Pittsburgh vs. Washington, D.C. (California: skyscrapers, travel, home)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by claremarie

Oh yeah, and it didn't help that after driving through half of Pennsylvania in sunny, blue sky weather as soon as we got to Pittsburgh it began to rain.

This seems to happen to us just about every time we drive from DC to Pgh. But the "curse" is just Pittsburgh's location between mountains and Lake Erie, I think.

I think you're right about the reason.

Fortunately, the rain is predicable.

It almost always comes at the end of the day---just when it's starting to feel a little uncomfortable.

I love the late afternoon/early evening cool downs that the rain brings.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Elder18

Oh yeah, and it didn't help that after driving through half of Pennsylvania in sunny, blue sky weather as soon as we got to Pittsburgh it began to rain. And then it began to thunder.

Seriously, is Pittsburgh cursed or something? I mean, what the hell??

Thunder.... I miss thunder. We don't get thunder out here much... and lightning makes the front page of the Chronicle with PICTURES....

I miss thunder. I remember as a kid sitting at the old Olivetti manual typewriter writing bodice rippers as the thunderstorms pealed overhead... just added to the atmosphere of the Gothic ghost filled castles I wrote about....

Elder, you can have DC -- send me some freakin' thunder!!

[dickens]

Have fun in "exciting" DC. I don't find crime, high cost of living and self important people that uplifting. I wish everyday that I could live in the place you deplore.

[Katiana]

Tallysmom: Come out here to Colorado. We get lots of it; even when it doesn't rain afterwards. Bring the cats, I have one too (spoiled!).

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Tallysmom: Come out here to Colorado. We get lots of it; even when it doesn't rain afterwards. Bring the cats, I have one too (spoiled!).

And think of the money I'd save in Advantage costs!

[Elder18]

I do not deplore Pittsburgh. I'm still excited to live there.
Read my other posts and you'll find I've been one of the steadiest supporters of Pittsburgh (although not as manically as others).

All that I was trying to point out with this thread is that the excitement I feel towards moving to Pittsburgh has been tempered somewhat by staying in DC for awhile.

While I understand it's not exactly fair to compare the two, I simply wanted to contrast the feeling of space and openness I felt in DC vs. the claustrophobia I felt in Pittsburgh.

As for the freaky rain, I understand it gets quite uncomfortable in DC in August with the heat. So maybe freaky rainshowers on an otherwise nice day isn't so bad.

This is all I'm going to say to defend myself.

[Katiana]

Re: the rain: We were once in the Pgh area over the 4th of July, shortly after we were married. DH said "does the sun ever shine here? Does it rain every day here?". I said "why do you want the sun to come out? It will just get sticky." And immediately, the sun came it and it got sticky! But only for a few minutes, then it got cloudy again and it was much more comfortable.

When we flew in to Pgh two weeks ago, it was clear the whole way from Denver until we got to Pgh. We could see the Mississppi River, etc. Then we landed in what I guess was a h*** of a storm, and the baggage ramp was struck by lightning. We waited quite a while for our bags. We just added it to our travel stories.

Back to DC, yes, I think it does have a vibe that nowhere else in the country has.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Elder18

I do not deplore Pittsburgh. I'm still excited to live there.
Read my other posts and you'll find I've been one of the steadiest supporters of Pittsburgh (although not as manically as others).

All that I was trying to point out with this thread is that the excitement I feel towards moving to Pittsburgh has been tempered somewhat by staying in DC for awhile.

While I understand it's not exactly fair to compare the two, I simply wanted to contrast the feeling of space and openness I felt in DC vs. the claustrophobia I felt in Pittsburgh.

As for the freaky rain, I understand it gets quite uncomfortable in DC in August with the heat. So maybe freaky rainshowers on an otherwise nice day isn't so bad.

This is all I'm going to say to defend myself.

I knew what you mean... I would love to go to New York for the same reason -- NYC has a vibe all it's own. There's an excitement...

[MaryS80]

Both cities have their negatives and positives. The DC/Baltimore area has some rough ghettos and a pretty high crime rate.

Yeah the rain gets old, but look at all the hills covered in lush green trees.

[Gerbil]

You said Pittsburgh feels closed-in and claustrophobic. Are you refering to the size of the city, or just the general feel you get walking down the street? I'm guessing you mean the latter. It certainly is more hilly here, which I guess has a lot to do with it. And in general the streets here aren't as wide as in DC. I think I see what you're saying.

Personally I like the topography and winding, narrow streets. Any time I travel somewhere flat it feels odd to me. I'm more at home among hills and bluffs etc