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Monday, August 23, 2010

Giant Spider Attacks Pittsburgh!

Well . . . no, not really.

But it's what I thought when I saw this picture that Anne took on the descent
of the Duquesne Incline on Pittsburgh's Mt. Washington:


Two weeks ago, Anne and I drove to Pittsburgh, to pick up Alida
who was in the midst of a month-long research session at the University of Pittsburgh
We were all on our way to my niece Maggie's baby shower (twin boys!) near Detroit.

We took a tourist day in Pittsburgh; I showed the girls some old haunts of mine, from when Howard and I lived there 28 years ago, and the girls took a ride on the near-vertical Duquesne Incline, which has been bringing people up:


and down:


the Mt. Washington hillside since 1877.

In the same street cars, in use now for over 130 years.
Here's a picture from the Duquesne Incline web page of a car in use, going down the side of the hill.

Pittsburgh is surprisingly hilly; it's like San Francisco, but with snow to add to the driving fun.
You haven't lived till you've tried to drive on a cobblestone street in a Pittsburgh snowstorm.
On a 30-degree angle.

Anne videotaped some of the journey, with a bit of her own commentary,
and some silly shout-outs of "Spring Break Wooooo!!!" from her big sister.

Got a minute? Join my girls in their trip back down the cliff:





For some reason, they were alone on their descent. The ascending car had been quite full.
Hmm, perhaps someone heard Alida hollering "Spring Break Woooo?"

If you watched the video, did you notice the beautiful old woodwork of the car?
And those old bench seats.
I look at them and I imagine the many hundreds of different styles of skirts that have sat on those seats!



Thanks to Mary at Little Red House for hosting Mosaic Monday; if it weren't for her I never would have tried making collages in Picasa, and seeing how much fun they are! Visit her here -- Cass

15 comments:

  1. Cass,
    That is amazing to think that system is operational after 130 years! The video was a special touch and your mosaic was marvelous.
    I hope you're feeling better today. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  2. Nice mosaic!! Don't think I would be brave enough to ride. Hope you are feeling better today.

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  3. Your Collage is great. Sounds like you had a lot of fun but I think I will pass on a visit there in the winter.

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  4. Wow Cass! I really have to learn this stuff- wonderful post! How are you feeling??
    xoxo Pattie

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  5. Enjoyed the video! Pittsburgh is such a pretty city. I have never been there, but I really liked looking at your pictures. Thanks for sharing. Hope you are feeling better. Love & blessings from NC!

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  6. Hi Cass..
    i cannot handle those types of Inclines, nor elevators open to an outside view,, I can look out a plane window just fine,, so I'll take the girls word for it being neat and beautiful and spring break woohoo..
    I do love Picasa for my editing..
    and Mosaics.
    Have you been ill?
    healing prayers coming your way..just add chicken soup!
    warmest sandy hugs. Loui♥

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  7. Great collage, never thought of Pittsburgh being full of hills. But I have only driven by on the turnpike so what would I know. My niece is also having twin boys.

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  8. NO! NO! NO! I WON'T GO AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!!

    Traversing that incline in a 130 year old Trolley Car????? or even in a brand new Trolley Car????? NEVER! EVER! My worst nightmare come to life. [Excuse me for a few hours while I sit here and shudder!) YOW!

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  9. The video is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing it. I think I will be nervous riding that...Christine

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  10. Hope you are feeling better.
    And no to the assent and decline.
    Thanks though.

    Melinda

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  11. Can you believe I have lived in Pittsburgh all my life and I've never been on the incline!!
    I just have to do it.{great mosaic}

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  12. Love to check out the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburg and Pittsburg glass factory. I want to see how they make igloos! Well I am scared today! Spiders! Where's my flyswatter shaped boot! We get the claw kind here. Black ugly all kinds of webs. Bad year for spiders; so wet and damp! I've had to wash the outside of spiders 4 times this summer! "The year of the spider!". ty! lu!

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  13. by golly, I will hop on the trolley. thanks for the great pics!

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  14. Despite some time living in PA we never made it to Pittsburgh. From your photos, it looks more like San Fransisco!

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  15. I love the video of the old inclined train car! What a cool wooden interior! I didn't know Pittsburgh was so hilly... never been there. I've only been on the streetcars in San Francisco, and rode an inclined train up the Alps in Germany. Fun ways to get around!

    -Pam

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