haha

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  7. I enjoy the pictures! I have been born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and enjoy nothing more than the city and all that it offers. I go to school out-of-state and love to brag about Pittsburgh to my friends. I always tell them about our breathtaking skyline that you can see from Mt. Washington. If you need any ideas of places to eat or attractions in Pittsburgh check out my blog heatherkunkle.wordpress.com for some ideas! Glad you enjoy Pittsburgh! ☺

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