New York City

Central Park

Staying in the Upper East Side across from the Park is both calming and nerve racking at the same time. Calming strolling around Central Park and seeing the Milk Building where in the 1800’s they used to serve children fresh milk on hot summer days and feel the cool breezes off the ponds. To be a New Yorker before airconditioning would be difficult, the humidity grips you and almost feels like an asthma attack. Nerve racking because it is an extremely pricey neighbourhood and walking around at night trying to source reasonably priced items is difficult and the smell of the garbage bags piled along the curbs awaiting pickup literally makes you gag.

The Plaza is nice but intimidating. I have never seen so many Burkas in one place – disconcerting for someone who never sees them. The elevators are microscopic – hard to imagine them ferrying all of the people up and down, but there is rarely a delay and you never see anyone. First 3 days our toilet was clogged – very hard to deal with. Finally I begged the maintenance guy to use a snake and explained my great observations of the toilet workings. Turns out it was a bar of soap. The toilet is in its own glassed off room – so definitely a deliberate manoeuvre. I guess it takes all kinds. I said to the maintenance guy – you must see it all – he just laughed manically. I imagine there is a certain horror seeing “all kinds “ amongst the obscenely rich. Just to make it clear – we are only staying at the Plaza on a very great rate. Outside of that the rates are prohibitive.

Ennui in Central Park

Our first day we wandered around Central Park and then on impulse decided to have Kyr's portrait done by a local sketch artist. He insisted it would take only 10 minutes. Kyr nearly expired holding his facial muscles still for  what we are sure was at least 45 minutes. But the results were amazing and gratifying. Despite being one of several being sketched, Kyr attracted the most attention. Several people stopped and took pictures of the scene and all young girls walking or biking by ground to a halt to watch.

The pleased artist

Waiting for the subway.

We were supposed to meet my friend Leo for the afternoon in Queens. Kyr and I were quite skilled once we actually found the subway station but for some reason we wandered aimlessly around 59th and 5th not able to find any subway entrance. We were getting panicky - as it was getting past our meeting time. Finally feeling foolish we found it right where the map said it was. I felt like the natives not able to see Columbus's ships because they were so out of our frame of reference. 

Leo, Natasha and Kyr  at Taverna Kyclades

Leo had arranged to meet us at a famous Greek restaurant. The food and company was amazing. It was surreal for both Leo and I having been friends on facebook for several years and finally meeting. For many years Leo thought I was an elderly man living on a trust fund because of my character Horace Hippoworth. Luckily Horace is a redeeming enough character that Leo still wanted to meet the person behind the story. We felt like we knew each other already - we felt like old friends. It was a delight to finally meet his partner Natasha. It was so heartwarming to watch from a distance people falling in love and then to finally witness it was gratifying. 

 Leo had taken the day off work to give is a grand tour of Queens from a native New Yorker. Kyr and I felt very honoured and really enjoyed the day. We spent time in a historic Czech beer gardens - telling stories and talking of the world and life. Then we strolled to the river and Leo pointed out all the places he has bicycled - New York is a cycling mecca. Almost enough to make the cowardly me rent a bike. Leo filled us in on some of the infrastructure stories of the city. I am fascinated by how so many people can live in such a tiny area - the equivalent of 1/3 the population of Canada lives in this metropolitan area. Imagine all of the things like providing water, sanitation. 

It was shocking sight to see the density of all the highrise buildings from a distance - all that humanity.

 Even though the border guards were somewhat taken aback when they asked their routine questions how do you know these people for whom we were taking gifts, and I answered "facebook", I can say with certainty that it is possible to meet the most delightful, thoughtful and kind people on facebook. Leo is proof.