Chinese bus from Boston to New York, and i am now staying in the Bronx with Tom, an old friend from uni (10 years ago now wow!!). He is some sort of biological engineer, researching into if certain already approved drugs can be simply amended for use with other applications and diseases
Now i've been round all the famous tourist spots before, so this was supposed to be a brief stopover whilst i got organised for the remainder of my travels. But getting here i realised how tired i actually was.
So I spent the last couple of days touring famous street art / graffiti locations, (such as 5 Pointz in Queens, and the industrial area in Williamsburg), and craft ale pubs, such as the Stag's Head and Jimmy's No 43. Lots of breweries i've never heard of.
There's always something interesting on the subway, usually people preaching, rapping, or selling sweets. Yesterday the guy standing next to me got out a sketchbook and started drawing other passengers. Subtley, so his subjects weren't aware. Not that i think he was worried about that beyond spoiling the natural poses.
Later i walked down a platform where a whole band busked, metres away from a disturbingly large puddle of sticky blood interspersed with toffees. Interesting
Also interesting to note is how the ethnic mix in the carriage changes as the train crosses the city. Up in the Bronx, i have regularly been the only white guy on the train, but as you head down passing central park and south of times square the mix becomes predominantly white and asian.
The public transport in NYC is good, but like London it still takes an hour to get anywhere, which can be a bit offputting.
Officially i've been struggling to engage my brain to plan the next three weeks in more detail than a compass direction. The distances in between places are quite an obstacle.
Onwards south!
Now i've been round all the famous tourist spots before, so this was supposed to be a brief stopover whilst i got organised for the remainder of my travels. But getting here i realised how tired i actually was.
So I spent the last couple of days touring famous street art / graffiti locations, (such as 5 Pointz in Queens, and the industrial area in Williamsburg), and craft ale pubs, such as the Stag's Head and Jimmy's No 43. Lots of breweries i've never heard of.
There's always something interesting on the subway, usually people preaching, rapping, or selling sweets. Yesterday the guy standing next to me got out a sketchbook and started drawing other passengers. Subtley, so his subjects weren't aware. Not that i think he was worried about that beyond spoiling the natural poses.
Later i walked down a platform where a whole band busked, metres away from a disturbingly large puddle of sticky blood interspersed with toffees. Interesting
Also interesting to note is how the ethnic mix in the carriage changes as the train crosses the city. Up in the Bronx, i have regularly been the only white guy on the train, but as you head down passing central park and south of times square the mix becomes predominantly white and asian.
The public transport in NYC is good, but like London it still takes an hour to get anywhere, which can be a bit offputting.
Officially i've been struggling to engage my brain to plan the next three weeks in more detail than a compass direction. The distances in between places are quite an obstacle.
Onwards south!
So this week have covered most tourist sights comprehensively!
More photos will follow of the statue of liberty- we took the free Statton island ferry which passes close to it.
Also visited the Guggenhiem, Brooklyn bridge and the Highline, a new park on a disused elevated railway.
And walked A LOT.
Weather keeps flipping between ridiculously hot and then raining for days.
Saw Federer vs Tsonga in the US Open quarter finals, some great tennis to see from up high in the awesomely gigantic stadium, after a nervy rain delay.
Some brilliant rallies but Tsonga kept choking when it mattered.
Here are some other thoughts.
Jumping between islands on the rain swollen lake of a pavement.
People watching is more fun than sightseeing.
Preachers on the subway, day of reckoning stuff
9/11 anniversary fever, half (not meaning to be disrespectful, but cringe inducing corporate memorial tribute bandwagon and half paranoia being spread on the news. no-one in happy hour seems concerned!
another view: its hysteria. yes. but they just want everybody in the city time safe. hmmm. Some people get really angry about the "conspiracy theorists" but there are so many things that don't add up about it...
CRAP modern art. stones and metal? call me a philistine but that's hardly creative genius.
need to book trains earlier before prices go up!
Republican president candidate debate. I fear for the world. the country is run by corporate interests. they all demanded more privatisation... more control to be given to the industries they come from...
Appetizers. Not the entree size starters I imagined, but huge plate full of shareable bar snacks. I may never buy a main course again, especially if I can keep finding half priced happy hours!
More photos will follow of the statue of liberty- we took the free Statton island ferry which passes close to it.
Also visited the Guggenhiem, Brooklyn bridge and the Highline, a new park on a disused elevated railway.
And walked A LOT.
Weather keeps flipping between ridiculously hot and then raining for days.
Saw Federer vs Tsonga in the US Open quarter finals, some great tennis to see from up high in the awesomely gigantic stadium, after a nervy rain delay.
Some brilliant rallies but Tsonga kept choking when it mattered.
Here are some other thoughts.
Jumping between islands on the rain swollen lake of a pavement.
People watching is more fun than sightseeing.
Preachers on the subway, day of reckoning stuff
9/11 anniversary fever, half (not meaning to be disrespectful, but cringe inducing corporate memorial tribute bandwagon and half paranoia being spread on the news. no-one in happy hour seems concerned!
another view: its hysteria. yes. but they just want everybody in the city time safe. hmmm. Some people get really angry about the "conspiracy theorists" but there are so many things that don't add up about it...
CRAP modern art. stones and metal? call me a philistine but that's hardly creative genius.
need to book trains earlier before prices go up!
Republican president candidate debate. I fear for the world. the country is run by corporate interests. they all demanded more privatisation... more control to be given to the industries they come from...
Appetizers. Not the entree size starters I imagined, but huge plate full of shareable bar snacks. I may never buy a main course again, especially if I can keep finding half priced happy hours!
So i finally bought a new camera after months of procrastination.
My "old" compact sony one had developed an annoying motor shake which was ruining photo opportunities such as that wild bear, and the empire state building.
This forced my indecisive hand and i now have a Panasonic G3 with two different lenses. It's like a slimmed down SLR, with almost the same quality and all the controls that allow creative control (when i've spent 3 days working it out).
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg3/
This also accelerates my need to get rid of some stuff out of my rucksack, as it takes up space. And to be fair i have been very restrained about buying lots of other nice things! Fortunately Adam is on hand to take some clothes back to the UK.
Thanks Adam!
Secondly i'm reading as fast as i can to get rid of a couple of books, i think 8 is about 6 to many to be carrying around.
My "old" compact sony one had developed an annoying motor shake which was ruining photo opportunities such as that wild bear, and the empire state building.
This forced my indecisive hand and i now have a Panasonic G3 with two different lenses. It's like a slimmed down SLR, with almost the same quality and all the controls that allow creative control (when i've spent 3 days working it out).
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg3/
This also accelerates my need to get rid of some stuff out of my rucksack, as it takes up space. And to be fair i have been very restrained about buying lots of other nice things! Fortunately Adam is on hand to take some clothes back to the UK.
Thanks Adam!
Secondly i'm reading as fast as i can to get rid of a couple of books, i think 8 is about 6 to many to be carrying around.