NEW YORK: I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
I was reluctant to leave New York, but in the end had little choice.
My initial intention was to try and stay in New York for three months, but getting a job had proven hard to come by, and to stay an extra month would take all my savings, meaning that I was looking at the option of forfeiting Mexico all together. And god I was needing some sunshine.
I was looking tired and run down, plus the job I got was not offering me enough hours. I spent valuable time deliberating, but in the end I realised that I would have to concede defeat and come back next year. In the end it turned out to be a recon mission, but I still think that six weeks is sufficient time.
NEW YORK: HALLOWEEN
For Halloween I ended up staying inside, as it was just so overwhelming!
Even though my writing course was finished, I had decided that I should stay for Halloween, just so I could see it.
But by the time it came, I was so exhausted from the overwhelming place that is New York that I ended up locking myself inside and eating Chinese food. Not only because the crowds did not gel well with me but it was bitterly bitterly cold.
I also got to see a huge amount of people is costume on the subway ride there, and it was pretty damn scary. I am not sure whilst people waited until the day before to get there costumes: eve though there is an abundance of shops selling just that, there were people lined up down the block.
NEW YORK: GETTING YOUR NAILS DONE
One of my top 10 favorite things about New York... If not number 1.
There is such an abundance of nail bars, at about $25 a time, that women have no excuse for letting their upkeep lapse.
I would say that there are nearly as many nail bars as Starbucks. And you can pretty much walk in and get your tootsies done at any time. You even get to choose your colour. And the best thing is that it lasts!!
NEW YORK: TOO MUCH CHOICE
Just your regular newsagent on the corner.
So I was walking home one night, and I felt that a magazine for my subway ride to Brooklyn was in order. So I just went into a magazine shop on the corner, and my god, the collection.
I asked the gentleman behind the counter if he had the biggest selection of magazines in Manhattan, and he shook his head. I said, "How about for the space" and low and behold he had a plaque celebrating just that.
I was overwhelmed, and just picked up a gossip magazine, with the intention of coming back. But I never did, because as per usual I got distracted.
MANHATTAN: EDUARDO KOBRA
One of my favourite pieces of street art.
This picture was also taken on The High Line and it blew me away. So I looked into it, and the work was done by Eduardo Kobra.
All of his work is so colourful and happy, and blends in with the surroundings, in this case complementing them.
MANHATTAN: THE HIGH LINE
An afternoon walk on the High Line
The Highline is a nice walk between The Meatpacking District and West 34th street. It is a beautiful stroll that gives you a unique perspective on the city.
The day I went the cold weather was setting in and the days significantly shorter. As I was near the water, the sun went behind the clouds and I got this shot.
I would strongly recommend it for anyone visiting.
https://www.thehighline.org/
NEW YORK: BLEEKER STREET
An afternoon of window shopping.
Bleeker Street is full of cute shops. The photo is this one is Dyptique. It is really not fun for someone on a strict budget.
However, I did manage to find some perfume, costing $200, then I went home, looked it up on line, and managed to find it for $80. I guess that is an indication of how much the prices are marked up because of the cost of renting real estate.
NEW YORK: ALICE RUSSELL GIG
So having watched "Magic Mike" one too many times, I was slightly addicted to Alice Russell. When I googled her, low and behold, she was playing a gig the next day at La Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street.
What an amazing voice, and a venue with really great sound.
I started to chatting to some elderly gentleman who had lived in Switzerland for eleven years, and they ended up taking me to dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant. It was a fun and delicious night, and suddenly New York was not so lonely!!
NEW YORK: FIRE ESCAPES
The fire escapes on the outside of buildings are quite unique.
From what I hear, the city planning was not that well planned, and all the buildings are too close together making life difficult.
But they are part of New York, and you become quite attached. As if there was not enough to see on ground level, when you look up there is always something to see. And how many movies and TV shows have scenes from the fire escape?
This one was taken in the afternoon sweet spot, meaning that the reflection of the sky was in all the windows.