Showing posts with label My Place. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Place. Show all posts

Friday, January 11, 2008

City of 5 Seasons


City of pearls, city of angels, city of rocks....have you ever heard of city of 5 seasons?

That’s the place where I live now, its Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

When I first entered this city, I came across many hotels, restaurants, parkades named as 5 seasons parking, 5 seasons restaurant and so on. Hearing parkade, don’t get tensed. Parking building is called parkade here. I just thought that it means some caption or whatever. When I was chatting with the parkade employee, he said it’s the city's caption.

I pounded him with questions. Later came to know that he didn’t know .Then I asked my colleague who always was proud in saying that she stayed in the city longer than my life .she responded that she also didn’t know. She said that she stayed here for a longer time but that not necessarily means that she should know everything

I was asking this question whomever I came across, my colleagues, policemen, bouncers, picketers, ticketers...tresspassers…..etc.. No answer.

I forgot that we all have a great masterpiece of internet.Googled it
and found the answer..Normally we have 4 seasons in US.
They are Spring, summer, Fall and Winter.
City of 5 seasons have another season called 'season of Joy' which doesn’t have
any span of time but it’s integrated in all the seasons.
The concept of the caption is something weird and different.

Anyway I like it though because of its uniqueness

Thursday, January 10, 2008

It was a fine cool sunny day of summer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
I moved to this lovely happening place just a month ago.
As most other places in US, it was hard to survive here without a car.
Hurriedly I was hunting all the car showrooms and managed to get one.


With the company of my room mate planned to roam around the city
to enjoy its serenity and flair .
Before coming to Cedar Rapids.I was little bit reluctant about the place as
its name was not out anywhere, being in a low profile.
We ogled the taller buildings with a big sigh and didn’t forget to take pictures of those.The bridges are one of the cities architectural splendors. The four
bridges which traverses the Cedar River is an awesome sight for the new comers like us


We stopped the car in the bridge and just roamed along the banks with our shank's mare
We spotted gorgeous looking women, hooking up the needle of the fishing rod.
We were hooked up by her not by her fishing rod but her eyes.
While we were gazing around the area, a police car pulled over near my car.

Two policemen got down of the car and were eagle-eying my car.

There was no registration at that time, since I got it newly.

I went near them thinking I have made a terrible mistake.

My heart was beating as fast as Armstrong’s when he landed on the moon.

Many events were showing off and on my mind like a flickering bulb

'Did I stop when the red light is on'?

'Didn’t I give right of way to the other car?’

'Did I speed too much?'

While the above questions were sprouting on my mind, I heard an amicable voice.

Hey gentlemen how r you?

I replied in a casual manner, we are fine thank you. and you?

Fine thanks. Is this your car? asked the policemen

I gave a stammering reply, 'yes...Sss'. May I know if there's a problem.

One of the policemen left as we came.

We got a call from some one saying that 'there were two strangers taking the photograph of the many building and monuments of the city' replied the policeman

I was relieved little bit and it gave me some air to breathe as I didn’t make any traffic violation. Before he asked the other question, I handed over my driving license, camera, opened my car and showed all my vehicle documents. He called someone in his office and verified my driver license and associated details.

He just glanced the photo's in my camera and said 'your snaps look harmonious'

The policeman replied' I feel sorry for whatever happened, Gentlemen.

The places you were taking photograph were the prison, city hall, ancient government building, court and the cities tallest building. Since its vicinity to all the major buildings,

I was asked to interrogate you.’ Sorry for all the incidents' pleaded the police man

He gave a clear explanation of all the buildings, the festival, events and all

other adjoining places. I was thinking in my mind, had he come earlier we would have got an awesome guide of the city