As a kid, I didn't move around all that much. I stayed in the same school district my entire childhood and although I was lucky enough to travel, I've never lived anywhere other than Cleveland. Well, until college, that is. I moved to Cincinnati just a couple months ago and I've already noticed so many differences between the two cities. Below are five differences between Cleveland and Cincinnati.
1. The Lake
Let's start off with one of the more obvious differences- Erie. One of my favorite things about Cleveland (and if you know me well, you know there aren't many. Sorry, Cleveland) is Lake Erie. Living in a city on the water just brings a different vibe than one surrounded by land. It's calming, really. And really fantastic for amazing sunset-selfies. Also, spontaneous trips to the beach were the best. Just pack up your car and head five minutes down the road and your day is already better. While Cincy has the river, it's just not the same. Don't get me wrong, Cincy is amazing- it would just be better with Erie.
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2. Skyline
If you're reading this in Cleveland, you're probably assuming that I'm talking about the view of the city, but if you're in Cincy, you know what I'm really talking about. Skyline Chili, my friends. For the those unaware, Skyline is a restaurant chain that specializes in the worst chili known to man. That's right, I said it. Skyline is awful. It's sweet- why is it sweet? Chili shouldn't be sweet! And there's no texture! Are we even sure this is Chili? And you put it on spaghetti? I just have so many questions, this really deserves an article all on its own. TBD.
3. "Ya'll"
*Sigh*
I almost don't even know where to begin. I moved to Cincy thinking: "It's still Ohio, it's not going to be that southern." Well, I was wrong. So wrong. I don't know if it's because you guys are so close to Kentucky or what- but traveling from Cleveland to Cincy feels more like going from Canada to Texas. In Cleveland, "Ya'll" is rarely ever heard, but in Cincy, it's quite normal. For someone who loves grammar as much as I do, it's hard to get used to. I still cringe every time someone says it, but it's just one of those things you have to get over, I guess.
4. Kroger
The third week I was in Cincy, a friend of mine and I needed to pick up some groceries for the sleepover we were having that night. I asked her where the nearest Giant Eagle was and she looked at me like a had three heads. "Giant Eagle? What is that?? You mean Kroger?" I looked back at her with just as much astonishment and went "What the hell is a Kroger??" We both knew the conversation wasn't going anywhere, so we dropped it and went to a convenient store. While completely hilarious, that conversation made me realize just how different these two cities really are. We were just four hours away and they didn't even have the same grocery store chains. Even after living in Cincy for a couple months, this concept still blows my mind.
5. The Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has THE KING! I almost forgot about the amazing LeBron James, but the Cavs definitely deserve a mention. Cincy doesn't even have a basketball team, let alone a team of CHAMPIONS. So point goes to Cleveland for that one. It was kind of ironic, though. Just as living in Cleveland was starting to become cool, I was moving away. Sounds about right. Though I have to be fair, I was proud of my city when the Cavs won the championship. It had been a 50 year dry spell for us sad, sad Clevelanders, so it was a welcomed change. You can bet that we will NEVER let this go, though. Even if we never win another championship (someone knock on wood), I'll still be telling my great grandkids about that one time the Cleveland Cavs won the championship.
While these cities are both so different, I consider both home. I find myself missing the city life when I'm in Cleveland, yet I always miss the water when I'm in Cincy. No matter which city I may be hanging out in, I love them both, and I'm glad to call them home.
