3rd.
Went over on the ferry from Manhattan to Governors Island, a place stopped in time (except for the food stalls and landscaping) with no permanent residents living the beautiful old houses and fortress etc. In previous blogs I have included these houses and mainly took shots across the water today. A very hot day but an enjoyable one.
you embark in Manhattan is right next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal and this ferry left just before us. Sightseeing wise it is the cheapest way to get close to the Statue of Liberty, most people do not get off the ferry at Staten Island and just turn round and go back.
Here we are approaching the docking station on the island.
The classic shot taken from the island looking over to the Manhattan skyline.
Occasionally you come across an art installation on the island such as this one. A group of mirrors into a cylindrical tunnel that gives you a different angle of the surrounds including me as the photographer.
Some rather expensive yachts came sailing by, no doubt looking for a place on the East River to moor up and watch the fourth of July fireworks.
Just to show you how close the ferries get to the statue.
The gateway into New York from the Atlantic, many a ship has come into New York through this gap, including immigrants from all over the world.
Just like an entertainer “Always finish with a laugh”, I just thought of people phoning up to make an appointment to use the loo.
6th.
Went to the most famous photographic shop in America maybe even the world, ask most travelled photographers have they been to B&H and the reply would be yes. I have never been to New York without going, often not buying anything but occasionally having a small spend up. A lens I have had since owning my camera was getting a bit weak at its top end of distant shots so I replaced that with a second hand one in excellent condition and a bit more modern. I immediately put in on my camera and these next few shots are using it and to show its versatility.
The iconic NY water tower was my first ever shot with the new lens.
Walked home via the Highline and this very bright tree was along the walk.
Cannot take a walk without spotting and photographing flowers.
Looking down onto a back yard and someone had placed this there.
7th.
Today we went back to the U.N. building after a gap of fifty four years, which was the first time we visited New York. The memory box in my head is not that great but I did remember some parts of it. had an hour long tour with a very informative and enthusiastic guide. Here are just a few of the many shots I took.
One of the many pieces of art that fill the gardens and interior of the buildings.
The entrance doors into the main building where many famous people have walked through and where many thousands of tourists go through every day, yet I bet half of them do not notice the detail on these bronze panels on each door. Here are the three on the door I went through, I think they are all the same.
I think they represented peace, love and justice.
Nelson Mandela just as you enter waiting to greet you.
One of the assembly rooms where a youth Human Rights summit had just finished for lunch.
The view through a window of the East River and Roosevelt Island.
The main assembly hall where the world leaders make the big decisions.
8th.
A hot, humid day but we decided to go up to Central Park with the shade of the trees to compensate, so here are a few shots from there.
Some beautiful statues within the park, many I have shown you on previous trips, this was a new one for me, a Husky dog with the plaque stating without these dogs much of the American wilderness would have been undiscovered for years.
Many roads cross the park and many are under passed by tunnels for pedestrians, nature takes advantage of this, on most of the light fittings House Sparrows have built their nests in their usual untidy manner.
Though fairly busy the park is so vast it is never overcrowded and the shade of the trees is wonderful.
This particularly large underpass is a favourite for musicians, not only is it cool but also for the acoustics
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From within the underpass.
So good to see that people were not getting into the fountain and that plants are allowed to grow.
The colour of the boating lake water left a lot to be desired and it was full of fairly large turtles that I would think could give you a good nip.
9th.
Sunday and off for brunch at our favourite restaurant.
Crossing Third Avenue
This striking new glass building on our way is a building built and belonging to the NYU and I adored it, so many different shapes and angles, my shots do not do it full justice, love it.
Now for the meal at Perry Street, just across from the Hudson River.
This is the wife’s favourite and she has this every time, Calamari with a Yuzu dipping foam, delicious
My starter, a raw tuna coated in a crisped up rice cracker with a cream sauce.. so good.
The shots of the burger were not brilliant so I will finish on my unbelievable dessert.
Strawberry Pavlova with a olive oil and lemon sorbet on top, indescribably delight.
Off to Dumbo today on our last full day, will blog those shots on our return to the U.K.
11th.
Dumbo is a part of Brooklyn and has a lovely park right on the rivers edge and is large enough to absorb loads of people without feeling crowded, okay around the retail sections it gets very busy , but a stroll through the park is most enjoyable. The above shot shows Manhattan downtown on the right East River in the foreground and out to “The Statue” where the Hudson & East River join. On the left is Governors Island.
Of course the rivers are not free of debris and rubbish, the three shots above are a clear example of that I can assure you none of the shots were staged , the chair, the rubber clog and the champagne and football were exactly where you see them.
We took the ferry back across to Manhattan and the pilots of the ferries have to be so good , as transport like the above container barge (being propelled by the tug along side) are very frequent on this busy river. The other shot is of the boats that I showed you from the land in the previous blog.
We got off the ferry at the Wall Street jetty and walked up Wall St to get to our favourite restaurant, this is the N.Y. Stock Exchange building, just a symbol now for trade as it is all done online now and only the daily bell is rung here to denote end of trading.
Before getting an Uber to our sons apartment we went for our last meal on the third floor of this building overlooking the Peace Garden. As the name says on the building it is a large retail store selling every Italian food in a shop with a large dining area attached, with some of the best Italian meals you can eat, hence the name Eataly, so clever. They have another store in Chelsea Market, but we love this one.
This is my wife’s favourite dish, just well cooked spaghetti in a cheese sauce with black pepper. Presented in a very special way, The pasta , plain sauce and pepper are placed in the middle of a huge full round of cheese, comes to your table like that and the waiter swirls the pasta around inside the cheese until sufficient cheese has stuck to the pasta, such theatre.
13th
Well that is us home now, suffering from jet lag something terrible, but getting into a routine, though it is hard to go from temperatures in the high twenties( plus one day at thirty three C) while here today we are at sixteen it is a bit different. I guess that is what holidays are for.