Thoughts on Grandma's

This was my first year partaking in any of the Grandma's Marathon festivities. Here is what I have learned.

1) If Duluth were this busy every weekend, I would NOT live here. I live in Duluth because it is a small, BIG town. One weekend a year is enough for me.

2) I waited in line for 45 minutes with drunk college kids to get into the tents to have a few free beers and listen to a terrible cover band.

3) Canal Park reminded me of Downtown Minneapolis...people not using crosswalks, drunks stumbling around everywhere, average age on a Saturday night is well below 30.

4) If Canal Park were this busy every weekend they would have to close off all traffic to the area completely. There is no way more roads can be made because of the lake, so there would need to be a LARGE parking ramp on Superior Street. That would totally suck because it is kind of a long walk. Therefore, the city would need to construct a light rail or increase the number of taxis, buses, and trolleys (only used in the summer months). This would totally suck because you would have to pay for parking and pay for transportation to CP. We complained this month when they put meters on the streets down there. Duluthians are a little spoiled because we live in a little, BIG city.

5) I still hate tourists. They don't know how to drive here (1 ways are labeled very clearly), they are slow, they think being "bridged" is fun, they think Amazing Grace is trendy, and so many more reasons.

6) ALWAYS park over the bridge in Park Point. Two reasons: 1) You don't have to park on the hill (aka the hood) where the most crime happens in Duluth. This saves you from being a victim of rape and/or a knifing and also will prevent an encounter with an extremely drunk person. 2) it is less busy and you end up getting to park much closer to the action. Also, you don't have to wait at any stop lights. This prevents any of the the items listed in reason #1. It eliminates the opportunity for drunks to stop and talk to you.

I think that is all I have the strength for today....