Pittsburgh - Part 1

This summer we went out to Pittsburgh to visit Mandi and Clay. It was soooo much fun; they were awesome hosts. Pops also later joined us (don't worry another 'Pops does' serious will be published on Mandi's blog). This is going to be a long post because we did so many amazing things!!

OHIOPYLE

Our first day we spent in Ohiopyle National Park in Pennsylvania. Mandi and I were quite adventurous if I do say so myself. Many of you don't see us as the 'outdoorsy type'. Well prepared to be amazed....

This is our 'pre-hike' photo shoot by the river.

We then hiked the peninsula. The scenery while we hiked was beautiful! 

Maybe a little sacrilegious but doesn't he look like Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. haha 

Since it is a national park they have signs throughout the hike explaining the local animals and plants. One explained that there had been a hotel where we were hiking during the late 1800s and early 1900s. We started to look in the area and we kept finding old thick broken bottles, glass, porcelain, and bricks from the building. Coolest part of the hike. It got us a little turned around and lost but it was totally worth it.

Clay found this marble which we researched and found to be from that same time period. They took it home, hopefully its not some conduit for a creepy spirit. 

After the hike we went on the natural water slides which was incredibly terrifying and fun. 

Then we went to see another waterfall.

Best part about this waterfall. You don't even have to hike to get to it.

The back side of water!! Yep that's Mandi and me right there. Hiked down slippery, treacherous rocks to stand behind the waterfall. After those natural water slides we were feeling invincible. 

Hehe bet they didn't think I would post this. 

 Here we are looking out over the ravine.

WEST VIRGINIA PENITENTIARY

The second day we went to the West Virginia Penitentiary. It is was open from the mid 1800s to 1995. It is rated as the third most violent prison because of the deaths that occurred IN the prison. Over 900 deaths occurred in this prison and only 100 were executions. Get ready for some creepy, gruesome stories. This section is not for the faint of heart. Feel free to skip over if you can't handle it. I think the facial expressions in the picture below show how horrified we were by the stories we heard there. But it was extremely intriguing so I will share a few:)

We started out in a museum area where they talked about different events that occurred at the prison. One particular event was a huge riot that the prisoners created. They took guards has hostages and did horrible and unspeakable things to other prisoners in front of the guards. They were upset by the treatment they were receiving so they demanded to speak to the mayor (or someone like that:) to change conditions. They displayed the weapons they had made out of toothbrushes, socks & bricks, forks, as well as other normal day to day objects. You have to give them one thing they are quite creative. We toured the prison cells, the infirmary, the psych unit, and the sugar shack. Oh and we also went down to the pipe room where one prisoner was decapitated while on the toilet (told you it was bad).

Old Sparky

Mandi gettin her lunch.

In the infirmary they still have medical equipment such as x-ray machines and dental office equipment. It's like they just abandoned the building. Creepy. 

Ok guys there was a horrible presence in this cell. I could barely stand in there long enough to take the picture. This was one of the high security cells for prisoners who were extremely violent. In one of the prisons a man was backed up between the toilet and bed and murdered. Blood pouring out into the halls..... your welcome. 

We got locked in a cell. The tour guide pretended like ours was broken and kept us in there longer than everyone else. Luckily there wasn't a creepy presence in this one. 

The psych ward. Poor people were chained to their beds up here and layed in their own urine for days. So sad. In one room one prisoner did an unspeakable, gruesome thing (message me if you want the details;) and Mandi took a picture inside the room. After she took the picture we kept hearing strange noises. Way to go Mandi, angering the spirits. 

Well I will stop there. But really it was so cool to see. Moral of the story children: don't do bad things or else you will be stuck in a prison with crazy people and have to use the toilet in front of everyone.

PITTSBURGH & PIRATES

Pops joins us! Isn't this a cute picture of Pops. He rarely smiles in photos but he is in this one because he hugged me when he was sweaty....whatever makes him smile I guess. This is a trail by Mandi's house that used to be a railroad. 

After pops joined us we went into the city of Pittsburgh. The rivers, bridges, and skyline make it a unique and beautiful city. We started out at the strip district where they have a lot of cute little Italian grocery stores and restaurants. I had one of the best cannolis there. We then spent time walking around downtown Pittsburgh. After exploring the city we went to a Pirate's game.

The Duquesne Incline. We rode these to get up to a great view of the city. The steel workers would ride these to get to and from work. 

Mister Rogers and me. I love him. 

The beautiful view we had at the baseball game. It was my first baseball game.

This is the end of part 1 of the Pittsburgh adventures. Stay tuned for part 2.