July 1-4 PITTSBURGH
July 1: Off to the airport to fly to Pittsburgh. As some may know, Jeffman Stormtrooper was Brian's faithful sidekick in Hawaii recently. Darth has been discovered in Al's SUV... so he is off with us. Follow him periodically during the trip.
July 2: Marti and Al were escorted on a private tour of the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, Marti's Alma Mater. Contrary to Al's belief, she was not in Florence Nightingale's class. The Cathedral is the 2nd tallest university building in the world...#1 is at the Moscow University. This on is 43 stories. We viewed Pittsburgh from the Babcock Room, formerly site of Board of trustees meetings. We then toured the Nationality Rooms in 1st fl. Many national groups in Pittsburgh raised funds to furnish these as a typical learning or home environment from their country. In the Polish room is a Jagellonian globe. In the Irish room a copy of the Book of Kells. Al tried out the Professor's chair in most of them.
English Room: the fireplace is from an arch in Parliament and the wood panel behind Al is actual oak from the British govt from the House of Commons that survived the bombing in WWII. Note the William Pitt and Florence Nightingale stain glass windows.
The tall building is former US Steel headquarters, now part of UPitt Med Center
Interior of Cathedral of Learning- 3 stories. Lantern Night is held here for new PITT women students each fall. Candlelight passed around as the Alma Mater is sung.. very impressive. I still have my lantern as do many of my friends.
After the Cathedral we toured the Heinz Chapel - donated by the Heinz family. Thank you for all the ketchup purchases! this is where my pinning ceremony was held as were 2 of my classmates weddings. A young Romanian church organist was playing while we were there... that can be done on request if nothing is scheduled. The stained glass is remarkable - the tallest windows are 75 feet with no cross supports like stone. They represent values like truth and justice. 135 different persons represented. A virtual history lesson.
After the tours we visited in the School of Nursing building.. so different from when I was there. The Development director presented a 75th anniversary lantern to me... will be in the bookcase at FSW when it arrives.
We then walked around Oakland.. saw the site of the Wall where Mazeroski hit the World Series winner home run in 1960. Forbes Field is no more but the law library and other university building sit on the site. Lunch had to be at Primanti Bros.. for the uninitiated = every sandwich is on Italian bread with fries and coleslaw. This is a Pgh institution.. not to be missed. I made Al pass on the Original Hot Dog... only the young can do those hot dogs.
Dinner at Altius- on Mt Washington. If you go to PGH, this was an incredible dinner! Strawberry -rhubarb strudel dessert was delicious and the chef sends you off with a goodie - toffee brownie our night. The view from Mt Washington right beside the Duquesne Incline is the best in PGH! The Pirates were home so PNC park was ablaze.
Altius- foodie place!!!!
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