I HEART Detroit

So my travel blog is officially being delivered via the internet at snail pace, its like cute telegram stories from ye ol' past. But that's ok. Yes I've been back in Austin for a month but I still want to finish thing thing out. Two more entries to go. So DETROIT!!!! yes DETROIT!!!! What can I say other than the cheesiest line in the book, Dont judge a book by its cover. But I'm dead serious. I dont know how much stress I, my family and close friends induced on me, of course all in good faith, by warning me and worrying about the supposed dangers of the big scary city. And all I can say is the everyone couldn't be more wrong. Having just stayed in hotel in Pittsburgh, I was a bit more comfortable with the idea of being along in the city but the thought of wandering around in search of life around downtown Detroit was nerve wrecking. After the first few hrs of being there, I quickly realized how wrong I was and I was completely comfortable roaming through the busy streets. While I was there, the state's democratic convention was happening so there were hundreds of eager and loud democrats roaming the streets so that was pretty entertaining.
As part of my research I visited the newly opened Dequindre Cut Greenway which I like to call Detroit's "urban" version of the Highline. It is essentially a bike/running trail below grade and connects the city's recently redeveloped riverfront/riverwalk to the most incredible market which everyone should one day visit called the Eastern Market. The Cut goes under 10 or so street overpasses that are completely covered in graffiti and street art. The fact that the city chose to preserve this as an element of place for this newly designed trail is endearing and a great example of how sanitation is not always the answer. The Eastern Market which is current terminus of the trial has been a part of Detroit every saturday since something like 1875. It is an urban market( sort of a farmer's market) that is held on over 5 city blocks of the north east corner of the downtown. There as so much food, so many people and the place where everyone from the city comes to enjoy music and have a good time EVERY SATURDAY. While at the market, I walked past a saxophone player that was playing his jazz version of lady Gaga's greatest hits, jajaja it was pretty amazing jajaja.
I honestly think that there is so much hope for this city and a large amount of energy to revitalize its urban core that is exciting to see cases such as here in our own national state of downfall and depression. I think Detroit is one of those places that I would love to revisit every few years to keep up with its redevelopment. It is a place in America with such bad stigma but everyone needs to go see it for themselves and learn that it is actually an incredible city.