| Day 1 | July 22, 2001 |
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| It's
5:30am and I haven't slept a wink. The street cars slowly rumble as day breaks. My bags
are packed, money exchanged and tickets are purchased. While taking a taxi from my Toronto
apartment, the mornings haze covers the city streets awaiting a the busy morning crowds.
For 6 days I will no longer belong to this city. As the taxi speeds down Front street
towards Union Station I feel that I am going home. A city which has welcomed me and
fascinated me throughout the years. A city which is never a parody in itself because it is
to real. A city where the cars rumble, machines clank and time stands still. A city
that proudly hold the title of the "motor city". Detroit, I am coming home. "Take me to Park Avenue Hotel please" as I drop my bags into the backseat of a city taxi. "The what?" my driver asks. Driving down Woodward, I give my driver directions to the Park Ave. Built in 1924 designed by famed Detroit architect Louis Kamper, the Park Avenue hotel is a gem in a city full of architectural wonders. Originally called the Royal Palms hotel, the renaissance revival hotel was built by Tuller Hotels in the heyday of Detroit. As I walk in the front door, I am greeted with an interior largely unchanged since the days of Lou Tuller. A little tarnished here and there, the Park Ave. still retains it's charm and character. Overlooking downtown my fifth floor room is a virtual time capsule. Although it has been painted a few times and the furniture is relatively new, the details present speak of another time. I feel at home here. Upon crossing the border from Canada, I noticed a large crowd at the Hart Plaza downtown. As it turns out, there was a tall ships parade along the river front. July 24 of 2001 marks the 300 anniversary of Detroit since being founded in 1701 by Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. In commemoration, there has been a weekend long party and celebration downtown. It is an odd site to see so many people downtown in one concentrated area. It has been my experience, that the only reason alot of people venture in from the massive urban sprawl surrounding the city for either a concert or sporting event. While walking around Hart Plaza, it was great to see so many different people enjoying the events and celebrating the history of the city . Having spent most of the morning on the road, I decided it was time for me to head back to the hotel and rest up for busy day tomorrow. For tomorrow marks another anniversary. One that is not celebrated. |
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Outside the Park Avenue Hotel |
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Cooling off in Hart Plaza |
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