New York, September 2019

Day 2 or could have been 3 ?!

Underneath Times Square - this is as close as we got to Times Square. With only a few days, we had to choose what we wanted to see and most advice was 'don't bother'. So we just changed trains here.

Still in the station, we apparently missed out on a lot of art, but we did get to see these ceramic panels  by Tony Buonagrio, located in passageways between the platforms. The installation is called 'Times Square Times : 35 Times'. Loved them! So bright and cheerful.

Cool people - acting the part.

Hopping out at Hudson Yards, the not without controversy new development above the railway yards which has been accused of being elitist. It's the biggest private real estate deal in US history and will incorporate massive new residental and commercial skyscrapers, gardens, a top end shopping mall, The Shed cultural centre and what we had come to see - The Vessel - a 46 metre tall climbable sculpture consisting of interlocking flights of stairs. Otherwise known as The Beehive for obvious reasons.

It looks intimidatingly high, but it's not. The stairs are easibly climbable and before you know it, you're on top with all the amazing views. Give it a try if you're in NY.

The Shed - a new centre for the arts has a telescoping outer shell which can deploy from over the base building and glide along rails onto an adjoining plaza to double the building’s footprint. Mind boggling!

Mom and daughter - these days we're only togetther once or twice a year, so we need to take pictures.

The Vessel, dwarfed by the new skyscapers.

Close by is the High Line - a freight rail line which had been abandoned for 25 years, now transformed into a public park. It's owned by the City but maintained and operated by private citizens and community residents in conjunction with the Dept of Parks & Recreations. It really is a breath of fresh air in the middle of this sometimes overwhelming city and the views are amazing.

It's 2.3 km long with art installations, murals, viewing platforms (just don't stop in the pathway! New Yorkers object vociferously) of city panoramas, benches, and has access on and off the walkway all along the length of it. Because it's not very wide, no cyclists or dogs allowed.

I really like this picture. When I took it I didn't even realise that the Empire State Building was in the background. It really tells a story.

After lunch at the Chelsea Market in the Meat Packing district (no pictures for some reason. What could possibly have happened?)

Some more art in an underground station - tiny brass figures by Tom Otterness representing life in NYC, they've been there since 2001.

We managed to find the famous FlatIron building (mainly because we saw it in Spiderman). Tick

But then it really was time for a drink.so up to 230 on Fifth roof top bar with a great view of the Empire State Building (another ' don't bother' suggestion. Better to see it from the outside).

Farewell drinks to these two as they were heading back to SA the next morning. I'm so glad we arranged to meet up here.

New York September 2019

New York, New York.

In September I travelled to New York on the tailwinds of Hurricane Dorian to meet up with Kate and Kean. My flight was just longer than usual, having to travel around the active area through Canada. They though were bashed and battered by having to fly up through the heartland of America. But we all got there safely and it was lovely to see them.

The first lesson I took from this trip - Seriously? Get a cab! We arrived quite late and thought 'no problem, we'll get a train/metro, whatever.'  No problem? Well, yes. It was a problem. When you're tired, 6 hours ahead of your timezone, have never been here before, don't know where you're going, have ridiculous amounts of luggage, get off at the wrong station, have to walk for what felt like miles, contend with the locals who must have thought we looked like easy pickings, but hey, we're from SA, give us a try. Just spend the bucks and get a cab. It took us about 3 hours (could have been 4) to finally arrive at our airbnb in Brooklyn - didn't stop these two from showing their appreciation.

A new day! Into Manhattan we went. 

The skyscrapers here are just amazing. I spent the next week with my head thrown back and my mouth hanging open. You'll see - lots of pics.

We decided on the Staten Island Ferry rather than actually going to Ellis Island. It's a free trip for one thing and K&K only had 3 days in NY so it was a toss up of everything they wanted to see.  It's fabulous though. I'd definitely recommend it.

Dairy Queen! Worth the trip.

Great view of Brooklyn Bridge.

Battery Park

A memorial to the American servicemen who lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean during WWII.

The Immigrants - by Luis Anguino. A bronze and granite sculputure. Ironic in Donald Trump's America.

One World Trade Centre. The tallest building in America, it stands on the northwest corner of the 16 acre site. In two days it would be the anniversery of the attack on the towers. A poignant time to be in New York. It was on our minds a lot, imagining what it must have been like 18 years ago. New Yorkers are also amazing. Everyone has a story and they share it with you with the slightest encouragement.

The Great Spherical Caryatid (Fritz Koenig 1971) once stood on the plaza of the World Trade Centre. After the attack the battered artwork was recovered from the rubble of the Twin Towers and now sits on the the New Elevated Liberty Park near the St Nicholas National shrine and Americas Response monument overlooking the 911 Memorial and Freedom Tower.

There has apparently been some controversy about the placement of this Sphere, but to me this is a real link to the events of that day. Things don't have to be bright and shiny and untouched, to be perfect.

With sober reflections, it was time to head back to Brooklyn and try to catch up with the jet lag.