I had the perfect hosts at the Airbnb I stayed at in Manhattan. My hosts, Max and Alia, were kind, considerate, and knowledgeable. They took me for breakfast at the best bagel place in New York. We then went on to walk the High Line and, finally, they’d booked a trip to the breathtaking Vessel … Continue reading / view photos Rainbow bagels to the High Line
Category: Culture
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
New York has not one but at least fifteen botanical gardens! I spent a good chunk of the day at the trendy Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The Gardens were partly closed for a large expansion that was in progress. Despite that, there was still a lot to see. I ambled around. I spotted a large turtle … Continue reading / view photos Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
Desert Island Discs: all the records, books, and luxuries
Coney Island and Kobayashi
On a hot and humid day in Manhattan, I headed for the beach in Coney Island, the south-western corner of Brooklyn. The journey was about 90 minutes on the subway. When I got there, it turned out to be as hot as Manhattan. There was no sea breeze to cool us down. I even walked … Continue reading / view photos Coney Island and Kobayashi
Times Square
When I first went to Times Square in 1988, it was a seedy place. You didn’t hang around there long. It was, in some ways, reminiscent of (but worse than) Kings Cross 20 years ago. Many cities around the world have a place or two for tourists to congregate, by day or by night. London … Continue reading / view photos Times Square
Arriving in New York, 2019
My original plan for travelling from San Francisco on the West coast to New York on the East coast was to use trains. I soon realised that, like India, the USA is a very big place. If I’d taken trains, I would have spent considerably more time travelling from place to place. This would have … Continue reading / view photos Arriving in New York, 2019
Notes from New York, 1988
My first and only trip before this one to America was for two weeks in New York in 1988. The World Trade Center, of course, was still standing. How the world has changed. Crime was also far worse. There were about 2,500 murders every year in NY. Now it’s about 550. On the eve of … Continue reading / view photos Notes from New York, 1988
Good old Boston
At most places on this trip, I’ve combined eating out with cooking in the hostel kitchen. There comes a point when I miss vegetables in as close to original form as possible (perhaps, lightly cooked). In Boston, I had found a well-stocked Whole Foods Market. Whilst in the kitchen, I had several people asking me … Continue reading / view photos Good old Boston
Museum of Fine Arts
I’m not sure if this is the case in the UK but, in the US, individual museum galleries (not just buildings) are named after people. Presumably, these are benefactors who have donated to the museum with the express purpose of having a gallery or room named after them (otherwise, their donation would be anonymous). Whether … Continue reading / view photos Museum of Fine Arts
Major League Baseball
When I was in Los Angeles, my nephew said I must go to see a baseball game. I knew nothing about baseball except that it is a big part of American culture. First, I tried to go to an LA Dodgers game. However, they were “on tour” – that is, playing at an opponent’s stadium. … Continue reading / view photos Major League Baseball