My partner had a contract in Guyana, so had the chance to stop over at New York on the way back. Not wanting to waste the chance to add on a holiday, we decided we would spend a few days in New York (I forgoed the chance to visit Guyana, as I would have been hotel bound - mind you, hotel bound in the tropics with a pool .... I think I missed a trick there!).
It appears we arrived for the first week-end of Spring, as the sun shone over the High Line park.
It is an amazing conversion of a high railway line, beautifully designed and planted, with art works included: one was a sound installation of bell sounds recorded across Manhattan that played a new one every minute of the hour. New Yorkers flocked there to soak up the sun, sharing a picnic, doing yoga in the fresh air, or reading a book:
and, of course, to admire the sun setting:
Having done all the main sites in 1997, we decided to devote our time to visit the High Line (often), catch up on Ground Zero:
A huge building site, but the visit to the chapel that survived opposite was very moving. Lots of old tombstones still standing, a peaceful cemetery, and The Bell of Hope given as a gift by its sister church St. Mary-le-Bow in London:
(one of the bell sounds captured at the sound installation on the High Line was this one!).There are memories on 9/11 elsewhere in Manhattan, as we discovered on Sunday when we visited a little museum up in Inwood called Dyckman House Museum: a very interesting survival of the Dutch Colonial style of housing.
Nestling up in a Latino Barrio, this is a little historical treasure that changes ones vision of New York. But just down the road, in the grounds of a church, there is this cross - which is really metal beams that survived the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11:
But, New York wouldn't be New York if it did not remain in some way still irreverent in some places - like these art works in a converted church that is now an indie shopping centre downtown:
On this note, erm.... Happy Easter!
Next post will be about the side trip to Rhinebeck, with photos of a cottage we rented that made me feel I had walked into a lifestyle magazine photoshoot - an article called 'Americana'
8 comments:
Great juxtaposition of the old and the new and I love that poster! Haven't been to New York for a long time but you left me feeling I would like another visit.
That was a nice little tour. I've seen the Jesus is coming back - look busy - poster before. It always makes me smile.
I was thoroughly enjoying the NYC tour but then Jesus upped and stole the show (guffawing, I was). Happy Easter to you - I'm off to look more busy.
Salivatingly jealous!!!!!!! I love that poster ... it eternally reminds me of a irreverant and dear friend and always cracks me up! Thanks for the tour - I love a touch of vicarious travel x
Ooooh! Rhinebeck! I know where that is...that's only half an hour from Esopus.
See http://aginggratefully.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-have-been-thinking-recently-and-at.html
You're doing the world a service here. All of New York is not New York City.
Been to New York as a young Aussie twice in my twenties. Thirty years on and I'd love to go again. Thanks for the opportunity to see whats happening there.
I live an hour from NYC, and almost never go there. I find out what's going on there when people from other countries travel there and blog about it. 8-)
If I ever go back to NY I'll put the High Line on my itinerary. Look forward to your Americana post.
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