Durham, NC: Where the Humidity Hugs You and the Coffee's Strong (Probably)
okay, so. durham. i didn’t plan to end up here, honestly. the numbers - 6094578 and 1124541904 - those were just… floating around in my head. felt like a good direction. and here i am.
it’s…sticky. i just checked and it’s currently 3.68°c, feels like -10.68°c. the pressure’s at 1016, humidity’s a solid 76%. so, yeah. bring layers. and maybe a dehumidifier. i’m not kidding.
spent most of the day wandering around *Brightleaf Square. it’s cute, i guess? a little touristy, but the architecture is decent. found a really weird antique shop - smelled like mothballs and regret. seriously, like someone’s grandma died in there and the scent just… lingered.
“Don’t go to that bakery on Main Street after 3 pm. They throw out the day-olds and it gets wild.”
that’s what a guy with a very impressive beard told me while i was waiting for a bus. i didn’t check it out, but the image of a day-old donut free-for-all is pretty compelling.
food-wise, i’ve been living on coffee. like, serious coffee. i found this place called Cocoa Cinnamon - apparently, they do spiced chocolate drinks. it’s… intense. but good. like, really good. check out their menu here: https://www.cocoacinnamon.com/.
and the neighbors? if you’re feeling adventurous, Raleigh and Chapel Hill are just a short hop away. heard some drunk advice at a bar last night - someone insisted i had to see the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. apparently, it’s got a giant squid. who can resist a giant squid?
“The Eno River State Park is beautiful, but watch out for the ticks. Seriously. They’re the size of dimes.”
that was a local woman, very serious, while i was trying to order a beer. noted.
gear i’m hauling around (because apparently i’m still doing this):
My trusty Canon EOS R6 - gotta document the stickiness, you know?
A ridiculous amount of socks. seriously, the humidity.
A portable charger. because i’m constantly checking the weather and looking for coffee.
Noise-canceling headphones. for when the donut frenzy starts.
A small notebook and pen. for jotting down weird conversations and potential story ideas.
TripAdvisor says it’s a good place to visit. i’m… cautiously optimistic.
Yelp is full of recommendations for coffee shops, which is basically all i need to know.
The city website has a list of parks and rec stuff if you're into that.
overall? durham is… unexpected. it’s not flashy, it’s not perfect, but it’s got a certain… grit. and a lot of humidity. i’m still figuring it out. maybe i’ll stay a while. or maybe i’ll just keep wandering. who knows?
ps: someone told me that the best BBQ is in a place called *Allen & Sons*. apparently, you have to wait in line for hours. i’m considering it. send help (and maybe some dry socks).
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