en.infoglobe.cz » USA: Pittsburgh – The City of William Pitt

USA: Pittsburgh – The City of William Pitt

Published: 7.7.2013
I started my two-year stay in the US in Pittsburgh. I had stayed there for four mostly summer months. There I had first experiences of living in a foreign country, adapting to new habits, food, people and I also tried to overcome the language barrier.

My English knowledge was very limited when I arrived to carry out my au-pair duties and I really realized it when I first stepped on the foreign soil.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is located in the northeast of the US, it is the second largest city in Pennsylvania, larger is just Philadelphia. It could be claimed these two cities make borders of the State of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is located in east and Pittsburgh in west. The name of Pittsburgh is derived from the name of William Pitt, a British Prime Minister. Pittsburgh is located on the meeting of the rivers – Allegheny and Monongahela, the flow of the river onwards is the Ohio River. It is very interesting that the downtown is situated just in this „triangle“ between branches of both rivers. Right on the meeting there is a beautiful fountain. It is depicted on almost every postcard you can buy in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the fountain didn’t operate when I visited the downtown for several times. Perhaps, it is turned on only for special occasions or photos to tourist guidebooks. Actually, there is a special name for this unique geographic location of the city’s downtown, it has been known also as „The Golden Triangle“ .

"the golden triangle" 

Unlike New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco and other well-known American cities Pittsburgh is not that attractive for tourists. There is no world famous building teasing millions of tourists from all around the world. Personally, I thing Pittsburgh is known in the Czech Republic mostly thanks to Jaromir Jagr had played in Pittsburgh Penguins’ dress since 1990 to 2001 and in the years of 1991 and 92 he and his team won the most precious hockey prize in the world the Stanley Cup. During my stay he hadn’t played in Pittsburgh. Despite this local hockey fans hadn’t forgotten him and in every occasion I told them about my country they mentioned his name. Since I had stayed in Pittsburg during summer when there are no hockey matches, naturally I couldn’t visit any. Regardless, I had visited his arena – CONSOL Energy Center - at least,

Consol Energy Center 

But there is one thing in witch Pittsburg is first. There are exactly 446 bridges across local rivers. Considering they are in one city it makes one of the densest places in the world. The bridges are not so opulent and huge as in New York, thus tourists don’t seek to visit them. They serve for cat traffic.

What’s worth visiting in Pittsburgh is the Mount Washington view. Monongahela Inclines cableway will get you on the top. It resembles the Petrin cableway in Prague. There is a magnificent view from the top of the Golden Triangle and its fountain right on the rivers meeting. The whole center is located within this golden triangle.

Monongahela Incline

Among other interesting landmarks there is a ZOO and an aquarium, next also the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art and (in case you Andy Warhol Museumtravel with your kids) Children´s Museum of Pittsburgh where children have fun all day long.   Also you can take a boat cruise in the downtown area. You can see the meeting of both rivers from real close and fountain, the downtown and bridges connecting downtown with other city districts as well.

Those who love sports will also enjoy Pittsburg. Except of the hockey team Penguins where Jaromir Jagr got his fame, the city also hosts Pirates, a baseball team, which has home in the PNC Park stadium, on the Allegheny riverside. I had an opportunity to visit one match, Pirates v. Clipers of Los Angeles. Personally, I expected larger fan support for I got feeling that most of people come to stadiums to eat, chat with friends and they are not that interested in the game itself. Also, a popular American football team, the Steelers, has their home here. They play their home matches at the Heinz Field stadium.

PNC Park

Also, Pittsburgh is a university city for University of Pittsburgh has its main residence here in its dominant Cathedral of Learning building. And private Carnegie Mellon University resides in Pittsburgh as well.

Carnegie Mellon University

If you want to enjoy bit of fun and adrenalin I recommend you to visit the Kennywood amusing park, which is located east from the downtown at the Monongahela riverside. Rollercoasters, carousels, and many other attraction for grownups as well as for children will pump your adrenalin. I had spent whole day there with my host family.

University Of Pittsburgh

Nevertheless, I can claim you will experience real American life in Pittsburgh – large houses and even larger gardens, big cars, multiple lane highways busy no matter when, kind officials and shop assistants. Although I liked New York more I don’t regret my stay in Pittsburgh at all.

Text: Pavlína Rouhová

Photo: wikipedia.org, Dr. Cash, David Fulmer, -cpt-, Jared and CorinIan Manka,

Crazypaco, phillq23, Bobak, Suckindiesel 

 



Discussion at the article (0)


Related Articles

USA: New York I. – The Big Apple 1
Published: 17.6.2013
Almost two years while I was working as an au-pair I had lived in suburbia of the center of the whole globe. To describe every attraction worth visiting would take several articles. New York is the most monumental symbol of level of the world civilization. It consists of five districts - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island.

U.S.: Yellowstone
Published: 15.11.2013
There are many natural parks in the United States. Maybe you think of Yosmite, Wrangell-St.Elias (the largest US park) or Denali.

US: Portland
Published: 22.11.2013
Portland is located in the State of Oregon which is adjacent to the State of Washington on north.

USA: Alcatraz – Island of Prisoners
Published: 29.11.2013
There are places that you probably voluntarily nevypravili. One of them will surely prison. Among the best known in America is clearly Alcatraz. His name is not well known outside the country.

US: San Francisco – The City of the Golden Gate Bridge
Published: 6.12.2013
In the last article devoted to the United States we have learned something about Alcatraz, a former maximum security prison. Now we move from the Rock and have a glimpse at one of the most distinct cities in the US.

USA: San Francisco – Where to Go? II
Published: 20.12.2013
As you may know from previous part of our story, San Francisco is a tourist friendly city. There are enough attractions and sights to keep you occupied at least for a week without you slipping into boredom.

USA: Los Angeles – Hollywood
Published: 3.1.2014
From inglorious Compton with high levels of criminality (decreasing) we move to the place well-known to everyone – Hollywood.

USA: Los Angeles – Universal Studios
Published: 10.1.2014
Last week, we were over to Hollywood. It is a place that is in some ways perhaps overrated.

USA, New Orleans – Bourbon Street
Published: 21.11.2014
Today we jump over the Atlantic to se eone of the most popular places in the world.

USA: Pennsylvania – Altoona, a Railroad Town
Published: 20.8.2017
In the following weeks, we are going to visit some of the overlooked places in the USA. We begin our tour on the other end of the Atlantic in Pennsylvania, a state in the northwest of the country.

USA: Trip to Seattle V
Published: 25.10.2013
Previous articles had to demonstrate you the atmosphere a visitor can feel in the United States. Today we will hit the streets of the most important city in the Pacific Northwest.

USA: A Trip to Seattle IV
Published: 18.10.2013
I mentioned affordability of consumer goods in the United States in the last part.

USA: A Trip to Seattle III
Published: 11.10.2013
Last time I concluded my story with a theory of what is a real car for the Americans.

USA: New York – Bridges
Published: 24.6.2013
New York consists of five parts – Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Only one of them, Bronx, is located on mainland. Other districts are situated on islands; Manhattan and Staten Islands are on individual islands. Queens and Brooklyn are located on one common island. The city districts are separated with water crossed by about 60 bridges.

USA: Niagara Falls - Between Two Countries
Published: 14.7.2013
I went to a trip to Niagara Falls together with my three au-pair colleagues near the end of my two-year stay in the US. It is an unwritten tradition to visit the Niagaras if you are an au-pair in New York. I haven’t met anyone who didn’t visit the falls or at least wasn’t going to.

USA: San Francisco – A City in Bay I
Published: 21.7.2013
I gave myself a four-day vacation in San Francisco in the middle of my two-year au-pair stay in the US. Everyone, who ever was there, never said anything except superlatives and mentioned the difference between east coast and west coast cities.

USA: San Francisco – City in Bay II
Published: 28.7.2013
Next day morning we set out to explore Lombard Street, a street that is world famous for its zigzag character. And really, houses are built to allow everyone who live there to drive in or out on this steep hill.

USA: Philadelphia – Street Life I.
Published: 4.8.2013
I decided to spent part of Christmas in the former capital of the State of Pennsylvania and the whole United States. During my introductory au-pair course I met a Czech with whom I still stay in touch, she invited me to her home in Philadelphia.

USA: Philadelphia – Street Life II.
Published: 11.8.2013
When you walk around in downtown you would definitely notice City Hall built in an Empire style, on the top there is a statue of the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. There is also Independence Hall in the center, the building is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage lists and also the already-mentioned Declaration of Independence was signed there.

U.S.: A Trip to Seattle I.
Published: 27.9.2013
Europeans are close to the United States and whole North America and South America in a way. It is because they afflicted both continents irreversibly.

US: A Trip to Seattle II
Published: 4.10.2013
A trip long trip abroad means rises one significant question – what I should pack with me? I wouldn’t describe here the whole list what I put into my luggage, of course. There weren’t many things. Important is to not forget important documents.

USA, Washington D. C. – The Capital
Published: 10.9.2017
Washington D.C. is undoubtedly one of the most visited of American cities. Today we invite you to take a tour with us and see its sights, monuments and nice places.

USA: New York II. - The Big Apple 2
Published: 23.6.2013
Today in our article we would like to present you few interesting sites you shouldn’t miss during your visit in New York.

Place

Czech republic

Partners:

We were awarded the certificate even thanks to you!

Dôveryhodná firma 2017

 

Guide:

Important Information:

Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.

Mobile application:

aplikácia Infoglobe

stiahnuť zadarmo pre Androidstiahnuť zadarmo pre iPhone

 

 

Today:tuesday 19. 3. 2024
Holiday:Josef
Today:
tuesday 19.3.
-1 °C
Tomorrow:
wednesday 20.3.
1 °C

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X