Recently I've found myself often thinking of various travel photos. I don't know if it's because I'm not going to be traveling any time soon or a reminder I really should get back to working on the album. :)
Here are some photos I took in New York back in October/November 2010. (Can't believe that trip now happened two years ago!)
You can find all my posts about New York here.
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My travel tip for today: Don't forget to look up.
There are so many wonderful details that occur above our line of sight. Architectural lines and curves. Decorated ceilings. Ornate columns and light fittings.
When traveling take a moment to enjoy this different perspective. Just don't try and walk at the same time. :)
A church, Macau
A different church, Macau
Guggenheim Museum, New York
Public Library, New York
Library of Congress, Washington DC
Cienfuegos, Cuba
Trinidad, Cuba
Revolution Museum, Havana, Cuba
Red Fort, Agra, India
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As a final goodbye to New York, tonight I headed to the top of the Empire State Building. The view was amazing - lights as far as you can see. My favourite part - seeing the ice skaters in a Bryant Park, 102 stories below.
I feel like I have done so much in New York, walked so many neighbourhoods, seen so many shops, buildings, museums...yet I know there is still so much more.
Some of my highlights: seeing the Statue of Liberty close up, walking in Central Park, Times Square, watching Memphis and In The Heights on Broadway and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, TV and movie tour.
I could write so much more but I have an incredibly early pick-up tomorrow morning, in 4 hours in fact, to head to the airport for my flight to Cuba. I should try and get a little sleep, so goodnight.
Oh, not sure how easy it is to access internet in Cuba so I might be posting or I might not.
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Today New York finally clicked for me. I don't mean navigating (I'm loving the logic of numbered streets running east - west and avenues north - south) and finding my way around. More about its character. And my enthusiasm.
I began my day walking through a farmers market at Union Square and down through the East Village with Joel, my assigned Big Apple Greeter. It was lovely chatting to a New Yorker about the city and seeing his love of this place.
After queuing in Starbucks to use the restroom - a too much information sentence but it demonstrates the absolute lack of public toilets here, the ubiquitous of Starbucks and the American term restroom! - I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Part way at least.
Later I went to St Pauls Church and the 9/11 Centre. Both very moving.
And then my first Broadway Show. Loved it!
No more singles and internet about to quit, Bye!
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For breakfast this morning I headed to a deli around the corner from my hotel. I walk in and there are about 6 uniformed policemen in there getting their breakfasts. I think it's hard to have a truer New York experience than that! Oh, and the guy behind the counter called me 'senorita' and I've decided that is how I wish to be addressed from now on - love it!
Took a lazy day today and bought a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus. I don't think there as anything more touristy than that in New York! However, it is interesting to be driven around hearing facts about buildings as you pass. Plus, that extra height on the upper storey gives you a really different perpective of the city. You look up.
I did look down on the city too, from Top of the Rock, the observation level of Rockerfeller Center. That gave me my first view of Central Park - it is big! - and overview of the city - even bigger!
I wandered into the American Girl shop on 5th Avenue and was amazed by the world they have created. There is a hair salon for the dolls, costing $10-$20 for a new style. It is incredible and I so would have wanted one as a kid!
For more consumerism - M & M World on Times Square. Seriously, M&M characters on every type of merchandise you can possibly imagine. Towels, sheets, drink bottles...
To finish the day I took the Night Tour on the bus, heading across to Brooklyn and back. The view across the water back ot Manhattan was amazing. That was my day.
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In New York now, took a train this morning, and it is frigid! That's in the really cold wind kind of way although it is pretty amazing too.
Tonight, just before heading back to the hotel for the evening, I decide to head to Times Square for a look. I step out of the subway entrance and am dazzled by all the lights and people. I take a few photos, look around a little before I think - this is an intersection, weird to call it a square. Then I think, hang on a minute. Sure enough, one block there were even more people and more dazzling lights. And the actual Times Square! Opps.
Anyway, let me jump back a day. Yesterday had gorgeous weather in Washington, sunny and rain-free! I started the day heading up the Washington Monument, the big obelisk that overlooks pretty much everything and has amazing views. Then I did some memorial hopping - World War II, Jefferson and Roosevelt - before heading across the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetary.
The sheer size is stunning - I took a little bus tour to get around. Burials are still held there, up to 27 a day from Monday to Friday, mainly of WWII veterans. I did see a funeral procession pass, including flag draped coffin on the gun carriage, and it was so very dignified.
The Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers was incredibly sweet. The supervisor inspects the gun and uniform of the replacement guard, wiping his white gloves along the weapon surfaces then checking for marks. It is extremely choreographed, even down to his head position, with very sharp movements. There has been an honour guard constantly outside the Tomb since the reburial in 1938. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Later I saw the Pentagon Memorial to 9/11 victims, the Supreme Court, the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives and headed to the White House again for one last look.
In the evening I joined a hostel organised walking tour of Georgetown where we saw JFK's house and the Exorcist steps before heading to a pub for a drink. The price of a small house in Georgetown - about $1,000,000. Add another 0 for a big place. Then it was bed and finally a rest for my weary feet.
And after arriving in New York today I went to the Chelsea Market where I had my first New York cupcake. Nice but if I'm honest, I was expecting something a little special-er. The cupcakes at the Flemington Market at home are obviously world class! I walked along the High Line, a garden created on an abandoned, raised railway line, before catching the Staten Island Ferry where I saw Miss Lady Liberty herself. Then Wall Street and the Stock Exchange, dinner, Times Square and here.
My internet time is about to run out so that got pretty quick there. My room tonight has a TV so I'm looking forward to doing some watching - my first of the trip.
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