Cityscape

I adore the vast natural beauty in West Virginia and the scenic routes anyone can take on a day when they need relaxtion, whether it be simply the Rails to Trails or Dorsey's Knob. I visit these places occasionally, but there's no place that has influenced me more than the town I wake up to every morning.

When I was younger I used to think Morgantown appeared somewhat rundown and trashy becaues of the older buildings it had in parts of town. Sometimes it would be a house on the side of the street with vines crawling up the stained outter walls behind a weedy terrace; then there would be the old stores in town with sun-faded signs and washed out facades. I really resented these traits, especially when I compared them to the beautiful, always new and fresh cities and towns I'd visit on vacations. I had overlooked the originality of my own town's unique beauty.

Such was an unfair comparison anyhow; taking a look at other towns I've traveled through that aren't trying to keep a reputation as a popular tourist attraction, not so much is different. An aged, wise feel is shared by  a few worn down buildings and old stores. Morgantown has been clearing space for new apartments to help sustain the college students that flock here each new semester, and the sidewalks downtown have recently been replaced. But there are enough old stores and buildings that have collected nuance over the years to keep alive Morgantown's wise little spirit.

Something else that I have admired over the years -- and admittedly taken for granted because I've lived here my entire life -- is the PRT system. Along with that, the bus system as well -- so many places are reachable by some form of public transportation; it makes the town feel smaller and connected. The enclosure of my school in the city contributes to this because downtown is just a few minutes walk away. Though I'm generally an introveretd person, I find the knowledge comforting that the world full of busy people plowing through their day is outside my window.

I love the feeling of a town that really flows together. Morgantown contains that. Those big cities people admire so much lose that sense; they're fun to visit, but despite how huge their size and population are, they're lonely.

Taryn