Of course I’m not sure if all Americans do it, but I know now how to recognise a real New Yorker on the streets. In London they walk with brollies, in New York they walk with…coffees. Yeah, green Starbuck paper hot cups have become a somewhat fashion accessory to the image of modern New Yorker. Two things are impossible to comprehend to my mind: how can you walk at a pace they do AND carry full hot cup of coffee without spilling it. Also how can anyone possibly drink Starbucks coffee?! Yes, folks, sorry, but trust me – you’ve been mislaid - what you’ve been fed as a coffee over there, coffee it is not…They definitely should work harder on making coffee drinkable in New York. But still it is true – if you want to walk like New Yorker – grab a cup of coffee and run like your whole life depends on who will win this race – you or next to your shoulder coffee-runner.
Another observation of New Yorkers. I’m not sure why it used to be in my perception that Americans should wear cowboy’s hats…I’d blame Hollywood’s icons for this – the rugged irresistible appeal of Marlboro Man and gentle charm of Brokeback Mountains…anyway…all my plans to meet a real made-in-USA cowboy-man or at least Clint Eastwood on Broadway, failed miserably for the New Yorkers don’t wear hats!!! Apparently cowboys in New York wear…baseball caps! You wouldn’t believe how many do that! I had to alter my American’s template and now every time I see a baseball cap, I know chances are – I’ve met an American…
Anyway, back to the places worth remembering…
Wall Street
Truly just a narrow street where it used to be a...Wall defending city against indians. It is more of a virtual street– when you say “Wall Street Corporation”, this doesn’t necessary means that the company’s headquarters are actually on Wall Street in New York..Since they closed the Stock Exchange to the public, there was not much point to walk this way unless you work in NYSE. The also other attraction in Financial district – Charging Bull. Huge monster with big balls (truly, those were amazing in size and I’ve heard a speculation that if one holds them for a moment, one could become rich…well…let’s just say, I don’t like money that much!) the Bull is impressively big and a thought of it is fully made of bronze gives the beast a special “value”…
South Street Seaport Pier 17
Now this became my special place in New York. You know how you would go somewhere and expect to see all the wonders of the area you’ve heard of in advance and then suddenly you come across a less known place and you fall in love with it from the first sight…Pier 17 happened to be a swap-over stop for the Brooklyn Loop Big Bus. But as soon as I hopped off the bus, I knew I’m going to spend more time here…it is that unexpected contrast between the 19th century seaport and ultra modern glass walls of Financial district on the background, reflecting the clouds, the river, the bridge…it feels like a timekeeping - harbour. Over there, just across the busy road there is that buzzing life, illumination lights, rustle of bucks and here, on the edge of East river, the time is still in the past… berthed sailing ships, charming restaurants, little shops and lovely cobbled streets…smell of fresh fish from the soaked old walls of Fulton fish market…street musicians were playing something rhythmic when I was there…and of course an unspeakable views of Brooklyn Bridge! I had to return to this place once more on my last day in New York – it just feels like my comfort place..
Brooklyn Bridge
Everyone should do it once…walk the bridge. Not because this way you will “catch” Saturday night’s fever, but because of all the places this one has to be The Place. I hopped off the Brooklyn Loop bus on the other side of the river and walked back to Manhattan. They said "On the Brooklyn Bridge, an airplane can fly over a pedestrian who's walking over a car that's driving over a boat that's sailing over a train."…OK, not sure about airplanes, but there were plenty of helicopters circling above – they have a helicopter pod nearby this place. There were enough of the boats on the river and a herd of the cars right under my feet – level down from pedestrian walk…I didn’t see trains, but I suspect this could be because of the underwater tunnels tend to be hidden…under water…Walking Brooklyn bridge was cheap, neat and fun to do.
Liberty
This is about the Lady In Green. – the monument that is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.. Ironically the lady is…French. But she does look fresh and nice for her 120 years. Personally I tend to look at any symbols a bit sceptical. But seeing the statue I can easily imagine the awe of Europeans who arrived to America in search of new better life when the first thing they ever see of America was off-scaled woman with a torch. In the end of a day it can be easily said about America – that everything there appeared to be on a truly grand scale…
Another observation of New Yorkers. I’m not sure why it used to be in my perception that Americans should wear cowboy’s hats…I’d blame Hollywood’s icons for this – the rugged irresistible appeal of Marlboro Man and gentle charm of Brokeback Mountains…anyway…all my plans to meet a real made-in-USA cowboy-man or at least Clint Eastwood on Broadway, failed miserably for the New Yorkers don’t wear hats!!! Apparently cowboys in New York wear…baseball caps! You wouldn’t believe how many do that! I had to alter my American’s template and now every time I see a baseball cap, I know chances are – I’ve met an American…
Anyway, back to the places worth remembering…
Wall Street
Truly just a narrow street where it used to be a...Wall defending city against indians. It is more of a virtual street– when you say “Wall Street Corporation”, this doesn’t necessary means that the company’s headquarters are actually on Wall Street in New York..Since they closed the Stock Exchange to the public, there was not much point to walk this way unless you work in NYSE. The also other attraction in Financial district – Charging Bull. Huge monster with big balls (truly, those were amazing in size and I’ve heard a speculation that if one holds them for a moment, one could become rich…well…let’s just say, I don’t like money that much!) the Bull is impressively big and a thought of it is fully made of bronze gives the beast a special “value”…
South Street Seaport Pier 17
Now this became my special place in New York. You know how you would go somewhere and expect to see all the wonders of the area you’ve heard of in advance and then suddenly you come across a less known place and you fall in love with it from the first sight…Pier 17 happened to be a swap-over stop for the Brooklyn Loop Big Bus. But as soon as I hopped off the bus, I knew I’m going to spend more time here…it is that unexpected contrast between the 19th century seaport and ultra modern glass walls of Financial district on the background, reflecting the clouds, the river, the bridge…it feels like a timekeeping - harbour. Over there, just across the busy road there is that buzzing life, illumination lights, rustle of bucks and here, on the edge of East river, the time is still in the past… berthed sailing ships, charming restaurants, little shops and lovely cobbled streets…smell of fresh fish from the soaked old walls of Fulton fish market…street musicians were playing something rhythmic when I was there…and of course an unspeakable views of Brooklyn Bridge! I had to return to this place once more on my last day in New York – it just feels like my comfort place..
Brooklyn Bridge
Everyone should do it once…walk the bridge. Not because this way you will “catch” Saturday night’s fever, but because of all the places this one has to be The Place. I hopped off the Brooklyn Loop bus on the other side of the river and walked back to Manhattan. They said "On the Brooklyn Bridge, an airplane can fly over a pedestrian who's walking over a car that's driving over a boat that's sailing over a train."…OK, not sure about airplanes, but there were plenty of helicopters circling above – they have a helicopter pod nearby this place. There were enough of the boats on the river and a herd of the cars right under my feet – level down from pedestrian walk…I didn’t see trains, but I suspect this could be because of the underwater tunnels tend to be hidden…under water…Walking Brooklyn bridge was cheap, neat and fun to do.
Liberty
This is about the Lady In Green. – the monument that is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy.. Ironically the lady is…French. But she does look fresh and nice for her 120 years. Personally I tend to look at any symbols a bit sceptical. But seeing the statue I can easily imagine the awe of Europeans who arrived to America in search of new better life when the first thing they ever see of America was off-scaled woman with a torch. In the end of a day it can be easily said about America – that everything there appeared to be on a truly grand scale…
More to come...