What is wonderful about Pittsburgh today is that its lovely rebirth matches the nostalgic remembrances of my youth. The dirty memories of a young man introducing his bride to his Quaker State relatives are gone replaced by music, art and cleanliness.
After seeing my Aunt Dorothy, my cousins Bill and Carol took Ted and I to one of their favorite restaurants, Max’s Allegheny Tavern for some great German food. This is one of those places that locals know about and travelers wish they could discover on their own. I was somewhat intimidated by the heavy menu of German favorites mindful that I didn’t need the extra weight of potato pancakes accompanying me tomorrow as we started the Great Allegheny Passage. But I couldn’t resist the kielbasa reuben sandwich. The sausage collection called to Ted as do sirens to a lonely sailor. With a good German pilsner, our desires were consummated.
As the sun was setting, Bill and Carol then drove us to the top of Mt. Washington, which overlooks Pittsburgh and the confluence of the Three Rivers. No trip would be complete without a ride on the incline train and like giddy schoolchildren, we pushed and ran to get the best vantage on the way up and down. Bill told us that there used to be dozens of these inclines up and down the river but now there were but two left. That made our ride on the Monongahela incline, built in 1869, wondrous.
With the PPG Building glimmering in the background, we watched the sun set on our launch city, happy we were able to have a nice visit with family, a good meal in an unexpected place and be part of a beautiful sunset.
