Louisville Kentucky, on the Ohio River is a Southern town.  Strictly speaking during the Civil War it was a border state.  The citizens of Kentucky had sympathies on both sides.  Still it was a slave holding state.  Present day aspects of Southern culture remain. Almost every where you look there is remembrance of the past,  There’s a southern spring time, that seems to arrive a month earlier than does spring in the mid-west.  Prominent is the funky, creativity of the hipster culture that makes Louisville delightfully weird as they say.  These factors serve to make a Saturday in Louisville truly interesting, one week before the running of the Derby at Churchill Downs.  Climate, geography and culture add their flavors to the pre-Derby celebration that is in full swing.  Like a taste of aged bourbon from a charred barrel, the flavor is distinctive.

Our daughter-in-law ran a thirteen mile, half-marathon through the streets of the city early Saturday morning.  We kept company with her eager to experience the event and to cheer her to the finish line.  Here are a few photos that were captured of river

city.

Several thousand individuals of all ages and backgrounds gathered to celebrate life, fitness of the body, friendship, and the city of Louisville.  I thought, Can life get better than this?  Probably not!  Some of the faster runners swiftly move past in the morning sunlight.  Every person has his/her unique stride. We moved about the racecourse for excellent views of the runners, adding our voices to cheer them on.

This caught my eye along our way.  A city always presents it’s somber note.  Apparently guns and ammo are easily available in Louisville.  Never mind the murder and drug problems on the West end of the city.  Never mind the convenience of purchasing guns close at hand.  Are we not loathe to change what is customary, especially when there is money to be made?

More gun notes. I doubt if I’ll ever get used to seeing police on the street armed with M-4 assault rifles. But there they were.  Never enough guns I suppose.

Scenes of the Louisville grass-roots culture could be easily seen as we moved about.  Several locally owned barbershops caught my eye.  A barbershop is a throwback to the past.  In Chicago most have been replaced by generic looking corporate hair cutting franchises.  Caught this graphic through the window of a shop that was closed.  I’m not sure if there is a point but the image does catch the eye.

There is a lot of genuine pride in Louisville.  It is a welcoming city.  I am happy to visit.

More tomorrow.