Pittsburgh– Part 1
There are many things Pittsburgh is known for: Three rivers, ketchup, the steel mills and the steel curtain. Many of these very things can be seen in the essence that is Pittsburgh at a hole-in-the-wall bar named Zippys. This could be one of the greatest places to really experience what it is to live in Pittsburgh. Sure, you can come here for a Steeler game and see all the tailgating madness but Zippys is different. Zippys allows you to see the day-to-day life of Pittsburghers. This is a place where you see the wear and tear of the people of this city. The bar itself is very small but it is semi-clean. Haha! I must say that the best the thing about the people is the realness. The patrons are people that work a day-to-day life as contractors or whatever other blue-collar jobs there are in this town. Pittsburgh is an interesting city that isn’t spoken about too often besides our football team. Our football team is one thing about Pittsburgh that makes this city like no other— STEELER NATION.
Steeler nation is probably the most annoying thing about this city besides the overflow of senior citizens. Steeler fans are like no other because they display their team’s pride not just during the football season but also year round. There are cars with Steeler license plate covers, window decals and little toppers for their antennas. In Pittsburgh, it’s ok to cut someone off if you have an “I’m a Big Ben Fan!” decal in your back window because you’re a Steeler fan. I can’t stand how during the regular and post season the news’ top stories all revolve around the Steelers. Like are you fucking serious that you need to tell me about Big Ben’s thumb at the start of the news instead of some murder or even a weather report?! The parties are all wild and the beer is awful. If you go to a true Steeler party, you will be drinking some of the grossest beer in the world— Iron City. You know you are talking to a true Steeler fan when they are drinking Iron City beer whilst eating a plate of perogies.
Another thing Pittsburgh is famous for are it’s terrible roads. This varies however, depending on where you live and where you want to go. If you live south of the city, you’re basically screwed. The roads from the south to Pittsburgh are so old and worn that it makes it impossible to get anywhere in less than an hour. The roads are also too narrow. There is one intersection in particular that contains seven lights and they all change at different times. You always know the out of towners because they always stop when it’s red and then they are caught in the middle of the intersection with people blaring their horns at them. If you live north of the city, it is an easy way into work because there are HOV lanes, wider roads, and just a much more pleasant experience. The south hills experience is more genuine because this includes mill towns. Mill towns are depressing because you know that the entire economy of these cities relied on steel and once the mills closed, the cities now rely on Dollar Generals and Rite Aids.
Old people have taken over the town. Pittsburgh drivers range from college students to father time. Old people drive their Buicks and Lincolns around town at 30mph in a 60mph speed limit. I don’t understand how these people get to keep their licenses because they are more of a hazard than teenagers talking to the friends on the cell phones with the radio blasting and their friends all hanging out of the windows. Old people drive so cautiously that they cause more accidents. There are also so many old people that there is an old folks home around every corner. Nursing is the top profession because there are so many hospitals.
Pittsburgh is an interesting place to live I must say. More to come tomorrow…. There’s so much more to say, believe me.
