"Motor City Madness" a Detroit Travel Page by Bunsch

Detroit was my home for many years. I lived through the 1967 Riots and the 1984 World Series, and saw the city change dramatically in that period. Since I moved in 1985, the economy hasn't done well, and the city is struggling to re-establish itself as a major municipal player. Comerica Park, while less cozy and appealing than the old Tiger Stadium, certainly is a jewel in the heart of the downtown area. But many of the things that made Detroit a great city -- Greektown, Belle Isle, the Detroit Symphony, Wayne State University's Hilberry Theater, joint Independence celebrations with neighboring Windsor, Ontario -- have been in place for a very long time, and continue to attract visitors and residents alike.

I learned how to canoe on the canals around Belle Isle, which is located in the Detroit River. (My guess is that the canoe livery is a thing of the past.) A beautiful bridge composed of multiple arches leads to the island from Jefferson Boulevard on Detroit's East Side; on the opposite side of the island, you get a great view of the freighters passing enroute to the iron ore in Minnesota, or delivering goods eastwards. Belle Isle was the site of the Detroit Grand Prix for awhile, but the race was much more exciting when it went through the streets downtown. The island is still the site of the Great Lakes Museum, a Children's Zoo, aquarium, and greenhouses. Deer often appear at the more forested picnic sites.

Whether it is Canada Day or the Fourth of July, residents of the Motor City and Windsor, Ontario, know how to celebrate. We always watched from the Canadian side, because in the past, only Detroit had skyscrapers with reflective glass. That has changed substantially as Windsor (in part due to casino influence) has grown.