Altoona

My home for the next 10 days is the Pennstate off campus housing units in Altoona Pennsylvania. The area is beautiful with lush green forests, rolling hills and a thriving firefly population. That is were the beauty stops....
Altoona is like the stepping into the most stereotypical American Hollywood hick town imaginalbe. The culture shock started almost immediately last night when we were forced to dine at the local Pizza Hut for lack of better alternatives. The place was deserted and eary. The white lettuce salad bar complimented the dirty carpet, 4th of July banners and Christmas lights perfectly. Dim lighting and the stench of refried pepperoni created an ambiance fit for a 1980's horror flick.
Following Pizza Hut we crossed the street to get some groceries and were met by an assortment of obese, sleeveless fellow customers wheeling babies in nothing but pinned on diapers to the checkout. The food at the store isn't too bad, but completely lacks any form of organic section or even a bakery. The only bread in these parts comes in plastic packaging and the only size of anything seems to be big, bigger or biggest.
Today was the most shocking day of them all. Jamie, Nick and I decided to spin the legs out after all of the travel, check out the town at the same time and eventually end up at a coffee shop to kick back for a while. 45 minutes in we were still looking for a coffee shop.... Although this city is likely about the size of Red Deer the downtown was completely empty. Aside from a couple of closed burger joints and a diner or two there is nothing but law offices and banks in the core. After consulting a local gentleman we headed to the stripmall district to try our luck. The only stores that met us there were everything but coffee, just lots of automotive, fastfood and big box discount shopping. My favorites include Krispy Kream, Dunkin Donuts, More Lots, Eat and Park and Casual Male XL. We were sure there had to be at least a Starbucks in this wasteland of excess. I asked a couple of relatively hip looking young women in the Big Mart parking lot and was recommended to hit up one of the gas station chains as they were the best place for a java stop in their opinion, and no...there is no Starbucks in Altoona. Jamie was getting frantic so in the end we ended up in a McDonalds drinking their premium blend and trying not to be to closed minded. In a place so far to the right you risk getting lost I feel like a complete revolutionary.
The adventure continues...
I dont have the ability to download pictures right now, but once I get home look forward to a heavy flickr dose.