It's Worth the Wait

We were on our way to Do Good Day when I heard it. Alexis sat in the back seat, quietly whispering, "Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . " over and over, on and on.

I knew exactly what she was doing. I've done it myself pretty much every time I've driven down that road for the past 16 or so years.

We slowed as we entered the Fort Pitt Tunnel and again Alexis said something I too have often uttered. "Why is everybody driving so slow?" she wondered.

It's a fan-freakin-tastic question. I personally have never spotted a 8-armed furry beast that eats cars, but I have heard rumors of a Tunnel Monster that forces Pittsburghers to slam on their brakes the second they enter a tunnel. I resisted the urge to tell the small child that we were driving slow because people are stupid and don't know how to drive and, instead, left the question unanswered.

"Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . " she continued.

"Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . " she continued to repeat the phrase, her voice dripping with anticipation.

"Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . WAIT FOR IT!" her voice rose with excitement as we neared the tunnel exit.

"PIIIITTTSBURGH!" she screamed as the tunnel opened up into the magnificent view of downtown.

Alexis never tires of that magical Aha! Moment.

Neither do I.

Comments

[tehamy]

My family is originally from Pittsburgh, but I grew up in South Central PA. Some of my favorite memories growing up include driving on the Parkway East and seeing the skyline as we rounded the corner at Bates Street. My sister and I would do the same thing that Alexis did. As soon as we saw the sky line, we would yell "PITTSBURGH!!!!" I drive into town that way almost every morning and although I don't yell (usually), I still admire the skyline every morning.

[Lauren]

Alexis and I are two peas in a pod - I still do the same thing. And it never gets old.

[Jayna]

We do that every time we come in from the north. I still haven't figured it out, but there is something a tiny bit magical about Pittsburgh.

[Jen]

Best view ever- especially based on the 'surprise' effect on people who are new to the city and have never seen it before. And especially at night.

[Steph]

I was born here, but we moved to AZ when I was 6. I've been back almost 3 years (at the ripe old age of 37 now)

and...That's my FAVORITE view of the city too!!! Especially at night. :)

Now, the tunnel "driving"--slowing -- drives me crazy!!

[Karen]

She and Becky could be the same kid. Last time we were in the city, we were deep in convo when we emerged from that very tunnel. She stopped mid-word to say, "LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL SIGHT."

[Elisabeth]

My feelings exactly! When I moved to Pittsburgh (site unseen) with my husband last September he said the same thing to me "Wait for it..." and I was completely blown away. I still am.

[mattieflap]

My husband once described Pittsburgh to his college roommate as "the only city with a front door." You go through the tunnel (the door) and BAM! City!

[bluzdude]

That view coming out of the tunnel still knocks me out. Only problem is I only get to see it when I'm leaving town to go back to Baltimore.

[No Princesses Here]

Love that view! Can't wait to see it again soon!

[Calliope]

That is a great view of the city. I love it every time we come in from Belgium. It's like the city welcoming you home.

[Karen]

I love those tunnel pics! I'd love to ride through there with you and Alexis, just for the great view at the end.

[Katie]

My husband's family lives north of Pittsburgh while we're in Atlanta. Though it drags out the trip longer we usually take a detour just to do that. The feeling of going through the tunnel and knowing that view is coming when you come out of the other side never gets old.

[Karyn]

i have the same reaction every time i get to the spot on 2nd avenue when i can see the burghs skyline. <3 i love this town

[Shannon]

zomg- i love her. i never tire of reading about Alexis. She's got spunk. if her and my son ever got together, the world would be in serious trouble...he's only 2 and already has a serious 'tude.

[Joey @ Big Teeth & Clouds]

As lifelong 'Burgers we've come up with a theory about the tunnel drivers. They have to slow down so they can hit the opening.

Or maybe they're worried that the bridge has collapsed and we might all be rocketing off into the river.

But probably it's just that hard to get the car in the hole.

[Jen]

Ha! So true. Love that she gets that. Jim and I were just talking about this, and how they are going to work on the Squirrel Hill tunnels. They are going to make them higher, which they say will help with that "slow down to a crawl" effect. The guy said people feel claustrophobic, so they slow down, and making them higher will help with that. We'll see.

[Tiffany]

It is one of my favorite moments as well, especially at night!

[Amber]

Hmm, when I lived south of Pgh and drove home to Erie each weekend (cause, you know, driving 5 hours roundtrip to have my mom do my laundry was better than spending $2.50 for a wash & dry and OMG having to do it MYSELF lol), I honestly would SPEED UP and see just how fast I could actually go in the Liberty Tunnel :-D

Justin told me a funny story about his SIL though. She had one of those cars that has the recirculation buttons in it, and every time she would go through a tunnel she would hit it. She was with Justin and she hit it, and he asked her why. She gave some answer about not wanting to breathe all the crap in the tunnel, and he stuck his arm out of the open window beside her. :-)

[Michelle]

I never tire of that view. I love that coming in on I-79 you get just a little sneak preview before getting the full effect coming through the tunnel. And I love the view from the parkway rounding the bend at Bates Street. It surprises me every time and I round that corner A LOT. Yesterday it was absolutely perfect. I wish I could have grabbed a picture -- the air was completely haze free, the city was sparkling, and the sun was streaming out from behind the clouds in rays that just completely reassured you there is something so magical about our city. There really is no place like home.

[hello haha narf]

it is SO worth the wait! love that at such a young age alexis gets it. way to go, mom.

[Courtney]

Oh, I LOVE coming home to that sight, whether I've been gone a few hours or a couple of weeks. No place welcomes you home like Pittsburgh!

[kdiddy]

Love that view. We come through the Liberty Tunnels so our daily entrance into Oz/Pittsburgh is a little different. When my kid was little, like 2 or 3, every time we would exit the tunnel, he would shout, "Look! It's the city! Hi, City!" And we would ask, "What's the city's name?" and he would shout, "PICKSBURRRRGGHGHH!"

[Roger]

That is awesome that she loves coming into the city like that, and your pictures made me feel like I was in the car with her. Thanks for giving me a better appreciation of your beloved city. :)

[Sherri]

I am not from Pittsburgh - though my Dad and cousins are from the area and I live here now. Many times, I visited the city, but... I guess we always went the turnpike or another way, and I never saw the dramatic "view" you show here. When I was in high school, I came to Point Park College for a workshop (I was a dancer), and we came through the tunnel, and..... there was the city! Beautiful sight - at night - all lit up - really nice skyline. From that day on, I would always gush about the Pitt skyline :-).

[Bette's Bags]

I miss that view! Thanks for bringing me back to those moments when seeing that skyline told me I was only minutes away from seeing my daughter. (Although I don't miss the college tuition...I wish she was still dancing at Point Park so I'd have a reason to visit Pittsburgh on a regular basis!)

[mamaphan]

I love that moment.
And it's not just Pittsburghers who have tunnelphobia. I saw it happen all the time in Virgina, and especially now when we drive to Baltimore. It's ridiculous.
So glad you had fun with Do Good Day!

[the planet of janet]

after getting a chance to meet you (and alexis) in person, and wandering around your city, i now have a special place in my heart for this view and pittsburgh in general.

xox

[Michelle Smiles]

Best part of coming home is emerging from that tunnel to that view :)

[whistler]

30 years later and it's still relevant to me. Back in the day the only way to get into downtown Pittsburgh from 79 south was through GreenTree and the Fort Pitt Tunnel. I remember coming down that hill, through the tunnel and WHAM! to my left was Three Rivers Stadium.

Ahh, what memories..

[Jennifer]

The only city with an entrance. I always love that view especially coming home from the airport. Welcome home!

[caramama]

She is awesome!

The accompanying pics really were perfect for this post, too.

[Nicole]

Dude. Your kid seriously gets more awesome by the minute! I love her!

[Lisa E]

No matter how many times I have gone through the tunnel, I feel the same as your daughter when I come out the other magnificent side~to Pittsburgh!

[laura scarborough]

i did that every time i went downtown when i lived back home and did it again when i was back home earlier this month for my high school reunion. it never gets old.

[Elaine]

I love her saying 'wait for it' over and over! So cute!

And my boys love a good tunnel - I betting that would be one of their favorites. :)

[Ginger]

I can't think of any other city that I've been to that has that "BAM" factor like coming out of the tunnel does. It really is amazing! So glad that Alexis already appreciates that. I think it's in our genes though, if you are a true 'burgher (no matter where you are now) it's enough to take your breath away no matter how many times you see it. I love the view about 6:30am in the spring and fall...the views are AMAZING with the rising sun!

[FireMom]

This post made me kind of weepy. I feel the same.

[Erin]

I've come to the conclusion that is why the tunnel is always backed up. I always have the urge to stop my car and just stare at the city, especially at night. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

[Lisa]

I'm not a native 'Burgher. This is the view that convinced me to apply to the University of Pittsburgh when I was a junior in high school. I got accepted and graduated from Pitt in 2005....and I'm still here and loving it.