So we left Friday night, and almost got lost right away, when my mom took a wrong turn right here in Buffalo. Almost saw Ralph Wilson Stadium. No joke. But we made it and spent the night in Grove City. And gassed up at Sheetz. And hit Prime Outlets. Including the Steelers Store. Got myself a Steelers cellphone holder. And a new hat, which you will see in the pics. Totally blown away, but I'm sure that the stores in Monroeville and Heinz Field are even bigger, so yeah...next trip for those. We were going to go to Monroeville, but ran out of time. Anyway. Next day. Left for the city at 9 AM. And dude, you guys, it had me at hello. Absolutely gorgeous, and the people...not just in Pittsburgh, but on the way there, too, were probably the nicest people ever. Definite difference between NY and PA is that I think in NY, the universal greeting is the middle finger. For real. Anywho. Pittsburgh. The campus is right downtown, but I love it. I think the library's my favorite part, actually. Good thing, too, because I'll be in the library sciences program. Pitt's library reminds me a lot of the Gannett Center at IC. <3 We also got stuck in the middle of an anti-war protest, complete with boxes representing caskets. There were even cops with dogs searching for bombs. We got out of there ASAP.

After that, we went to the Heinz History Center. Specifically, we checked out the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, which was awesome. They had all of the baseball cards and football cards for the Pirates and Steelers. The Clemente display made me cry. The highlight reel they have as you walk in made me cry. I'm going to make it known right here and now that Saturday was the first time my mother had ever seen the Immaculate Reception. This is no joke. They had highlight reels, and memorabilia on display (Sid the Kid's hockey stick! Franco's shoes from the Immaculate Reception!). And they had some interactive stuff, which I loved. They have cardboard representations of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, with holes that you have to get a nerf football through. I hit Stallworth's cardboard doppelganger several times in the head. Meh. If that had really been him standing there, he'd have had several opportunities to make catches like David Tyree.

So my silly mother thought there were only three bridges. Because there are only three rivers, duh. But no, Mom. And yeah, that's the Roberto Clemente Bridge over there. Yes, we have to cross it to get to the stadium. The stadium! Took us a little while to find, as my mother's driving, and my head's going like an owl. At one point, I look to my right. And there it is. The heavens opened up and light came down. The angels were singing. You know the drill. "I see it!! It's right there!!" "Right where??" "There!!" "Are you sure???" "IT'S MY STADIUM, MOM!!! OF COURSE I'M SURE!!!" And of course, we're going the wrong way. But we do get there...and I have pictures (see above for one).

My mom called home, and my bro picked up the phone. "We're in Pittsburgh. At Heinz Field." "You're where??" "We're at the stadium in Pittsburgh. Heinz Field." "No way." Dude does not pay attention. Like, ever.

We drove by PNC Park, but didn't stop. Next time, definitely. Didn't make it to Monroeville, will also be saving that for next time. Drove by Kennywood. And, uh, the scene of Ben Roethlisberger's crash. We pass Mercy Hospital and near the 10th Street Bridge, and my mom's like, "Where are we?" Well...yeah. #1 way to tell I watched too much news footage that day. Anywho. Oh, didn't make it to Primanti's either, but that'll be for next time, too. No Peppi's, so I didn't get a Sheer Heart Attack on a Bun Roethlisburger. Next time, I suppose. If it doesn't kill me. I've seen what's in those things, yo.

We actually ended up not staying in Pittsburgh that night, instead headed back here. Looked for a hotel starting in Grove City, and there was nothing until Dunkirk, NY. Only an hour from here, but we just couldn't make it any further. While in Grove City, actually, we ate at Eat`n Park. Best restaurant ever. Got free smiley cookies, too. Yum. I need to move, like, yesterday. Pittsburgh, I love you, and I hope to truly be able to call you home.