Wednesday August 24

Woke @ 6:30; jet lag: check!

Back stretches & cereal.

First ride: tour of Highland Park. I’m on the outskirts, and it’s pretty run down. Up the hill it gets quite nice.

I ran across Tazza de’Orro, a cafe, & stopped in for a cap.

This Colombian, Mauricio, asked me to buy him an espresso. I did, and we talked for 30 min. We’re meeting back there tomorrow for a bike ride.

Proceeded down the hill to Oakland, where a lot of the civic center stuff is.

Rode through Schenley Park, a big wooded park.

Out the other end is Schenley Place, a big lawn with a carousel and cheap eats around the periphery. Had Hunan Chicken from a stand.

Next to the Place are the Carnegie museums and main library; spent the bulk of the afternoon in the library.

By the way it’s in the low 80’s, which would be fine, but it’s humid. You sweat just sitting still. The library is air conditioned.

Walked around Pitt (univ of Pittsburgh), which seems huge. Maybe the most interesting building is the Cathedral of Learning - huge, gothic. Shown above.

Then on the bike through CMU and into ShadySide. This is the nicest spot I’ve encountered so far. A section of gracious mansions and a commercial street.

Here’s what I like about biking: happened across a small jazz club, and went in for a Campari.

Off to Trader Joe’s for an apple and water bottle.

Apple and ear of corn for dinner, net outlay $1.

That is all.