Pittsburgh Misconceptions (California, Rome: vacation, things to do, cities)

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I just saw this today -- no, not copper -- too soft a metal to plow with, just iron -- but it was a horse drawn style plow, and even in pieces it still would have been an antique. If someone had the old parts to repair it, it would be worth a lot to a collector.

I know my Dad did that with an old grandmother's clock his Dad had given him.... when Daddy was young, he was running through the house and he came thundering down the stairs, and the clock fell off the mantel and broke. Grampa said one day he would give that clock to my father to remind him of his sins.

The day came and he gave my Dad the clock and my Dad fixed it -- in some cases making the parts he needed by hand.

Really ticked off my grampa though... he had tried for years to get that thing working...

This is getting to be a reaaaaaally long thread....

[Madisonbaby]

I love Pittsburgh! I took my boyfriend last December to a Steelers game and he fell in love with it! I loved living there while going to school! It's my favorite city and I hope to move back someday!!!

[Seaharbour]

You can...just keep looking...searching and it will happen...if you really want it, in time it can! Good luck to you Madisonbaby!

[kewlwhip]

I relocated here from the south a few years ago and I really like Pittsburgh.
I wanted to get away from the red states but move to a city not infested with a materialistic, cut-throat competitive yuppie class (such as you will find in Atlanta, Dallas, Miami).
I have been pleasantly surprised by the natural beauty, amazing architecture & bridges, neighborhoods and history..and I have a sense that this is truly a unique and great American city.
Just one man's point of view.

[mrscarter24]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree slightly. I am not from Pittsburgh, merely living here while my husband is here via the military. But I have to get two things off my chest.

1. The first thing I encountered here was that the people are by no means friendly... some are yes, but for the most part, I have experienced a lot of rude people. Especially when I first got here, and couldn't find anything.

2. Culturally rich? I have to disagree again... but this is coming from someone who has literally lived all over the world so maybe I might have experienced a little more than others.

However after this last year, this city has grown on me.... and I've learned to deal with the issues that I have, mainly the random rude people I encounter, oh and yes the HORRIBLE drivers... The worst I have ever seen. Other than that, Pittsburgh is ok.

[Seaharbour]

I think most Pghers are very friendly, I grew up in PGH and never met too many rude or unfriendly people and most I know do well in the area....as far as not being culturally rich, I am lost here, there is ALOT of clutural in the area for the size of the city anyhow...

[MissShona]

Originally Posted by mrscarter24

and is here via the military. But I have to get two things off my chest.

1. The first thing I encountered here was that the people are by no means friendly... some are yes, but for the most part, I have experienced a lot of rude people. Especially when I first got here, and couldn't find anything.

I think people are 1000% more friendly than people in South Florida. Just last weekend, I was out at the shopping center. I have a broken leg and I need a walker to get around. This man was walking with his wife and asked if I needed some help getting my things into the car. I declined, but was just blown away. In Miami, they would have taken the opportunity to rob me in my condition.

2. Culturally rich? I have to disagree again... but this is coming from someone who has literally lived all over the world so maybe I might have experienced a little more than others.

I've also traveled internationally a bit. My biggest surprise is when I went to Israel, my waitress said she came to the US on her tiyul gadol ("big vacation" literally translated...usually describes the trip young people in Israel make after they leave the army) and she stayed in Pittsburgh. She raved about it (although she admitted she didn't understand why people went so crazy over the Steelers) and compared it to cities in Europe as far as things to do. She also spent time in Phoenix and some place in California and said she still liked Pittsburgh the best.

I myself have been to Toronto, the UK and Jamaica. I think Pittsburgh offers a good deal for it's size.

However after this last year, this city has grown on me.... and I've learned to deal with the issues that I have, mainly the random rude people I encounter, oh and yes the HORRIBLE drivers... The worst I have ever seen. Other than that, Pittsburgh is ok.

The drivers aren't the best...but I think New York drivers are worse...as far as courtesy. In fact, most urban drivers are "bad" because you have a higher percentage of people on the road and more opportunity to see stupidity.

However your points are valid and important. Just pointing out that they can vary greatly from person to person

[bboy36win]

Originally Posted by MissShona

I think people are 1000% more friendly than people in South Florida ...

... and New Jersey!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by MissShona

I think people are 1000% more friendly than people in South Florida. Just last weekend, I was out at the shopping center. I have a broken leg and I need a walker to get around. This man was walking with his wife and asked if I needed some help getting my things into the car. I declined, but was just blown away. In Miami, they would have taken the opportunity to rob me in my condition.



I've also traveled internationally a bit. My biggest surprise is when I went to Israel, my waitress said she came to the US on her tiyul gadol ("big vacation" literally translated...usually describes the trip young people in Israel make after they leave the army) and she stayed in Pittsburgh. She raved about it (although she admitted she didn't understand why people went so crazy over the Steelers) and compared it to cities in Europe as far as things to do. She also spent time in Phoenix and some place in California and said she still liked Pittsburgh the best.

I myself have been to Toronto, the UK and Jamaica. I think Pittsburgh offers a good deal for it's size.

The drivers aren't the best...but I think New York drivers are worse...as far as courtesy. In fact, most urban drivers are "bad" because you have a higher percentage of people on the road and more opportunity to see stupidity.

However your points are valid and important. Just pointing out that they can vary greatly from person to person

I think it's great that your waitress liked Pittsburgh so much. I think if people get there, they like it, at least to visit. I think comparing Pittsburgh to the cities in Europe that I have seen is comparing apples to oranges. It's still one person's opinion.

As for Pittsburgh offering a good deal for its size, this is true. It's important to remember that Pburgh was once twice as large as it is now, and that is why it has such great concert halls, museums, etc that many larger cities have.

I don't think the drivers are any worse than most other places. The "Pittsburgh left" drives me nuts though!

[annelotte]

Originally Posted by mrscarter24

I'm sorry but I have to disagree slightly. I am not from Pittsburgh, merely living here while my husband is here via the military. But I have to get two things off my chest.

1. The first thing I encountered here was that the people are by no means friendly... some are yes, but for the most part, I have experienced a lot of rude people. Especially when I first got here, and couldn't find anything.

2. Culturally rich? I have to disagree again... but this is coming from someone who has literally lived all over the world so maybe I might have experienced a little more than others.

However after this last year, this city has grown on me.... and I've learned to deal with the issues that I have, mainly the random rude people I encounter, oh and yes the HORRIBLE drivers... The worst I have ever seen. Other than that, Pittsburgh is ok.

- As far as friendly people, I think Pittsburghers are amongst the friendliest. I grew up in Pittsburgh and therefore had longer to get to know people, but I really can't imagine anyone calling Pittsburghers rude - my experiences have been that strangers are happy to give you directions, will strike up a conversation about anything. I used to fundraise in high school and college and people are extremely generous and happy to help. I'm not saying that there's not rude people but maybe it's just your section of town?

- Pittsburgh drivers are about as polite as it comes. When you are trying to merge onto the Parkway and you put your blinker on people will wave you on, people are always letting you go first. In Knoxville, if you put your blinker on, people speed up so you can't fit in. And compared to cities like Miami (just got voted worst drivers, though I've never been), DC, New York, and Philly the drivers are waaaaaay less aggressive and cutthroat. I can't imagine this has changed much since I left in '05.


I'll give you that the culture could be more diverse.


Where do you live in Pittsburgh that you are experiencing all these rude people? I grew up in the South Hills, but drove all over mostly South and West and on the Parkways.