#266, Midtown, NYC
The concept of sister cities is one that intrigues yet eludes me. The famous U.S. twin cities -- St. Paul and Minnesota -- make sense; they're both major metropolitan centers who happen to be situated on the union of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers. They're equal in size, geographically close, and they're midwestern, so they're very nice and excessive rivalry doesn't seem to be much of a problem.
My hometown, on the other hand, has for years claimed a specious connection as sister city to Termini Imerese in Italy, though I've always been curious how this was ever decided. One has a patch of land populated with live elk; the other ancient aqueducts. One's close to Chicago; the other borders Palermo. I'm pretty darn sure you can get pizza in both places, but beyond that, the bond, to my mind, remains fuzzy. But no matter. If one city wants to befriend or adopt another, far be it for me to say no.
Today's number is the typographical complement to yesterday's Montanian 265, with a dash of good old New York urban decay thrown in for good measure. Places have declared themselves sister cities on less evidence than this. So today, I'm declaring Manhattan and Missoula honorary siblings, and let's see how many people I can unite, insult, or just plain baffle.
3 comments:
&7:
Here is the official website of the Sister Cities Project.
http://www.sister-cities.org/about/network.cfm
It is my understanding that cities are linked based on having a similar population and work base and for the purpose of promoting international friendship and cooperation. Greensboro, for example has a sister city relationship with a city in Moldova and one in France. Local art galleries promote and show art by Artists from Moldova. Our city is not the most active in its sister city connections, but efforts have been made.
I don't know if you were serious about this question or if you just tossed it out in a PBR mood. Either way, you got a "serious side" answer!
More a Rogue Double Dead Guy Ale mood, GDP. But I am always happy to have a bit of light shed on my barstool/armchair ruminations. Thanks for the wisdom.
One could tap this rotted wood and the answer would come back as an echo.
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