Monday, September 16, 2013

Wanderlust : Pittsburgh, PA - Day 1

Here comes a shocking confession.  Are you sitting down?

Hi, my name is Whitney and I am obsessed with taking photos.
(Hi, Whitney.)

I can't help it.  If I see anything even remotely interesting or beautiful, I am compelled to capture that image forever in my camera and hold on to it for safe keeping. It helps me to remember that moment in time where I felt something.  Anything.  

- When Canon dumped cheerios all over the kitchen floor while hauling them in his dump truck *click*
- When I received the big, chunky ring that I ordered in the mail *click*
- When I pass by a flower, building, cloud, sunset, etc *click*

So you better believe that for our first trip to Pittsburgh (not to mention Canon's first plane ride), I was camera-happy to the max (wow, Saved by the Bell anyone?).  I took just under 2000 photos in five days, so I decided the easiest way to edit and share them was to break it down daily.  I hope you don't mind. Unlike the Disney trip, each day will probably not be shared consecutively because editing the photos takes more time in the evenings that I generally have to spend.  Cut me some slack!  Gah!

Moving on...to day 1 of our trip.  I love big cities and the atmosphere they project.  There is an energy and excitement that you just don't feel in a smaller city or town.  There is always something going on - an event to attend, a museum to get lost in, a park to explore. You have to work especially hard to get bored in a place like that.  
*Nerd alert* 

Let's not forget about the architecture too!  There are so many opportunities to admire the building styles and amazing achievements in engineering as well.  




Pittsburgh definitely did not disappoint on any of these levels.  It actually really surprised me.  I have always thought of the place as the Steel City, which in my mind, translated to lots and lots of gray and black.  I assumed everything would look the same and be dreary and boring. (Ridiculous, I know, but no one would ever accuse me of always being rational.)  Boy, was I wrong.  This city is beautiful.  Every block we walked produced different architectural styles and there was color everywhere.  Even the bridges were painted a bright yellow, which brightened up the already-beaming view.
   


 

 




We actually spent our first day walking around with a group of wedding guests and our tour guide (aka - my bro-in-law).  Canon clung to him 100% of the time, so I had a chance to take photos without worrying that my three year old was running into traffic.  Nice little breather.  Thanks Uncle Kurt.    




We cut our tour of the city short, as a certain little boy that shall not be named *coughCanoncough* needed a nap before we headed to the wedding rehearsal and dinner that evening.  Canon was not happy with us for taking him away from Uncle Kurt, but practically fell asleep on Craig's head while he was getting a lift on his dad's shoulders.  Good call, parents.  High fives all around.

 






If you follow me on Instagram, you will see a couple of photos that I posted from the rehearsal dinner that evening, but otherwise I was on Canon duty and loved every second of running around and playing with him. We talked and laughed with family we hadn't seen in a while, and we cut up and acted like children. Some of us had a reason to (Canon) and some of us probably didn't (me).  Eh, what do the kids say these days?  YOLO.  Or something like that.  

All in all, a great way to start our mini vacation in the Steel City.  Stay tuned for day 2...as soon as I start finish editing the photos.

4 comments:

  1. Well, if you're going to be snap-happy you might as well do a good job of it while you're at it - which you do... These photos really are beautiful, and that one of Canon swinging is so cute!

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    1. Aw thanks Erica! One day I hope to quit my job and devote more time to photography, but I know that I still have quite a way to go. This means so much to hear, though, so thank you!

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  2. I'm the exact same way with pictures, and holy wowza - the architectural details of Pittsburgh are just stunning!

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    1. Who would've thought, right? I was so excited to see everything!

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