Cairo, desolate, crumpling, abandoned, poor, strange beauty... At the Fat Boy bar and grill there were 3 $ margaritas and a few other drinks at a good price for the cinco di Mayo. The signs in town point to the mental health institute, the rehab, in house, half way house, in the hospital.
No hotel nor motels, not even outside of town were the Day's Inn had the door open, one car parked and further total emptiness. The booze shops are busy and are extremely well stocked. The few official buildings are grand and well kept.
The Ohio River runs clean and with majesty, is being fished, yet a restaurant was not to be found either.
A strangely attractive atmosphere of decay contrasts with the few spruced up buildings and churches.
And yes another abandoned gas station... and as you will see tomorrow bridges to cross from Illinois to Missouri, over the Ohio and the Mississippi. Daily life must be hard here, yet people have a good time, masking their hardship, surviving the grand history of their place.
A light metal canoe
counting eight whiskers
Sunrise, just behind Patriot on the scenic byway along the Ohio, is a quaint small rather artsy town. The majestic Mississippi boat which never arrived in Madison because of the fog was discovered here.
Houses and streets are well kept and decorated. It looks neat, like for culturally minded baby boomers. But alas, here too the economic crises is all too visible: The national bank of Sunrise is up for sale.
Rivers, each different in mood, in speed. The greenish steel bridges however are similar or even the same. The martins are building their nest on the underside of the bridge so big swarms flock around bringing new life.
The river with its highs and lows carries driftwood, or floods the land, killing some trees while depositing good topsoil.
The river itself runs muddy and dark, maybe that is why I feel the atmosphere is darker and broodier than along the Ohio, which seems to stream faster. 
Cairo, desolate, crumpling, abandoned, poor, strange beauty... At the Fat Boy bar and grill there were 3 $ margaritas and a few other drinks at a good price for the cinco di Mayo. The signs in town point to the mental health institute, the rehab, in house, half way house, in the hospital. 
The Ohio River runs clean and with majesty, is being fished, yet a restaurant was not to be found either. 
A strangely attractive atmosphere of decay contrasts with the few spruced up buildings and churches.
