Sunday, January 24, 2010

What a great adventure we had lastnight, Saturday.

Brother and Sister Mallory had arranged for us and the Terri's ( missionaries from Denver - here in the Detroit office) to go for supper and then the Detroit Symphony.

Coming from Cardston where downtown is 5 minutes by car - we thought we would be traveling somewhere close for dinner. We pulled onto the freeway and proceeded south - before long the signs were all "Detroit". We were speeding along the highway past many empty high rise buildings, onto freeways and off ramps of freeways, round and round looking for the right turns that the GPS had instructed we take. Eventually we arrived at the chop house - EARLS, only to find the windows all boarded up and the streets deserted. Plan two - we would try to find Lillee's - again onto a freeway and off of a freeway - this was getting close to 600 p.m., no worries, the symphony did not begin until 7:30. Well, got quite a tour of downtown - what used to be the centre of activity, now mostly a ghost town - along one freeway - that we frequented at least three times - we sped past a long train of cars on the right egress -what was the occassion? Oh yes, the car show!! Well, onto find Lillees - guess what - it was no longer there. Disappeared! Well, why not go past the line up of cars that were going to the car show and go to Pegesas - a fine Greek restaurant . Volla - we did find Pegesas, only to find the street's three lanes were packed with automotiles, the sidewalks were full and the day time sun had set. Sis Terri jumped out of the car to seek a reservation at Pegesas - bad news - an hour wait.

Well, back on the freeway and round and round we drove - past so many two story homes that had the windows in the front boarded up and sometimes one lonely light in an upstair window was shining through. Block after block of deserted homes and businesses.

When the recesson hit many people just couldn't pay their mortgage and simply left. Detroit's inner city population is 85% black, 14% hispanic. Not many whites left. Well - we were beginning to get quite hungry - most of us in the car went without lunch in anticipation of this fine meal.

We drove past a Burger King, Wendys and Kentucky Fried. They were beginning to look pretty good. We were quite in the heart of the boarded up houses and the street lights were pretty dim - but we forged on - Ahead we saw a black and white cafe - LEGENDS - We decided we had better get in and get something to stop the growlies. Pleasant surprise. Clean, warm and friendly. We each ordered grilled sandwiches and they were Delicious!!! We ate, paid our dues and got back onto the freeway headed for the symphony.

Upon arriving at the old opera house in downdown Detroit - we were treated to a feast to the eye in this wonderful grand old lady of an opera house. The highlight of the performance was a 30 ish - violinist - Hilary Hahn who performed without music - Concerto for Violin - Jennnifer Higdon (b.1962) 1726, Chaconni, Fly forward. She was fantastic. However, having said that - Grant and I enjoyed the first piece - (The Thieving Magpie) Gioachino Rossinni (1729 - 1868) just delightful.

The rest of the evening was quite uneventful. A wonderful adventure and thanks to the Mallories.