Probably most Canadians consider Windsor to be one of their lesser, if not the least, city and it's mostly because of its proximity to Detroit. We used to go to Windsor quite often since 
it's a 20 minute drive. Now with the agony of going across the border (especially the US side) we go very rarely. Adding a half hour onto the trip on each side is not attractive.But on the fourth, we went to Windsor's charming but empty art gallery (museum) and then on to Amherstberg for lunch. Windsor has done a nice job of developing its waterfront (Detroit River), putting sculpture gardens, walking trails and playgrounds along it. But all of it is situated toward Detroit.
It you ask google images for pictures of Windsor, you get the Detroit skyline, taken from Windsor, sure, but not Windsor. All of the photos here are of Detroit. Detroit is not the kind of place you think of as dominant. But the car industry drives both cities and headquarters sit right on the Detroit River in the Renaissance Tower, looking across at Windsor.
Windsor has some good restaurants, some good music, a nice shopping district but a higher than normal crime rate for a city of its size in Canada. Detroit's influence again ,perhaps.
Sometimes when we get very angry at US politics, we contemplate moving to Windsor. But really, it's just a smaller Detroit. And we'd have to look at Detroit all the time anyway.
For all things wonderful on My Town Monday, see Travis Erwin at:http://traviserwin.blogspot.com/
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22 comments:
I'm sure you've addressed this but I missed it. What brought you to Detroit in the first place, or if you are a native, what keeps you there? I ask because you often seem disgruntled with the city.
Hi Patti,
The geography all along the border is often confusing and this is no exception.
Nice post.
Terrie
My own experience of Windsor, ON, is wholly televisionary. While up in Ann Arbor on a training session back in the Borders BS days of a decade+ ago, I got to take in some CBC and BBC imports we don't get to see further south...even BBC America doen't bother to carry THE BILL, at least not currently.
Travis-Pretty sad that after 37 years, I still sound so disaffected, isn't it? You can only be suburban here and I don't like to be suburban. Detroit is a city without shopping, decent schools, good city government or services, decent parks or recreation, safe streets, a real downtown so it's hard to be optimistic.
We came here from the East Coast because my husband was offered a tenured job here and stayed because the university has treated him well, he liked teaching students that were not from privileged background (as we were not either), and because life sucks you in and before you know it 37 years have gone by. Probably writing My Town Monday points up my dissatisfaction more than everyday life does. I'll try to stop whining.
I didn't mean to suggest your were whining. I like the honest and straighforward look at the city you have given us. It's just in my curious nature to want to to know more.
No, I'm whining. You've got me pegged.
Interesting post, Patti. No place is perfect, is it? My DH has lived in So. Cal. for almost 30 years and has never quite acclimated.
Hope you had a nice visit to Windsor on the Fourth. Great photos.
Linda / Lyndi
I had never quite visualized the geography before. Thank for another interesting post.
I vow to not gripe about Detroit next week(s). Especially when the rest of the MY Towners do such a great PR job for their towns.
Gripe all you want about Detroit, because to tell you the truth, I don't like Toronto even if I live here. (Except High Park and my part of Lake Ontario). It's too crowded here.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Windsor. It's been ages since I went through there to cut off a day's driving to the west coast.
You've give me and certainly the others, an inside view of Detroit we wouldn't otherwise have had.
Gripe all you want about Detroit, because to tell you the truth, I don't like Toronto even if I live here. (Except High Park and my part of Lake Ontario). It's too crowded here.
I hope you enjoyed your trip to Windsor. It's been ages since I went through there to cut off a day's driving to the west coast.
You've give me and certainly the others, an inside view of Detroit we wouldn't otherwise have had.
Oh, boy. Living in Toronto seems like a dream to me. If I hadn't made a vow not to rip Detroit, I'd say something here.
You're not whining, you're painting vivid and touching portraits of the quiet nobility of persistence.
Barbara, you sound like a John McFetridge reader waiting to happen.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I think it's funny that all the pictures of Windsor are of Detroit. It's overshadowed, I guess. Interesting that getting across the border has become so problematic - I didn't realize it myself until last year, when I flew into Toronto on my way to Albany, NY, and had to go through two sets of customs officials.
Persistence or stranded.
It is hard to imagine Toronto as a hotbed of crime as John paints it but I haven't been there is ten years.
I could believe it either Sam when I went looking for pics.
I am shocked -- shocked! -- to learn that anything in Canada is overshadowed by anything in the U.S.
John has an interesting way of portraying Toronto as a hotbed of crime -- no luridly violent streets, just a plausible account of what money does to a city.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I think it's hard for anyone not to have a sense of frustration regarding Detroit. It's a city that struggles very much. I'm sure in your years there, it hasn't gotten much, if any, better.
Maybe, you can alternate. Find something fun (maybe in Suburbia) one week and a bitter post next week. I think we all like the honest portrayl of Detroit. Is this a democracy? Does majority rule your blog? =D
Maybe read up on some Detroit history. That's pretty snark-free. =)
Maybe I need to come to out to Brighton or Livingston County. Things seem awful pretty there!
Fascinating to hear about your Windsor- we have a Windsor here in the UK - famous for Queen Elizabeth's castle and as far as my kids are concerned very near to Lego land !
Oh, I didn't know that about the crime rate in Windsor. When I think of Windsor, I always think of the university.
Wow Barbara! And to think I would give my right arm to be back in Toronto.
Windsor's crime rate is only high in comparison to other Canadian cities of that size. I don't think it would stand out at all in the US and it's certainly influenced by its proximity.
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