Deconstructing Detroit

It is known as the hub of the US automotive industry. Detroit city, situated in the state of Michigan, hosts the headquarters of three big US auto manufacturers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler and has a vibrant life in its towns including Novi, Ann Arbour and Northville.

The major noticeable factor regarding the city is that there is no public conveyance system and everybody has a car while bikes are hard to come by. These are a handful of Harleys which are vroomed by bike enthusiasts. Most of the households have two cars and a small disruption in traffic leads to long queues on roads, especially during peak hours.

The car used by John F. Kennedy in which he was assassinated

It is one of the main cities in the US where traffic rules are strictly adhered to and pedestrians are a priority. Uber operates to help those who don't have a car but general taxis are hard to come by unlike in New York or Washington.

The Detroit Downtown has the most vibrant life during weekends where pubs on wheels on the roads are a specialty. In these pubs a driver who does not drink drive the vehicle and in the middle of the open vehicle a table is set with stools fixed around and people join on the moving pub and revel making noises, singing and dancing while drinking beer.

A view of the Detroit riverside

The vehicle encircles the town several times and one can join or disembark any time. Both men and woman join these moving parties and three such vehicles could be spotted in a span of half an hour. Ford has opened its car assembling plant at Dearborn for visitors to see and one can see how various vehicles are assembled with clinical precision. Men are joined by robots in this operation.

Ford has also a car museum where Wright brothers’ foray into flying and various car models are showcased. The limousines used by Presidents Eisenhower, Reagan and Roosevelt and the one in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated are the star attractions of the museum. It also tells the story of Henry Ford’s foray into making cars.

The Farris Windmill, one of the oldest windmills, at the Greenfield village in Dearborn

Next to it is the Greenfield Village also set by the Ford Foundation in 80 acres which gives a slice of American history and throws light into life, labs and works of one of the magnificent inventors of all times, Thomas Alva Edison, who was the one time boss of Henry Ford.

The huge General Motors headquarters building is an imposing attraction near the Detroit Port, which is a beehive of activity when sun shows his face in these parts which face cold weather mostly. The walkway near the river has a lot of people walking and reveling.

The Detroit Downtown has the most vibrant life during weekends where pubs on wheels are a specialty

Across the waterbody, Canada is seen and an underground tunnel connects both. Detroit has a Sree Veketeswara Temple on the model of the Tirupati temple. The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in Detroit is the number one public university in the US where a lot of scientific research goes and most advanced treatments are given at the hospitals attached to it.

Detroit is also dotted with ghetto-like areas where poor people’s houses that sport damages are seen. It is said that crimes mainly happen in these places. Highways are busy and overall Detroit is a livable and lovable place.