The D

Yesterday and today have been gray and damp days. While it's not cold, the ambiance reminds me a lot of what winters are like in southeast Michigan, around Detroit. I just moved east a little (very little) while ago and I was in awe of the nice weather and the fact that the sun actually made an appearance almost every day.

I used to live in what is commonly referred to as Metro Detroit, a huge sprawling blob of suburbaness that surrounds the city - the city of which most of the suburbanites are afraid to visit. The city that the suburban folk call (sorry you have to read this) "Hockeytown." The "Paris of the West," the capital of the automobile, "Motown," has been reduced to an allusion to the local hockey team. Sad, really.

Despite of the image you may have of the city itself, which is probably at least 40% correct, there is something absolutely magical about the place. Like no matter how much the city gets kicked in the chin, it refuses to let go of its soul and its grace. Detroit has seen its better days and while many speak of revitalization, in reality, a comeback is probably a long way off. The city has steadily been losing population and the streets are mostly deserted. Burnt down houses await demolition signaled by the big "D" (for demolition, not Detroit) spray-painted on the facade someplace. The city government always seems to be in the midst of a scandal or another, involving lavish parties thrown by the mayor, an ever growing deficit, the looming threat of state receivership and the overall inability of the mayor and city council to agree on just about anything.

But besides all its demons and all its problems, Detroit is still one of my favorite cities anywhere. And since I'm not planning an outing to walk till tomorrow, check out this blog: detroitblog.org for some truly amazing acts of urban spelunking in the many majestic and very abandoned buildings within the city limits of Detroit.