Feeling a little citysick...

As much as I enjoy visiting other cities and other countries, I'm always glad to get home. I love Glasgow but there are two other cities where I could quite happily imagine living - Detroit and Belfast. I can't explain the special love I have for them. Even when I visited them for the first time, they didn't seem strange to me, they felt familiar and already loved. I have often thought that one of the reasons may be is that they are quite similar in architectural style and history. But it is more than that, it's a feeling deep in my bones...

So strong is the connection, that sometimes I feel a little city sick for them. The strangest things can set it off. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere, sometimes it is something much more specific that sets it  off. Back in September , Queen Michelle and I, had just arrived in London, when suddenly in the taxi on the way to the hotel, I was overcome by a desire to visit Belfast. I'm not sure what it was, the light, the shape of a doorway. Sometimes it can be something very small.

But last night, my Detroit citysickness was set off by something very specific and very obvious.

I was watching The Island,  trying hard not to laugh at Ewan McGregors very bad American accent. Set in the future, he and Scarlett Johansson were clones on the run , supposedly in the LA. I only had half an eye on the screen, when all of a sudden they ran into this building...

LA my arse. They were in Downtown Detroit.

This is The Michigan Theatre, once an elaborately decorated theater at the heart of a busy and vibrant downtown Detroit in the 1920s. Closed in 1967, sometime in the 1970s it was converted into a parking lot, where floors and ramps were installed with only the most necessary intrusion upon the old interior. I've stood in there many times and just gazed in wonder at the strangeness of it all. 

So here I am typing this, still suffering from a real bad case of city sickness. I think Detroit is out of the question until next year, but maybe I could manage a little weekend in Belfast before the end of the year, finances permitting.

What about you?  have you ever been city sick? ...

Queen Marie

PS - in case you wondered which city is which above. It's Belfast then Detroit then Glasgow xxx

Comments

[Liv]

I adore old theatres. Unfortunately my favorite here in Montreal was converted first to a short-lived cheesy vacation resort themed supperclub and then to a high end fitness club. While the gym is lovely as some of the architecture was kept but painted white, its still just too bizarre for me...

http://idlefascination.blogspot.com/

[Ms. Smart]

Shut the fuck up - I'm from Detroit. I was born there and moved to Los Angeles in 1989.

Now I know why you like me, you sense my Detroit flavor, hee hee.

We must converse on Detroit sometime. I've got all kinds of stories. I even have a Scottish grandfather from New Pitsligo, who built some of the Detroit skyscrapers you love.

[Lucas Lefler]

I love Detroit. Unfortunately, not many do. Such a beautiful city, even in ruins.

fatherofdetroit.blogspot.com

[WendyB]

Detroit? Wow! I won't say anything else because I see that there are other Detroit lovers commenting. Who knew?

[Edel]

Ahh I find it so strange for you to feel such an affinity to Belfast! I've lived there until I was 19 and moved to Manchester. I never saw as as a city anyone could particularly love (apart from it obviously being home), but I guess shit goes down in any city. I don't know if I even like Manchester as a city, it's the people I know that make it special to me.

I wonder, what is it that you feel so strongly about?

[amber]

My dearest Queen! Downtown Detroit?! Are you sure?? Are we talking about the same one? The one that is included as part of the 'rust belt' of America?

I won't say any more though..cause I see Detroit lovers. Haha. Hey, the heart is a chamber of mysteries!

Love the photos!

Amber

http://ambersmouthwash.blogspot.com/

[tanya]

so beautifully written. love your posts queen marie.

[Darling Duckabeees]

I love Detroit! I grew up there, moved away 3 years ago. It has such great architecture and character! Its such a shame that its facing such economic turmoil right now but its not the first time, so I'm sure Detroit will pull through again. If you need anything to ease the city sick let me know I'll be heading up there in about a month!

[nathan]

hell yeah, i am city-sick all the time-- mostly for Dublin, London, Barcelona and La Paz.

I have always wanted to go to Detroit.

I absolutely do not get the Belfast thing though....sorry.

You seriously prefer it to Dublin??

Ok-- I am from Dublin. I'm biased. I now live in Minneapolis. Which isn't bad.

I can see the connection between Glasgow/ Belfast/ Detroit. I think they all share a certain decrepit glamor, like their best years are over. They were never updated or gentrified, just left behind. They have soul, a lot of memories, a lot of melancholy, and a lot of heroin addicts. I can see why they might call out to your heart.

[Lucia]

I love Salt Lake City - I was driving across the west and stumbled into it and moved there for three years. I don't just love the scenery, I love it all - like a gritty, empty parking lot, with the mountains behind it. Never got used to the Mormons but dang, I love that city. Now after 15 years of living in the Bay area, I still don't like San Francisco (or really any of the cities here). But I love LA - also New York, Chicago, London, Berlin, Venice, Moscow... I can't predict what I'll like, but I just know when I do. Now to 'meet' Detroit and Belfast!

[Diana]

My city is Seattle. I vowed to live there at one point in my life. It WILL happen.

[Mrs Maggoo]

Glasgow. Detroit. Dublin. London. Brussels. Berlin. San Francisco.

Funny you mention the Detroit/Glasgow thing. I spent 7 very happy years living in Glasgow (am originally from England), and having visited Detroit friends several times now I have also noticed so so many similarities. I think it's the post-industrial-gloom thing, and it also seems to create the most creative, brilliant people out of its locals. Have you heard about the latest brilliant idea from there? http://icehousedetroit.blogspot.com/ Best protest ever.

Most of my favourite people in the world are in Glasgow or Detroit. Rather unexpectedly I ended up living in San Francisco, which is nothing like either of those places, but it suits me pretty well so far...

[Jennifer]

*sigh* if only Belfast still looked like that.

The main building to the left is now a Primark...how depressing.

[leigh]

I also love Detroit, which people always find odd (as an above poster revealed, most people really don't like Detroit). The architecture is beautiful, the people are amazing, the arts and music scene is so exciting. I often think about moving there, which has people questioning my sanity.

I'd love to get involved in something like this:
http://powerhouseproject.com/index.php?/updates/info-statements/

[littlemissellie]

I lived in Paris last year and definitely get city sick for there! There's a ton of Paris references on the internet as well.

[Moda]

I get country sick for Spain all the time. I get pangs like you. Sometimes it makes me cry - what a woose! I live in East Kilbride at the moment but we're upping sticks and moving to Belgium in the summer :D I think it'll help with some of the pangs I get.. You know like the cafe culture, more outdoors lifestyle?? I know it's not so sunny like Spain but I think it's a bit more European than East Kilbride. I hope it's the right decision. Spain diesn't have the jobs we need and it's too hot for the kids.. Great post, again Queen Marie!

[Marie-Claire]

Ahh, that first picture sent memories of Anderson & McAuleys flooding back to me, a great old fashioned department store, sadly now Zara, (i think). At a time when there where really no chain stores in Belfast...sigh!

[c]

Queen Marie, delighted to hear that you think so fondly of oul belfast. I've always seen the similaity in Glasgow and Belfast and could completly imainge living there. i think both maybe lack the pretence of some other cities and the people seem kinda down to earth. anyway glad to hear you big up for Belfast.

Anderson and Mc Auley's is now alas a defunct Monsoon- grim! xxxx

[Erin]

That's beautiful.
I understand the citysick thing, my family has moved through a lot of cities (LA, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston and now I live in New York) and sometimes I just feel like I need to go back. NOW.
At the moment because of the cold weather snap I'm missing those warm LA winters more than anything.

[Michelle M]

I have to second the Detroit confusion. Maybe because I live in the U.S but I can't think of anywhere I would like to go least! Take me to London...

[Miss Nightingale]

I live in the UK (in Kent) and am yearning with all my heart for Hamburg. Me and my fiance have been there twice and each time it felt like going home.

I used to live in Brighton and sometimes get so homesick for there that I can smell the sea & the candy floss on a passing breeze. I very occasionally miss London, but I couldn't ever live there again. Not centrally, anyway. I lived there for 5 years and it never felt like home.

[Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen]

I get citysick all the time. If I don't travel every so often I get physically ill. I learned some time ago that I can't be more than an hour away from NYC or I will wither and die (& that is the truth not dramatics.) And London is second home so I always feel homesick for a visit. Detroit, hmmm... my old neighbor is a musician who named his kid Detroit because of his love of the Detroit sound! Ironically about 3 years ago he won the Edinburgh Fest Heraldic Angel award (not Glasgow, but hey its Scotland!) Um and Ewan... drool. (Although the movie was cheesy, nothing is ever that bad if Ewan is in it!)
XXX
Suzanne

[Crystal]

I think you're one of the first I've heard to speak of missing Detroit. I live like 45mins from there and everyone in Michigan calls Detroit the armpit of Michigan.
Oh well. Maybe it's just personal opinion.

I'm pretty city-sick to visit Philadelphia right now. I'm so in love with that city. It feels so homey to me.

I haven't traveled nearly as much as I should. There's so much world for me to see and I have yet to get out of the US!

[`````````````````````]

We talked about this didn't we? I'm definitely going to make it happen this coming July, if that timing fits you we can explore together. Regardless I'll make sure to get your advice before going. x x x xj

[enc]

I like Detroit too, mainly because of the architecture. Go on, visit, but know that it used to be (or still is???) the murder capital of the U.S., rivalled only by D.C.

Wear your flak jacket when you go, dear Queenie!