Morning dawns with -12C temperatures, it will eventually get to -7C. The wind is brisk and doesn't let up. Bad day to be homeless here. We find a coffee shop and load up, all the Barista's are wearing scarves, toques and jackets, the wind seems to find its way through the concrete.
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| 30 Rock |
We locate Rockefeller Centre, another amazing structure, but do not feel the need to see the observation deck, cant imagine it can be better that Empire State Building. We walk through the main floor on Saks Fifth Ave to enjoy the feeling of being poor on a relative scale.Nasty perfume smell everywhere. Who wears this stuff?
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| NYC Central Library |
Turning to cultural venues we walk to the Central Library. Another architectural marvel. People mostly on computers, didn't see a lot of books....
It seems that architecture died and was replaced with utilitarianism after WWII many beautiful buildings created before I was born, not so much since. One wonders if the American empire peaked in the 1930's?
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| Grand Central Station |
It's a short walk to Grand Central Station another incredibly wonderful creation, spacious, intricate design, the ceiling is a star show.... Amazing and you can even board a train here, as well as choose any kind of food at the lower level food court, watch a world class squash match and if inclined as observed in photo urinate against the wall outside.
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| Who knew this was a sport? |
We catch the subway to Central Park, a sign onboard suggests train surfing could be bad for your health? Wow for $2.50 it seems you can get a carnival ride on the outside of a subway car, who would think?
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| Amazing detail stone work |
Once at Central Park we find the metropolitan art museum. Did I mention there used to be architects? Inside this massive structure is loot from around the globe. Of course it's being stored safely here to protect it from the local barbarians where it originated as they might not appreciate it as much. To be fair they do say some of the stuff was purchased...
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| 2000 BC toys |
The Egyptian exhibit is extensive and amazing. One sees that civilization may have been at a higher level 4000 years ago... Considering the tools available, the craftsmanship is astounding...
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| Stone Guards |
There is also an extensive collection of impressionist art from the late 18th/early19th centuries... The Monets and Van Goghs among others are excellent. One would need weeks to review and appreciate or despise the Hugh collection here. I am powered out after a couple hours.
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| Beat the Crowds, Central Park at -10C |
We walk through Central Park a delightful respite from the concrete and glass. We are pretty much alone as the cold temperatures keep most indoors. Snow is being made for an upcoming festival, now it not only feels like winter but also looks like winter....
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| Snow making Central Park |
We exit the park and make a pilgrimage to the Dakota apartment, fairly unremarkable but much character (built in 1880's) no doubt wonderful on the inside, however several, no doubt armed guards, cover the entrance to discourage any further exploration....
We walk back toward our hotel, stopping at the Carnegie deli for a pastrami sandwich. Now this is a carnivore's heaven. We split a sandwich that has some 500 grams of meat between two thin slices of bread. With sauerkraut and mustard the sandwich is of a size that needs to be eaten with a fork and knife. The tables are very close and we are treated to a conversation where one of the individuals is considering running for the recently vacated John Kerry senate seat in Massachusetts. Seems he is a Fox News correspondent with political aspiration, although expects little hope of winning in a Democratic state. He mentions that his wife will divorce him if he runs as she doesn't think it will be good for his family...his friend thinks that to be inconsiderate of her... Then he got into his opposition to gun control and how since fertilizer was not extensively controlled and was a good bomb material, it followed that guns should not be either... On that flawed logic we made our exit....
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| Emmett O'Lunneys Nachos |
In the evening we are delighted with a Broadway Musical, yes a musical. The South Park guys Trey Parker and Matt Stone have created a fantastic play having a bit of fun with Mormonism. A high energy funny presentation, worth the 2.5 hours of my life. They were a bit easier on the Mormons here than on South Park, and didnt venture anywhere near to the edge as Team America, but still a delight. We end the evening in an Irish pub for a couple seasonal Sam Adams... mmmm delicious, and a plate of Nachos. Bernie at the Moose in Calgary is going to have to up his game, for $12.95 (whats that now $11 Canadian?) we enjoyed a huge plate of Nachos , cheese, chile and all the fixings.... no cheaping out on anything.....
