Blogs from Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
May 24th 2012
I'm off! Kansas City to Detroit... to Rome.... to Malta. Should arrive (if on time) around 1:30pm Malta time.... read more
October 21st 2011
Ash’s Uncle Paul treated us to a tour of Detroit on the way to Grosse Ile, the island where he and Aunt Maureen live and where Ash’s Mom grew up. Detroit has seen better days. Huge, once elegant, brick houses lie in ruins extremely close to the downtown area. There used to be more but many have been completely demolished and cleared. Block after block of Woodward Avenue shop and office blocks are left empty and boarded up. It’s really sad to see and hopefully they will rebuild and refill the empty buildings. As part of our little sightseeing excursion we pulled into a McDonalds on Mack Avenue to get some refreshments and use the facilities. It was like something out of an 80’s Eddie Murphy comedy, we were the only white people and everyone was ... read more
Asian Seamonkey, with a side of Michigan
Published: October 1st 2011North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit
October 1st 2011
Okay, so let's try this. Since all the social media sites are blocked behind the Great Chinese Firewall, I pulled out this old site that I intended to use at one point, then didn't. It seems like it's going to work alright, but you guys let me know if things are showing up, pictures are publishing, etc. Assuming it works, I'll be using this primarily to write about the coming month, and using flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/seamonkey78704) to publish most photos. Currently I am sitting in a restaurant in the Detroit airport, with around three and a half hours until I get on the plane to Shanghai. It turns out that between the time change to East coast time, and my thinking the flight was at 5:30 instead of 4:30, the layover isn't quite as bad as I ... read more
September 9th 2011
I've hit a speed bump in the road to success. It turns out that last January when I paid my ticket Mi. failed to tell N.C. it was paid & N.C. suspended my licence. So, after many calls to the DMV in both states I've got it reinstated but Transam doesn't care. They only care that it was suspended in the first place. This means I'm looking for a new job. Fuck the fuck :-(... read more
August 23rd 2011
Another day of truck driving school. Ugh, the law says I have to take 120 hour refresher class because I've been off the road for over 2 years. I'm not learning anything new, just treading water till it's time to drive to Kansas. Speaking of KS> I talked to Transam yesterday, they are delighted I'm coming back. I left with a smile & a hand shake 3 years ago & was not worried about a re-hire. well, not TOO worried. They have made a couple of great changes in my absence, 1: they now pay .44 cents per mile fuel surcharge to help offset the rising cost of fuel. 2: they now offer a breakdown insurance policy, $7.50 a week & I'm covered on my truck payment if I break down. The truck payment is almost ... read more
August 21st 2011
I am going back to my old job of teaching guys how to drive 18 wheeler's. I will be leaving Detroit in 2 weeks & 2 days. On that day I will drive to Olathe KS. for 3 days of orientation, then 3 weeks in a coaching truck, a week of testing & then finally my own truck. I will have to drive my own truck solo for at least 30 days before I can apply for the coaching program. All of this training, testing & "proving time" solo is because I took 3 years off from trucking & it's company policy that after 6 months you start at square 1. That's fine with me, yeah it sucks to invest 2 months before I can be at the same place I was when I left but ... read more
Detroit, the Motor City
Published: December 4th 2011North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit
August 21st 2011
Here I am, finally! In Detroit... For more than a year I have had a dream of exploring this city. Throughout my Amtrak travels, for every community meal I have had in the dinner wagon, I have had to explain to yet another white middle class, middle aged couple, why Detroit. Why this dangerous and empty city? My interest derives from some of the same issues as my love for Eastern Europe. I am deeply fascinated by industrial cities in decay. Cities that no longer can survive on their main production industries. This interest is manifold. Firstly, it is visual. There is a particular rawness to half empty houses and ruined buildings. Secondly, it is sociologically fascinating to meet the people that stay, and discover their extend of hospitality. Thirdly, a place such as Detroit or ... read more
August 21st 2011
It has been impossible for me to limit my photos from Detroit, so here comes a few photo blogs. This one is from my walk in Corktown on my first day in Detroit. I really loved this neightbourhood. To read about my Detroit trip, go to . To check out my pictures from Michigan Avenue, go to . For pictures from downtown, check out Enjoy, Anna... read more
A sunny stroll down Michigan Avenue
Published: December 4th 2011North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit
August 21st 2011
So these are the pictures I took down Michigan Avenue. This street is so colourful and with so many little details and paintings that it took me ages to reach downtown from Rosa Parks St. You can read about my days in Detroit on , and check out my way too many pictures from Corktown on . When I finally reached downtown, it looked like this: ... read more
Getting lost in downtown Detroit
Published: December 4th 2011North America » United States » Michigan » Detroit
August 21st 2011
I have spent a few days walking the streets of Detroit. There is something about this city. These pictures are from downtown and the Eastern market. My blog from Detroit can be read here: But because I just couldn't stop taking pictures, I also made a diary entry for my stroll up Michigan Avenue: and one through Corktown: ... read more
