Thursday 25 November 2010

New York, New York.

After delivering my bike to the shipping agent in Los Angeles, I flew to New York for an overnight stop. I had decided to stay right in the middle of Manhattan, at Times Square.

I had arranged to meet fellow blogger George F who writes an excellent blog called Riding the USA. George is from New Jersey and he did an 8900 mile trip across the US in 22 days earlier this year. George very kindly met me at my hotel for the night and after dumping my bags in my room, we headed straight out for dinner. Well, sort of. We actually headed straight out for a long chat about riding bikes across the US and we had dinner at the same time. It was one of those occasions when the waitress had to keep coming back to our table to ask if we were ready to order, because the two of us we talking so much!

Having both ridden from coast to coast, we had a lot in common and a lot to talk about. Bikes, places we went to, people we met etc. We ate in a Cuban restaurant called Havana Central, just off Times Square and the food, drinks and company was very good indeed. I have never eaten Cuban food before and I liked it.

Afterwards we stepped into Times Square for a few photos before George had to go get his train home. It was a real pleasure meeting George (and I hope you get that Yamaha you are after soon!).

Here is George in Times Square....


























I went and retrieved my big camera so I could try some night shots of Times Square. It is so much better taking pictures with a camera that you can control exposure and shutter speed than with a point and shoot.

This is the main part of Times Square. The building in the middle is where the ball drops to mark the new year....




















There is a lit red staircase in the square – I am not sure what it is for, for it is great to photograph....




















One of the street vendors in the square....




















As I went back into the hotel and rode up in the glass elevator, I still had my camera out with the fisheye lens on, so as I went up, I snapped a few pictures. This is the best one....




















The next day, I only had a few hours before needing to go to the airport to fly home. I wanted to take some pictures of NYC but I wasn’t sure where places are and I don’t know my way around New York very well, so I did a very tourist thing and used taxi’s to get around!

9/11 had a momentous impact on New York and indeed the whole of America. A great deal of the rest of the world followed along as events unfolded on that dreadful day, so it was fitting that I sought out ground zero and to have a look at the new building work taking place there....




















The New York Stock Exchange, in the Wall Street area....













































One of my favourite buildings in New York, the Flat Iron building....


























Radio City Music Hall...













































I have been to New York a few times, but I had never before been to the top of the Rockefeller Center to look at the view. I am glad I did, as it was terrific. This is looking north....




















Central Park....


























Looking south with the Empire State Building in the middle and looking towards the Statue of Liberty....




















I have seen many canyons on my tour, but not many of the man-made variety....


























Times Square during the day....


























Grand Central Station....




















I then rushed back to my hotel, finished packing, caught a cab to the airport and flew home! I slept most of the way.... zzzzz

15 comments:

GF said...

Nice pictures once again Gary, I'm glad you enjoyed dinner and Cuban food. You absolutely right, we had a nice long chat and dinner was just a necessity :-)
Your night pictures just convinced me to buy a new camera but this time I need a D-SLR and a very wide-angle lens. Your Times Square picture is just perfect. Thanks for mentioning my blog too.

Eve said...

It was great that you and George got together and had such a good time that you kept the waitress waiting! I'm sure she didn't mind! I love your picture of NYC. I LOVE NYC! I've only been there once, (well the bus station and airport don't count) to visit. It was a very short visit, I would have loved to stay at least 3 days. I would love it if you could check out my blog post on remembering my trip Gary. My photos are mostly manipulated in Photoshop but they make me smile each time I see them. you can see them here
http://sunnysideup-eve.blogspot.com/2009/06/remembering-nyc.html
Thanks for continuing to post Gary! Hi to the family!

Rick Parker said...

Great photos!

Unknown said...

Gary:

it's always nice to meet people, travel the country, snap a few photos of landmarks and look forward to arriving home after such a long journey. Welcome home to familiarity and relaxation.

bob
Wet Coast Scootin

SonjaM said...

And once again lucky with the weather. The Central Park picture is a beauty.
I love New York, have been there twice, and will return one day.

Mohit said...

Hi Gary,
A wonderful post again. I never thought will get to read you after your tour get over but we are glad that we are still able to read your posts. You are gem of a writer.
Thanks again for the wonderful blog.
Have a great time.
Mohit

BeemerGirl said...

Hi Gary,

Love the elevator/fish eye image. Reminds me of a pumpkin. Would have been great for Halloween. Also like the image of the cityscape and clouds from the top of the Rockefeller. Great captures and glad you had fun! Thanks for sharing as I was only in New York for the airport. :)

-Lori

Bluekat said...

Great pics of New York, from the street to the roof tops. Nice color showing in Central Park! Very cool that you two had a chance to meet!

Mike said...

Nice photos Gary! It's really nice that you and George got to meet and have a meal together. Thanks for sharing the epic journey!

Oz said...

Never been to NYC, but I like your photos. The shot of Central Park is great. Glad all went well with your flights. Now enjoy your family and get some rest.
Thanks again for taking us on the trip with you.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos! (And nice bikes, too) The more I see of pieces of the country, the more I know I've got to get out and see as much as I can. You've inspired me to go one more place...

Brady
Behind Bars - Motorcycles and Life

Jack Riepe said...

Dear Mr. France:

The Flatiron Building is one of my favorite structures in New York City. I was standing on a street corner across from it one day, looking up at the stone work about seven stories high, when another detail caught my eye and I glanced farther up. A passerby elbowed me in the ribs and said, "We build them pretty tall in New York, eh Zeike?"

I started to laugh so hard I thought I would loose my breath. (I was born and raised in Jersey City, the urban blight one mile to the west.) This is one of my best New York City Stories.

I just read your comment to CPA3485's blog... And I am curious. Of all the pavement you covered in the US, what would you consider your favorite stretch?

Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads

Webster World said...

New York is amazing. But I could never live there. I'm just an old country boy.

Gary France said...

George – Having dinner with you was a great way to end my tour – I enjoyed it. The wide lens is a fisheye and I try to use it only rarely but for Times Square it was just what was needed.

Eve – You are right as you need a few days to see NYC and to take photos. I did check out your pictures and they are very good as usual – I would expect nothing less from Eve!

Rick – Thanks!

Bob – You are right. Travelling is fantastic, but so is arriving home!

Sonja – I first went to NYC when I was sixteen and I hated the place. I have been many times since and now I really like it.

Mohit – Thanks for your kind words. I hope to keep posting on my blog for some time, but not as often as when I was on the tour.

BeemerGirl – As soon as I saw the picture I too thought of pumpkin! I was lucky when the sun came out in NYC just in time for some of the pictures.

Gary France said...

bluekat – When I looked down at Central Park, I loved the colours. I wasn’t expecting that as I thought the fall colours would have gone by the time I was there. It was a real bonus!

Mike – You are very welcome. Meeting George was great fun as we had experienced similar long journeys and it was good to compare what we saw and what we felt about our trips.

Oz – Getting some rest has been good and of course seeing my family even better.

Brady – I am pleased I have inspired you to go see somewhere else. I love the name of your blog!

Jack – The Flatiron is one of my favourites as well. It’s shape is crazy and eccentric, but that is exactly why I love it. The view of NYC from Jersey is pretty spectacular, but strangely it is not often used in pictures of the city. Your question is a tough one, mainly because my mind goes immediately to the fantastic mountain roads such as Beartooth Pass, Needles Highway or the Million Dollar Highway. These were spectacular roads because of the scenery and twisting bends. No doubt the Pacific Coast Highway in California would be high on the list as well. The iconic view along the road leading to Monument Valley stands out as well. However, I wouldn’t choose any of these. I do remember one road that stood out because it made me laugh and feel good. This was Highway 2 that passes through much of Nebraska where for mile after mile, I played a game with the drivers of the enormously long coal trains that I passed every few minutes. I know it is silly, but I tried to get them to blow their train whistles in a greeting to me. In the loneliness of the Nebraska plains, with the train tracks running parallel to the road, I waved at them all and most responded. So for the reason that it made me laugh a lot, I choose this road.

Webster – I couldn’t live there either, but country boys can enjoy an occasional visit!