Week 77: A Wedding in Pittsburgh

This week I had a quick turnaround traveling with back to back trips. After Tulum, I had only one day to rest, do a bunch of laundry, and repack. I was running low on energy but headed to the airport to catch my flight to Pittsburgh for my cousin's wedding. There are sadly very few direct flights from San Diego to Pittsburgh, so I had a quick layover in Chicago. I had to change planes which gave me the ability to get a Chicago-style hot dog at the airport. I rarely would wish for a super long layover, but the quick plane change meant there was not enough time to see my friend Sam, who recently moved to Chicago. It's okay, I plan to visit him soon! Unfortunately, I think the Chicago-style hotdog may have given me food poisoning. Unable to do much about it, l pushed through and tried to enjoy my cousin’s wedding weekend as best as I could. I definitely had to make sure to stay extra hydrated throughout the trip. 

The first step into the Pittsburgh air brought me back to Tulum, because it was incredibly humid and hot. I felt the heat zapping everyone’s energy throughout the day as we explored. I noticed it made everyone a little grumpier than normal.  This was the first family trip my entire family has taken in over ten years, and even though we weren’t all on the same flights, we stayed at an Airbnb together. 

The first morning, my parents, aunts and cousin and I all ventured to Grandma B’s, a small breakfast diner near our Airbnb. The cooks were friendly and talkative and my shrimp grits (with extra shrimp) were yummy. I even found this review online that perfectly encapsulates the vibes at Grandma B's.

"If you dont like the food, ya tongue lied!"

We melted every time we stepped outside, but we did some exploring and saw the Duquesne Incline and a couple viewpoints from Mount Washington.

There was a wall of famous cable cars at the Incline building

INSERT INCLINE VIDEO AND MT WASH VIDEO HERE

Next, we braved the heat and went to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden (not to be confused with the Phipps Conservatory, which we drove past but did not visit). The Pittsburgh Botanic Garden was a great slice of nature sitting on the outskirts of a very concrete and brick-heavy city. I like the East Coast because despite the industrial cityscape, there are so many more lush green spaces and trees compared to California.

A cutie pie bunny friend!

Some art at the garden

We found some shade to rest

The first event on the wedding weekend agenda was the welcome dinner at a fun restaurant and bar with pool tables, mini-bowling, and arcade games. It was called Coop De Ville. I got a chance to meet more of the bride’s family and friends, and even saw some people from high school who I haven’t seen since.

It was a great way to start the weekend off and get everyone acquainted before the big wedding day. My sister finally arrived late after a nightmare day of travel due to flight delays, right in time for the wedding.

One of the best choices we made was to escape the heat and venture through the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. We tried to see as much of the art museum as we could with our limited schedule.

My mom: "Take a selfie!"

My favorite section was the design exhibit that displayed tons of different furniture and household objects from over the years. I also loved the bird and bug exhibits, and wish we had enough time to explore more of the natural history section of the building. We got takeout from Kaya, a Caribbean style restaurant in the Strip District, before heading back to the Airbnb to get ready for the wedding.

The hot, humid weather drained us quickly throughout the day and we tried to stay positive into the evening’s festivities. It was fun to get ready for the wedding with my parents and my sister. I wore a dark periwinkle floral dress from ASTR the Label at Nordstrom Rack and was glad to have chosen a sweat-friendly material. 

The wedding was small but beautifully done, especially considering they had no formal wedding planner or florist. Everything, from the centerpieces to the chair rentals and playlist, was done by the bride & groom & their families. The entire thing was held in the mother of the bride’s backyard and was wonderful to witness. 

Pittsburgh was an interesting city, and I had a good time. I will say, without the heat and humidity, it would’ve been way more enjoyable. We still had a great time exploring and counting the many bridges slicing up the city. The abundance of bugs and brick buildings was a massive change from the west coast, and I realized I’m definitely not a fan of brick-heavy architecture. 

The weekend finished up with a laid back brunch that featured hungover guests, spotty rain, and a loud falling tree branch in the backyard. Thankfully no one was hurt! Since the weather was cooler than previous days, my parents and I took a small hike in Frick Park. To end the trip, we had some super delicious ramen at Fujiya Ramen in Shadyside before I headed to the airport. 

This trip further fueled my wish to travel to more big cities, and was a great reminder of how precious my cousin and his new wife are. Like my cousin’s best man said during his speech, their love for one another inspires hope in people. I loved seeing the two sides of families and friends come together to support and love the newlyweds. It made me really happy. 

Though the end of this whirlwind of weeks means I have to go back to work and regular life, I’m really glad to be going back to manageable, not-humid weather and can’t wait to sleep in my own bed. 

See you next week.