Durham

Since my move to Durham, NC is quickly approaching (and I do mean VERY quickly), I recently decided it was time to secure some living quarters. Not wanting to rely solely on internet forums and photos to find my next home, I booked a short trip to scope out some possibilities. K and I took the red eye Friday night and arrived at RDU (the Raleigh Durham airport) the next morning. The rental car agency gave us this lovely little Fiat to beep around in.

I must confess - I typically express real disdain for Fiats (and I haven't changed my mind that I think they are quite ugly), but this little bugger was fantastic. Parallel parking was a breeze, and compared to my weighty Subaru, we were practically flying. We made a quick stop at the local farmer's market, where I came to the realization that I will REALLY miss California fruit. We then drove through several Durham neighborhoods, all within biking distance to Duke, to find our favorite. We loved some, we hated some. We took pictures and tried to analyze how nice the neighbors were based on their gardens. Then, with the dirty work complete, we headed off for the site-seeing portion of the visit. First stop: Duke campus.

The Duke chapel is the most breathtaking building on campus (and possibly in all of North Carolina). This photo does not do justice since the chapel is too grand for my iphone camera, but google images does a pretty good job. See more here.

We said hi to the James Buchanan Duke statue, wandered through the Sarah P. Duke gardens, and I tried to point out the location of my psychology building (though I'm pretty sure I got it wrong!). Hungry from the day's adventures, it was time for some southern sustenance. Having done our research for the trip (which means watching the Durham episode of Man Vs. Food), we knew exactly where to go: Backyard.

I cannot possibly say enough good things about this meal. The pulled pork (referred to as just "bbq" in the south) was unlike anything I have ever tasted, and the Brunswick stew (top right of the plate below) blew my mind. K opted for the mac and cheese side (bottom right), which he devoured in 1-2 quick gulps.

Since this entire concoction cost us around $7 (hush puppies included), I will be taking anyone who visits me in Durham to Backyard as the inaugural welcome dinner. 

The walls are graffitied with people professing to love Backyard. This particular declaration of love was already on the wall next to our table - how fitting! After dinner, we took a little driving tour of Research Triangle Park, one of the most prominent high-tech research and development centers in the U.S. Located at the center of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, the companies here draw major talent and intelligence to the area.

We then took a walk through the darling downtown and 9th street districts...

Then capped off the night's culinary adventures with a frozen custard concrete from Goodberry's.

We opted for peanut butter frozen custard with hazelnuts and brownie bits. The pure bliss that resulted from this delectable dessert has secured Goodberry as another must-see for all visitors.

All in all, the trip was a grand success. Our mission, to get to know the area, was accomplished. Our even greater mission, to find me a place to live, was also accomplished the following week when I signed a lease on this darling place:

Welcome home! (And there are 2 bedrooms - VISITORS WELCOME!)