Just got back from Chicago this week, after heading up on the Megabus for the [free] blues festival. It's one of those times when you think: Why don't I live in a bigger city, with cool, free shit going on all the time? Or at least more cool shit than I could possibly do in any given night.
It's so disorienting to go to a new place (mostly outside of the South) and have folks be, in general, quite friendly before they've even met you... but, in particular, not all that polite in deed. For instance, people at the bus stop will initiate conversations with you; people you actually meet are just not great at introducing strangers in the same conversational circle, or doing other little things that grease the social cogs. Seem oblivious, in fact, to little things.
I was in Denver for my birthday and noticed the opposite, though. People held doors open for one another, move their bags and drinks out of your way when you need to get by, and some older ladies even offered me a ride from the airport when they found out I was in town for the first time. I also got to wash my hands in the toilet tank sink, which was a lot more fun than it sounds like it would be. Oddly enough, I think that's one of the things I'll remember longest about that trip.
