It's been an eye opener now that Gary is retired.  If you know much about me, you know that I'm a southern girl.  I didn't care for the fact that my husband's work brought us to Pittsburgh, but I thought it would be a two-year stint.  That was back in 1981 and I'm still here!  Although I fought it for a very long time, God won out and our mailing address is still the in the Pittsburgh area.  God does have a sense of humor.

As Gary has settled into retirement, we've had more time to do my mental list of Pittsburgh cultural experiences that I've always wanted to explore.  One item was to leisurely visit the Strip District, walk around and possibly take in breakfast or lunch.  Although we've been to the Strip many times, this was an unexpected LEISURELY stroll in and around Smallman Street.  Big difference.  We happened upon DeLuca's and went in for breakfast.  What an absolute treat!  The booths and counter stools were a throw back to yesteryear when my Grandma took me to Woolworth's Department Store in downtown Lynchburg.  We would mount those stools for toasted ham sandwiches and a big glass of Coca-Cola! 

The food at DeLuca's is prepared on hot grills within viewing distance, the coffee hot and continuous, the bread fresh and the eggs cooked to perfection.  There is a painted mural on the wall that is from a movie entitled, "Passed Away" with the date of 1991.  I don't know if that's when it was painted or the movie came out for viewing.  As we walked out the door there was a framed picture of Sidney Crosby after he shot the winning goal in the first ever Winter Classic held in Buffalo, NY. Then there was an aerial of Forbes Field and another with two of baseball's greatest players; Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell with former player and coach, Bill Virdon standing together for a photo op.  Such a touch of Pittsburgh!

Anyway, that was my morning and it reminded me that this City has a ton to offer.  Little quaint shops, delicious local eateries, a river system in which you can rent a boat and cruise down the three rivers or perhaps board one of the Gateway Clippers and let someone else do the driving!  Whatever why you like it, it's here.  You just have to get out and find it!  God bless!  (Sue, we thought of Tim as we walked through the aisles of the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co....