Conferences, Crab Cakes and Cognisance in Charm City

In November of last year I spent five days in the city of Baltimore. This was technically a work trip as I was attending a conference for grant writing but myself and colleague managed to squeeze in a little sightseeing, shopping and some great food (specifically a Lebanese restaurant in the Federal Hill neighbourhood, too good. And of course the seafood!).

It was refreshing to be back in a city and all the convenience that comes with it. But as with any large city, I had to remind myself to be aware of my surroundings. Something I have perhaps become rather lax with having lived in a small, well-to-do college town for almost two years now. If you want it to be easy to forget the disparities in American society then it pains me to say that Oxford is great place to be. And it is easy to stay in this bubble, not stepping outside the warm embrace of this community to see parts of the state and the rest of the country that do not fit the dream. Sometimes it takes travelling a thousand or so miles to a city like Baltimore to be reminded that America is increasingly a society of haves and have-nots. But I am glad and very fortunate to have been able to visit this city and writing this post has reminded why I chose to study American studies; for my love and for my frustration.

Here's a selection of photos from the Inner Harbour area which is downtown and the George Peabody library, which is part of Johns Hopkins University in the Mount Vernon Historic District.

Baltimore, MD November 2013