Post #5

     I've been in Baltimore for almost four years now. At this point, I know it like the back of my hand. It feels like a place that I can safely call home. I was familiar with Baltimore before I came to Maryland for school. My grandparents are from here originally, so I spent a few Christmas mornings in Baltimore. Despite all that, it took me living here to really get to know the city. 

    Loyola's campus is a sight to see itself. It's right in a sweet spot. If you walk one way off campus, you end up in a suburban neighborhood. If you walk the other way, you end up in what feels like a city. The campus is a mix of old buildings and new construction. The area really feels defined by the chapel and the humanities building since they stick out the most on the quad.

    The architecture of Loyola can only be described as beautiful and intricate. When I say intricate, I'm referring to the view of the business school from the bridge on the West side of campus. The steel beams within the building stretch across the span of the entire building, and the windows show off the view perfectly. 

    The side of campus where most of the freshman reside isn't as good looking. The buildings are made mostly of a boring looking brick, and it just feels gray and boring. Even the library isn't much of a spectacle. Though there are most student housing areas past the library, I really consider the freshman housing area and the library the edge of campus.

    The sounds of Baltimore are simply unmatched. As a Freshman, I lived in campion towers. While I spent a good amount of time in that room, I would hear the sound of sirens every ten minutes. To this day, I still don't know if it was an ambulance or a police car that would pass by every so often. 

    Now I live a few buildings away. I no longer live right off the side of cold spring road. Instead, I live in Avila, which is right behind Newman towers. I still hear the sirens, but now my experience is enhanced. Being further back on campus, I hear so much more. Often, I hear the sound of another student screaming at 3 in the morning. On rare occasions, I'm woken up by a student locked out of a dorm building. For some  reason, they think that slamming their fists on the door will entice someone to open the door. However, this makes me less likely to get out of bed and open the door. 

 The smells of Baltimore are surprisingly not terrible. If you're in a good area you can smell all of the wonderful food that our city has to offer. If you go to the wrong place, like the stream that runs behind Loyola's campus, the smell will remind you of an old toxic garbage dump. 

    The beautiful sights, sounds, and smells are not limited to Loyola's campus. There are other areas that are nice to visit as well. The inner harbor is home to Baltimore's most glorious waterfront. On that waterfront is a string of restaurants that have no doubt been there for ages. Kooper's tavern and the Cat's eye pub are favorites of locals and everyone who visits. 

The sounds of Fells point are very different from the sounds that you hear right in the center of the city. if you get close enough to the water, you can hear the waves from the harbor as they slap the wall of the Sagamore Pendry (which extends far into the water). Late at night, you can hear the cheers that come from crowds filling pubs to the brim in the area. 

    I would be remiss if I didn't mention Edgar Allan-Poe, who's face seems to be plastered here and there all over the city. From little magnets with his face on it to large murals, his image makes it clear that he left his mark on Baltimore while he lived here. Though not a myth, he is no doubt a major part of Baltimore's history.