My State Has a White Elephant, Does Yours?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

You all know I’m from Kentucky, right? Well I am and did you also know we are the self-proclaimed horse capital of the world, we are. So today I sit here just totally teed off, why? We are about to host the World Equestrian (FEI) games. What, you don’t know what the FEI games are?

Allow me. This is an equestrian event, which until now, has never been held outside Europe. The competition in many ways is similar to the Olympics but also includes reining, Para dressage, vaulting and driving events. People from all over the world will be here and I’m not happy about it. Why am I so unhappy?

They painted our bridges blue. Not UK (University of Kentucky) blue but some weird sky blue that relates to nothing. Must have been a Louisville Cardinal fan on the color selection committee.

We have new city wide welcome signs in different languages. Isn’t Kentucky known for just smiling and waving? In fact I saw a local news interview with a cop where he was asked how he would greet a foreign visitor? He smiled and waved.

We have beautiful new bus stops for our visitors. Where did they put them? They put them in the ghetto areas. What a way to welcome some poor lost visitor.

We have new sidewalks and fancy street lights downtown. I don’t know about you but I have never said, “Oh, lets not go there the sidewalks suck.” What I would say, “I hate that place there is no parking.” Which is exactly what our downtown has, no parking.

To help fight the pounds our visitors may gain while eating our greasy fried delicacies they incorporated a walk to the venue. The numerous stadiums and pavilions are on one side of the farm, parking on the other, watch it rain.

I could go on and on but I know I’m the only one here this impacts. I was really wanting to attend the event until I saw the over inflated ticket prices. Cheapest thing I can pay to do is window shop, which will cost me $45, $20 to park and $25 to shop.

To the selection committee I ask; did you not select us the way we were? If so, then why did our bridges need to be blue?

To my readers: Interested? Want to see more of the next two weeks in pictures? Or better yet does your state have a white elephant like mine?

Technorati Tags: FEI Games,Kentucky Horse Park,Kentucky,Jules

13 comments:

Summer Ross said,: I want to see pictures!
Jayne said,: This sounds like councils the whole world over. I am indignant on your behalf - why were the bridges painted blue?! It doesn't sound like they thought everything through with the parking etc, either. *shakes head sadly*
Anonymoussaid,: I probably don't need to tell you about Illinois...home of the original idiots.
Paula said,: Munich is not so bad yet :-) YET. Would love to see some pictures.
Mary@GigglesandGuns said,: Canton, Ohio here home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each year we host the Hall of Fame Festival. The only thing that keeps it going is the Hall of Fame itself because the city makes it worse every year. All councils must be them same.
RHYTHM AND RHYME said,: Sounds a bit like the UK people here have to pay a parking fee at hospitals ......up to 4 hours anything over 4 hours one gets a fine, Now I wonder if someone's wife is in labour or perhaps someone relative is having an operation???????
Loved your point of view,

Yvonne.
Arlee Bird said,: I believe that one of the qualifications for being elected to public office is idiocy and lack of common sense. You see this kind of nonsense all over the country. Too many special interest groups, etc with their opinions and influence mixed up in the pot and the result is a soup that ain't worth eating.
They need people running things with good business experience and not liberal dreams with nothing to back them up.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Alex J. Cavanaugh said,: That's what happens when a committee of bored people gets together. Yes, please take photos of the debacle - I mean, event!
Jennifer Shirk said,: Yes, pictures please. :)
Kelley said,: I want pictures! and my state doesn't have any national events but we do stuff like polar bear plunges and the like, you see i live up north so for some reason we cut huge holes in ice and have people jump in some swim a bit too if they want.
Tammy said,: What must be universal is that any time a state hosts something, the powers-that-be think more about the guests than the residents. And the guests really only care about parking and accommodations, like you said! Sigh. However, I've been to parts of your gorgeous state. The scenery takes my breath away. So hopefully they won't mess you up too much! I vote for pictures! :)
Jules said,: Okay folks.I'll do my best to get some good photos of the chaos. I will do a follow up post later on. If anyone interested the games will be broadcast on NBC.
Unknown said,: *waves*

Actually, instead of parking, I look for public transport first. The older I get, the more I hate driving in unfamiliar areas!

Looking forward to the photos.