a few pictures taken this weekend
If you looked over your head while seated in the hotel lobby this is what you saw. The name of the hotel was "The Renaissance" - lots of white marble and red velvet - very plush and refined! Too good for me (ha!) but I enjoyed it immensely.
Another lobby view:
We watched the 4th of July fireworks from the bridge near the hotel - they set them off from a barge near Point Park. At the juncture of the 3 rivers; the Monongahela, the Allegheny and the Ohio. I learned this geographical fact while there - actually I learned more about Pittsburgh than I have ever known before (still don't know that much though) - by being a tourist with about 4000 other folks at the convention. This picture was taken before the fireworks as hundreds of boats and kayaks gathered:
After the fireworks as the smoke cleared. (I didn't get any good fireworks pictures.) The lower red area was where the fireworks were, on the far side of that bridge:
This was taken near the entrance to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (an amazingly large building) - two long waterfalls with a path winding down the center of them. The sound of the water was deafening.
We also rode the subway and checked out the Station Square area (touristy) - I didn't even know that Pittsburgh had a subway before this!
I had a really good time - it was good to spend lots of time with Nina and her friends from Kalamazoo. Meeting new people isn't usually my thing but this seemed different (good and safe and real) and I really enjoyed myself. I feel refreshed. Hope I can hold onto that feeling!