[NeilW]

Well another Detroit story from previous day:
Almost awkward moment-ish - feeling brave I decided to go into what can only be described as a 'home boy' ghetto bar just off 8 mile road yesterday. Lined outside were a few shitty Buicks and Cadillacs with what can be best described with monster size alloys and sheepskin seats.... After walking inside immediately i questioned if I should have made that decision. Walking to the bar it was clear that none of the 'dawgs' wanted to chat with me, even eyeing up my trainers as i walked... Having ordered a beer I decided to head over to the retro style duke box to sample the tunes. Couldn't find any One Direction (tongue in cheek) so settled for a bit of Tupac instead. Music came on and no word of a lie, everyone in the bar stood up so quickly and gave a Hail Mary (finger symbol a cross on the chest). It was so surreal, one guy then shouted over to me to go join his table, I sat with him and drank my beer whilst they attempted to replicate my accent throughout, turns out he was called "the mail man" (he didn't look like a postman). I made a joke about eyeing up my trainers and his reply was "dem kicks ain't shit, y'all n*****s gotta b cruisin in Jords to be worried about the hud streets" they then proceeded to piss themselves laughing at my expense "don't b sliding around lukin all slick n that with dem crocodiles n shit". Finished my drink they wished me well and after a few fist pumps I was on my way. Don't think I will ever visit again, certainly not on a night time.
Safe to say it was just not a pleasant experience but at least the bangers made me feel welcome-ish and spared my trainers.
Lessons learned here:
Don't go drinking in downtown Detroit
Don't wear nike air max
if you want to 'blend in' buy a 80's motor and stick some 28" rims on it!

On a plus side, I managed to blag a VIP tour of the Ford Rouge factory tomorrow, pretty excited about that. For a car buff, that is in the plant where the mass produced motor vehicle industry practically started.

Apologies for the novel, a few beers in me and I will talk a glass eye to sleep