A Wild (and Cold) Solo Day in Pittsburgh: Lost iPads, Lagree Lessons, and Lots of Sangria
- Samantha Smith
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
What happens when you find yourself alone in Pittsburgh with a meticulously planned itinerary and absolutely no sense of direction? Chaos. But, like, the fun kind.
My best friend had a work trip to Pittsburgh, and since I'd never been, I decided to tag along. One whole day was mine to explore solo—a mix of excitement, nervousness, and the lingering question: would I make it through the day without getting hopelessly lost?
The Pittsburgh Plan (Because Plans Always Work Out, Right?)
8:00 AM – Quick Bite at Starbucks
9:00 AM – Pilates at Solidcore in the Strip District
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM – Explore the Strip District
12:30 PM – Carnegie Art Museum
2:00 PM – Andy Warhol Museum
4:00 PM – Massage
5:30 PM – Dinner at Barcelona
Sounds dreamy, right? Well, buckle up. This day had other plans for me.
A Comedy of Errors (Starring Me and My iPad)
The day started with me running late—classic. I hopped in an Uber, already knowing I’d be a few minutes behind for my Solidcore class but still hoping I could slip in unnoticed. I arrive, flustered but ready, only to be met with bad news: not only was I late, but I was also at the wrong location. Love that for me.
The receptionist, thankfully, was an angel and helped me transfer my class credit to a later session. Crisis averted. Feeling good, I ordered another Uber and was ready to head to the right spot. And then… disaster struck.
As I reached for my phone, my stomach dropped. “Oh shit,” I muttered. The girl at the front desk gave me the look of someone who knew things had just gone downhill. My iPad. My brand new iPad. Sitting in the back of my last Uber.
Cue panic mode. The Uber driver was en-route to the airport, a solid 30-40 minutes away. I filed a lost item report, prayed to the travel gods, and tried to keep my cool. What else could I do? Well, go to Starbucks and try not to cry in my oat milk latte.
The Longest Two Hours of My Life
As I anxiously refreshed Find My iPad for the hundredth time, I finally gave in to despair. Assuming the worst (because, obviously, someone had stolen it by now), I wiped the iPad remotely—not realizing this would also disable tracking. My last ounce of hope? Gone.
I trudged to an AT&T store to see my options. No iPads in stock. I could order one, but it wouldn’t arrive until I was back home. Frustrated but trying to move on, I walked back to the Strip District in the frigid 11-degree weather. It was shaping up to be quite the day.
A Miracle in the Form of an Uber Driver
With 30 minutes until my Solidcore class, I wandered into Posman Books, a charming local bookstore. Just as I picked up a few souvenirs, my phone rang.
The Uber driver.
He had my iPad. And he was willing to bring it to me.
I nearly burst into tears of joy. We agreed that he would drop it off at my hotel. Everything was turning around! I finally made it to Solidcore, ready to sweat out my stress.
Plot Twist: Solidcore is NOT Pilates
I walked in, excited for a relaxing Pilates session. What I got was Lagree—aka, Pilates’ high-intensity, sweat-drenched, hardcore cousin. Ten minutes in, my legs were shaking, my abs were on fire, and I was questioning every life choice that led me to this moment.
Then, my Uber driver called.
The Westin refused to accept my iPad (seriously?!), so he was coming to me. I texted him my location, then ran outside in my leggings and tank top to meet him. Holding my iPad in my frozen hands, I thanked him profusely and debated proposing marriage on the spot.
Back to class I went, where I endured another 15 minutes of pain, encouragement ("You're doing amazing, first-timer!"—the mic was unnecessary, ma’am), and the realization that Lagree is no joke. If you love Pilates, you’ll probably love it. Though, I barely survived, I plan on going back when the opportunity presents itself again.
Frozen, Broke, and in Desperate Need of a Sauna
It was 14 degrees by the time class ended, and I was officially done spending money on Ubers. I braved the 14-minute walk back to the hotel, where I immediately collapsed onto my bed. But even under the covers, I couldn’t warm up. That’s when I remembered—sauna time.
Twenty glorious minutes later, I was finally warm (and somehow still didn’t sweat?). At this point, the day had been so much that I decided to skip the museums altogether and just chill before my massage.
Redemption: A Massage and a Perfect Dinner
At 3:40, I bundled up (again) and walked to Hand & Stone for my hot stone massage. Madi, my massage therapist, was a dream. If you ever find yourself in Pittsburgh, book with her. My stress melted away, and I walked out a new woman, ready for dinner.
Dinner was at Barcelona, a new wine and tapas bar a short walk from my hotel. And let me tell you—it was everything. The vibe? Immaculate. The food? Chef’s kiss. The drinks? Espresso martinis and sangria were the highlights of my day. I spent three blissful hours here, working, people-watching, and pretending I was effortlessly cool.
Final Thoughts: A Lesson in Adaptability
Did my day go as planned? Absolutely not. But sometimes, the best travel stories come from the unexpected moments—the lost iPads, the surprise workouts, the random bookstore finds, and the Uber drivers who restore your faith in humanity.
Would I do it again? 100%.
Would I pick a warmer month? Also 100%.
Pittsburgh, you were chaotic, freezing, and full of surprises. See you in the spring. 😉
Комментарии