Trip #40 Finland Street, Polish Hill, Pittsburgh took place on September 23, 2017, and was published on October 4, 2017.
Exposed. That unsettled feeling of being out in the open without a shield, without a place to duck and cover. The panic starts on my upper back – creeping up and over the shoulder blades, moving around the rib cage and along the sides of my abdomen. Here on the Finland walkway, it’s a wide open, 360-degree view, yet I find the ability to see anything and everything fear-inducing instead of calming. I can see, but I can also be seen. I want to leave immediately, but instead, I bite down hard on those anxious feelings and jump up and down, spinning like a top, arms wide, marveling at the blue sky above me. I will not be afraid. I will generate a sense of freedom and perspective that only comes when my heart, my eyes, my soul are completely open and exposed.
Field Notes: Finland Street has stairs that run from Ridgeway to Bismark, and then from Bismark to the Overpass for Bigelow. I like this flight better than the one at the intersection of Bigelow and Bloomfield Bridge – a bit more interesting in some way.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling. If the location has an abundance of illegal dumping and trash, also contact Allegheny Cleanways, letting them know the location and the nature of the garbage. Thank you!!
