I actually like Birmingham.
The last time I drove through Alabama, I saw a billboard at the state line with an illustration of a hooded Klansman astride a rearing white horse. In huge letters it said, “You’re in Klan country!” Farther on, in Birmingham there was a billboard saying, “Kan the Kennedy Klan.” This was in 1970, though, when it was safe to walk the streets at night.
I would say this for the city (having ridden in on Amtrak three years), there is a certain landscape aspect to the city. It looks like a city of 1968. There’s not any modern structures or fancy infrastructure like you’d see in Nashville or Memphis. The train station in town is just like it was in 1968....they’ve never renovated it. I think even the current paint scheme on it is a minimum of twenty-five years old.
And I would agree that the airport is actually one of the nicer airports in the south. Easy to get off the interstate and reach. Parking is simple. And some awful nice airport employees.
Me too. But carry.
Remember the nickel-plated rule: Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
Oh, and some places should be avoided at night and on weekends.
But nice place, Birmingham. I like the zoo.