I visited Pittsburgh to see my wife’s family. It wasn’t a trip for sightseeing, but more of a quiet stay to get a feel for the city. There were a few unexpected events along the way, but I’m writing it down here as a simple record of each day.

Day 1

I arrived in Chicago. Immigration was smooth. They only asked how long I would stay and what my job was.

I had a five-hour layover, so I brought my Game Boy Advance and a book to pass the time.

I tried a limited-edition McDonald’s burger, but it wasn’t good.

After a one-hour forty-minute flight, I arrived in Pittsburgh.
Right after landing, my wife messaged me that the Uber on the way to pick me up had been in an accident.
I panicked for a moment and was worried, but thankfully my wife, her brother, and her aunt were all safe with only minor injuries.

Her brother arrived in a police car directly from the accident scene.
From there, we took an Uber straight to the hospital. It was around 9:30 p.m.

There was an extremely long registration process before we could enter.
My wife was lying in a bed, and her aunt was being treated in another room.

We waited for CT scans and examinations for hours. We didn’t get out of the hospital until 6:30 a.m.

It was my first time meeting my wife’s family (her brother and aunt), and it became a memorable first meeting.

I was relieved that everyone was okay.

I had been managing my sleep schedule to avoid jet lag, but being at the hospital all night exhausted me.
I couldn’t tell whether I was tired or just jet-lagged.

Btw, Pittsburgh Airport was so clean!!

Day 2

We had breakfast together after returning from the hospital.

We stayed at Hotel Indigo.

I slept until the evening.

For dinner, we had biryani delivered to the room and ate with my wife’s brother and aunt.
My wife’s friend had driven from New York, so at night we went to a shisha lounge together.

The place was called HOKAH, and it was really nice.

Day 3

We visited the Strip District. After stopping at a café, we ate pizza.

Novaria Coffee Co.
Iron Born Pizza

Later, we visited the University of Pittsburgh, where my wife’s brother studies.

The buildings looked like something out of Harry Potter—classic, old, and impressive.

Pittsburgh has many beautiful old buildings. There are modern ones as well, but the older ones have more personality.

At night, we had dinner at Pasha Mediterranean Restaurant.

After that, we went to HOKAH again.

Day 4

We had another slow morning and ate leftovers for lunch.

My wife’s brother had things to do at the University of Pittsburgh, so we went to that area again, visited the university shop, and walked around.

We were staying at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and I found out that Duolingo’s headquarters were nearby.
Next to it, there’s a Mexican restaurant run by Duolingo, so the three of us went to try it.
It was surprisingly good and well-run.

Duolingo HQ
Duo's (the restaurant)

Day 5

It was raining.
We went to Delanie's Coffee Shadyside.

I had a latte, a sandwich, and something sweet.
The building was old on the outside but clean inside, with a view of a nearby church.
It had a calm and relaxing atmosphere.

Pittsburgh has many churches, often old and charming.

Later, we visited the Museum of Illusions with brother in law.

There were many common optical illusions, and it was enjoyable for both kids and adults.

We took the subway to get there, but I wouldn’t ride it again.
People were smoking on the platform, some looked suspicious or were yelling, and overall it felt unsafe and dirty.
There are no gates, and anyone can enter. You pay on the train when you get off.

For dinner, we went to Seral Halal Market.

I had a lamb slice and biryani set. It was huge—I only ate half and saved the rest for the next day.
It cost $18.

Day 6

Another slow morning. We ate leftovers and breakfast before heading out.

We went to the Christmas Market downtown and then visited the Andy Warhol Museum.

On our way to the museum.

I liked his earlier works, before his art became more mass-produced.
I also respected how much he created—paintings, photos, prints. It made me want to create more myself.

We followed the recommended route: start on the 7th floor and work down to the 2nd.
The 1st floor had the reception, café, and gift shop, so we bought souvenirs and relaxed.

We avoided unsafe areas and walked a bit before taking a bus back.

Pittsburgh buses are almost never on time.
They’re either late or come early and leave early.
The bus stops are simple signs with no displays.
You have to wave or the bus won’t stop.
To request your stop, you pull the cord or press a button.

You board by scanning a QR code in the transit app.
When getting off, you just say “Thank you.”

My wife wasn’t feeling well, so we stopped by a pharmacy near the university.
I still found the university buildings unique and interesting.

At night, my wife’s brother cooked a Pakistani dish called Chicken Alu, made with chicken and potatoes.

I really loved it!

Day 7

It was very cold and snowing.
We had breakfast in the shared kitchen and tried going to a café, but most places were closed for Thanksgiving.

A bubble tea shop near the University of Pittsburgh was open, so we went there.

My wife’s brother’s leg pain wasn’t improving, so we went to the hospital again.

This day was mostly split between a little café time and a little hospital time.

Day 8

We went to South Hills Village in the morning.

Our Uber driver was very talkative.

The mall was crowded because of Black Friday.

My wife wanted to visit LUSH for U.S.-exclusive items, so we went there first.

We walked around and did some shopping.
Shopping still isn’t my thing.

For lunch, we went to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, recommended by our Uber driver.
It was a solid American burger—nothing fancy, but good.

After returning to our accommodation, we had dinner together and played Cards Against Humanity.
It’s a card game where you try to create the worst combinations possible. It was funny.

We ordered through DoorDash, which seems to be the main delivery app here.
For rides, most people use Uber or Lyft.

Final Day

We visited both the Monongahela Incline and the Duquesne Incline.

The weather was good and the view was amazing.

We rode up using the Monongahela Incline and came down using the Duquesne Incline.
I preferred the Monongahela—less crowded and calmer.

Afterward, we visited Point State Park.
There’s a fountain and the rivers split there. A few people were running around the park.

We then relaxed at a Starbucks downtown and had lunch at Butterjoint.

I tried pierogies, a dish Pittsburgh is known for. It wasn’t bad, but I probably wouldn’t order it again.

After lunch, we walked around the Shadyside area and took some photos.

We took the bus back to our place and spent some time with my wife’s brother.

Summary

This trip to Pittsburgh ended up being very different from what I expected.
It started with an accident, long hours in the hospital, and unpredictable weather, but it also included quiet mornings, interesting architecture, good food, and time with family and friends.

Pittsburgh’s charm came through in its old buildings, calm neighborhoods, and small local spots—cafés, markets, and university streets with character.
The city isn’t perfect: the public transit can be rough, and some areas feel unsafe. But the mix of history, culture, and everyday life made the experience memorable in its own way.

Above all, I’m grateful everyone in my wife’s family was safe, and that we could still enjoy the days that followed.
It wasn’t a flashy trip, but it was a meaningful one.

Snapshot Photos of Pittsburgh

No editing, No AI, Black&White Film Simulation with Fujifilm Xpro3.