Downtown

headed downtown on a beautiful day
@nonersays (3329)
United States
April 11, 2017 9:36am CST
I live in a city that is often praised for the beauty of its downtown area. People will often comment they wished they lived here. Living here over 15 years, I pretty much never get to see downtown. I can't drive, and social anxiety keeps me from simply taking a bus and the people I live with HATE downtown. Yesterday we HAD to go downtown to the tax office. I was trying to enjoy the beautiful view of the perfectly blue sky, and the amazing old oak trees, the pretty parks and squares, and the lovely old buildings. The short walk up the sidewalk to the office showed many quaint shops I would have loved to have ducked into an enjoyed...but we were there with a purpose that didn't include window shopping. While I wanted to play tourist, the whole time the people I was with complained non-stop about how much they hated downtown. Is this something unique to my family, or do most local people hate their own city's downtown area? (image was taken by me, snapped as we were approaching the downtown area.)
8 people like this
8 responses
@louievill (28859)
• Philippines
11 Apr 17
Downtown is suppose to be the commercial district of a certain area, my parents use to have a shop in what is downtown Manila, you love or hate it depends on your outlook and for me I do love and miss that place, but again love or hate is subjective, perhaps this song would help you appreciate your down town more, get in shape like a teenager and you will love it more ( just my opinion) Petula Clark Downtown. original version:
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
That song was going through my head when I was trying to think of a title for this post.... Our downtown is very commercial, but also very Historical. Full of tourists.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28859)
• Philippines
14 Apr 17
@nonersays great, you are lucky, enjoy what you have, not everybody does
@Happy2BeMe (99426)
• Canada
11 Apr 17
Looks like a beautiful place. I think most people complain about their own downtown area. I have heard it from many people with different places that I went to and people that I talked to.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
Probably has to do with being AROUND it so often. The people I was with have lived here all their lives, so downtown isnt as "magical" to them as me.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99426)
• Canada
14 Apr 17
@nonersays yes and that is probably it
@prinzcy (32326)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 17
I don't mind downtown as sometimes it's easier to shop there than in the city. Less traffic and easier to park. Of course at times, we might not be able to purchase everything we're looking for. But bargaining is easier there.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
Parking in our downtown area is a nightmare. But so many different types of stores in walking distance you only have to park once. Other places you have to drive from store to store to store.
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@OreoBrownie (3755)
• Commerce, Georgia
12 Apr 17
I don't like any city close up and personal. I have social anxiety.
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@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
I know the feeling...I do too. I'd never be able to "do" downtown on my own. I could only enjoy it with a buddy, and the peoplel I'm close to hate the whole shebang.
@marlina (154183)
• Canada
11 Apr 17
I guess a lot of people will always complain about their own town. They probably get bored of it.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
Probably true. People who are surrounded by something every day don't see it as beautiful as someone seeing it for the first time.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Apr 17
Our town is so small it doesn't have a 'downtown'. What a pity you weren't able to enjoy more of it.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
Even the tiny town I grew up in had a "downtown". Only a square but it was there. lol Savannah really does have a beautiful downtown....but I'll never explore it.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Apr 17
People tend to take their blessings for granted. I would love to have a downtown area like that rather than all the tall buildings and lack of tradition we have here. That looks like any small town in Ohio where I grew up and where I hope to eventually return to again. Marysville is the city that comes to mind, a beautiful little town. I grew up in a place like you picture and it was great. Don't you love those old houses? Houses nowadays all look the same.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
14 Apr 17
My image is just entering downtown. Our downtown has tall buildings evehwere. Not skyscraper tall, but still tall. And wall to wall thick, no space off of sidewalks. But they are mostly all old and beautiful buildings.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
24 May 17
We don't hate it but don't see what the big deal is. Maybe we get so used to seeing certain things that we start to take the beauty there for granted?