Thank you for the thoughtful comment, I am glad I was able to express how I feel about the experience in words. Writing is always a struggle for me so I am pleased the message was conveyed. Tucson is home to the international dark sky association so I know what you are talking about when you say lights facing the streets. We do have quite a bit of pedestrian accidents with cars at night so I wonder if that has an impact on things.
RE: Why Milky Way photography is important