As much as I dream about going to California, and as dead-set as I am about making that dream a reality, it’s nice to get out and be a tourist in my own town every now and then. It’s easy to look at the seemingly endless strip malls that flank some of the most major roads in the suburbs and let them define a whole region, and it’s almost unfair to denounce the city (of Baltimore) for its obvious flaws when it has too many for any one generation to fix. Not that I’m always so negative about where I live, but when you’ve been driving on the same stretches of roads and highways your whole life, you’re likely to get critical every now and then.
But spending time with people you just don’t see as often as you’d like makes you realize what you’ll be missing when you leave, no matter how exciting the next adventure is. And renting a hotel in one of the coolest neighborhoods of the city can almost make it easier to visualize yourself living there, though you have no intention of actually doing so.
Getting together with good friends last week– twice!– was a really, really healthy thing. Up until then, I’d never met up with one of my best friends (since sixth grade) at a bar. (Except for her 21st birthday. Which she still owes me for. She knows why.) And it had been ages since our trio had gotten together for a night in, so knowing that all of our man-lovers were genuinely getting along allowed for a really awesome and long bathroom session. Ladies, you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes, we just have to giggle and pee.
Celebrating John’s birthday by renting a hotel room downtown was also much-needed, and it felt strangely like an actual getaway. We walked around the historic Mount Vernon district, grabbed incredible food from a popular Afghani restaurant, and took a cab downtown for a show, stopping for late-night drinks on our way back to the room. I sound so much cooler than I actually am, which never happens! Say what you will about Baltimore, but I’m always impressed by the architecture. Walking the streets on an unseasonably warm spring night was a lot of fun, and the only negative thing I can recall was the pile of crap we just barely missed on the way to dinner.
Though I’ve talked about being an introvert and how my friends and I don’t get enough boob time together, I feel like I’m a little bit more balanced now. All is right in the world of girldom, and Baltimore’s pretty cool.
It’s nice to take some time to rediscover your town. Anytime I can find an excuse to stroll through the “downtown” (if you can call it that since it’s so small) of my hometown, I’ll do it, because even though it’s just a small stretch of road, it has potential, or had at one point in its life. Still, our park is awesome. I mean, there’s really nothing to it, I guess, but I love it.
And that’s all that matters! It’s nice having a place near home where you can go outside and really enjoy yourself. Especially this time of year, now that it’s beautiful out.
I don’t know anything about the faults of Baltimore, but it sure does look pretty in pictures. I can relate so much to that whole lack of boob time thing though I usually refer to it as estrogen time. Boob time is better.
That feeling of balance after socializing just enough? Amazing.
Lor
Good to have “estrogen time” as a back-up, in case you’re describing the concept to a stranger or old lady.
I can’t stand where I live currently but I used to live 25 minutes away and thought it was the greatest thing. I wonder what would happen if I travel a little further? Mini-road trips here I come!
Heck yeah to the mini road trips! That’s my next weekend getaway plan, hopefully.
A stroll down memory lane is always good therapy. It makes me appreciate more what I have today and treasure what has been. I’m glad you took the time to revisit your hometown and friends. I’m sure the experience was rejuvenating!
Exactly. And it really was!
A friend of mine came over from the States to stay here in Catania recently and it made me realise all the things that I really like about this place, as opposed to the day to day crap that is just – well – crap. It’s good to see things through different eyes and kind of take a holiday in your own city every so often.
ps – I love your pictures. You always manage to make the everyday look exciting.
Nothing like a visitor to make you feel like you have to keep them entertained… and then realize where you live isn’t so bad after all!
And thanks – my camera works magic.
Yes, make them do it! They’ll be glad you “encouraged” them.
Hey Cassie! I was just given a blog award by another fellow blogger; the deal is that I have to pass it on to five other blogs that I think are great, and your blog is one of the five that I chose! Check it out here:
http://www.existation.com/2012/04/liebster-blog-award.html
It’s so nice you got to spend time with friends and “travel” in your home town. I’ve always wondered if I should join the walks they arrange around my hometown for tourists. Maybe it would make me appreciate this place more. Staying at a hotel would kind of be pointless for me, but still learning more about the history of the town could be nice. It gives a whole new perspective..
ps. nice pictures
Really refreshing post. I’m a strong believer that a lot of people associate travelling with going to ‘other’ places, forgetting ‘other’ places are easily accessible in your local city.
I loooove yoouuuu! (and peeing un pequeno bit in mis pantelones…)
I am super excited to see you taking so many photographs! They look amazing. If you ever have any questions, you know where to find me. But you are clearly a natural and probably don’t need help at all.
Baltimore is pretty cool! I was there this summer and loved it. This makes me crave some girl time … it’s on the to do list for this weekend!