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Does the City of Syracuse Actually Have Hope?!
Thankfully, my first impression might have been wrong
First impressions, when suboptimal, can be the nail in the tourism coffin.
Such was the fate of Syracuse when I, as a disciplined drifter, looked to add the Central New York city to my list of recurring day trips.
Time, however, has me reconsidering.
The Fateful Day
It was April 2, 2016, and the Syracuse University men’s basketball team had unexpectedly made the Final Four, meaning the timing was right to make the 85-mile drive east under the guise of soaking in the vibe.
My family knew that the good times would be tempered by urban exploration which, unlike in Downstate New York, can be somewhat akin to touring ancient ruins.
In the case of Syracuse, this should have been no surprise. The city of 148,620 (metro 662,057) is, after all, named after the one in Sicily, itself known as a goldmine for Greek and Roman ruins. And its story — well, it’s the American story most associated with empty buildings.
It started with a canal (the Erie Canal) through the city, perfect for transporting salt from nearby salt springs. They called the place Salt City.
