Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Working 6 to 8... what a way to make a living
I know that it's going to be a long day when I find myself signing in at the front desk of my office building because the day security guard isn't due in for another hour.
Madison Square Park still looked pretty in the morning sun the only difference being that I was sharing it with Tai Chi practioners and bleary-eyed dog walkers instead of the usual pinstriped business types and fitness freaks.
The main disappointing outcome of my long day was that I didn't make it out for my own 'run' (ok, jog/walk) along the Hudson this evening. I've been doing pretty well with the exercise regime but tonight felt like a bridge too far. Especially as another storm is threatening like the one I got caught in on Friday night. I really did have to run on that occasion and surprised myself by how fast and far I could go when in danger of being struck by lightning!
Before the heavens opened and tried to drown me I was treated to the menacing creep of the black clouds rolling in over the island and enveloping the skyscrapers of Manhattan. I was obviously so distracted by the sight that I failed to do compute it's imminent implications!
Still, I must quietly admit to quite enjoying the mad rush for home with water dripping off the end of my nose and my feet squelching in my trainers. Faint memories of Trailwalker stir...
My final creative writing class tomorrow night so no running then either. I'll tell you all about that tomorrow instead.
Madison Square Park still looked pretty in the morning sun the only difference being that I was sharing it with Tai Chi practioners and bleary-eyed dog walkers instead of the usual pinstriped business types and fitness freaks.
The main disappointing outcome of my long day was that I didn't make it out for my own 'run' (ok, jog/walk) along the Hudson this evening. I've been doing pretty well with the exercise regime but tonight felt like a bridge too far. Especially as another storm is threatening like the one I got caught in on Friday night. I really did have to run on that occasion and surprised myself by how fast and far I could go when in danger of being struck by lightning!
Before the heavens opened and tried to drown me I was treated to the menacing creep of the black clouds rolling in over the island and enveloping the skyscrapers of Manhattan. I was obviously so distracted by the sight that I failed to do compute it's imminent implications!
Still, I must quietly admit to quite enjoying the mad rush for home with water dripping off the end of my nose and my feet squelching in my trainers. Faint memories of Trailwalker stir...
My final creative writing class tomorrow night so no running then either. I'll tell you all about that tomorrow instead.
Monday, 26 May 2014
What does a bishop eat for breakfast?
It's back to an altogether less fun flying machine today. An American Eagle Bombardier CRJ-700 to be precise. I'm currently awaiting it's arrival at gate A9 of Toronto's Pearson Airport and getting brain freeze from the Double Chocolate Chip Frappucino that I've treated myself to with my last five Canadian dollars. It's been nice to have the Queen back on my (plastic) bank notes for a couple of days!
This morning I got to see Toronto at work instead of at play. Canada had its national holiday - Victoria Day - last Monday so enjoying the sunshine today felt extra extravagant as everyone around me busied themselves on cell phones and walked purposefully from the subway to their offices.
My hostel was on Church Street, aptly named for the many churches situated along its length, including both the Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals. Both are rather smaller than the Cathedrals I am used to... but rather lovely all the same.
The latter was just across the street from the hostel and it amused me to be stood in line behind the Bishop as I bought my morning bagel in Starbucks yesterday morning. In case you are wondering, his breakfast of choice is an egg and sausage muffin and a medium roast grande coffee!
Today I walked up Church Street to catch the bus to the north part of town and the Bata Shoe Museum. This intriguing little attraction, shaped like a shoe box, charts the evolution of footwear and shoemaking in different cultures with a particular focus on the First Nations people of North America. Fascinating stuff but I have to admit that I was rather more blown away by the ballet shoes of Fonteyn and Nureyev and the special sneakers exhibition on the top floor. I'm such a heathen.
One museum is enough for a sunny day, so I paused briefly outside the striking Daniel Libeskind designed Royal Ontario Museum to take some photos before wandering down the granite paved 'Mink Mile' to do some window shopping at the likes of Tiffany and Gucci.
I've enjoyed my little holiday in Toronto. Like I thought, there's not enough here to have warranted a special trip all the way from the UK but, as a weekend break, it was just the ticket. It was also a little sojourn from the relentlessness of NYC as the people here seemed a little friendlier, a little calmer and a little less fashion obsessed!
That said, I'm looking forward to unlocking the door to my little apartment this evening and spending a cosy night in. I wonder if the cat downstairs has missed me.
This morning I got to see Toronto at work instead of at play. Canada had its national holiday - Victoria Day - last Monday so enjoying the sunshine today felt extra extravagant as everyone around me busied themselves on cell phones and walked purposefully from the subway to their offices.
My hostel was on Church Street, aptly named for the many churches situated along its length, including both the Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals. Both are rather smaller than the Cathedrals I am used to... but rather lovely all the same.
The latter was just across the street from the hostel and it amused me to be stood in line behind the Bishop as I bought my morning bagel in Starbucks yesterday morning. In case you are wondering, his breakfast of choice is an egg and sausage muffin and a medium roast grande coffee!
Today I walked up Church Street to catch the bus to the north part of town and the Bata Shoe Museum. This intriguing little attraction, shaped like a shoe box, charts the evolution of footwear and shoemaking in different cultures with a particular focus on the First Nations people of North America. Fascinating stuff but I have to admit that I was rather more blown away by the ballet shoes of Fonteyn and Nureyev and the special sneakers exhibition on the top floor. I'm such a heathen.
One museum is enough for a sunny day, so I paused briefly outside the striking Daniel Libeskind designed Royal Ontario Museum to take some photos before wandering down the granite paved 'Mink Mile' to do some window shopping at the likes of Tiffany and Gucci.
I've enjoyed my little holiday in Toronto. Like I thought, there's not enough here to have warranted a special trip all the way from the UK but, as a weekend break, it was just the ticket. It was also a little sojourn from the relentlessness of NYC as the people here seemed a little friendlier, a little calmer and a little less fashion obsessed!
That said, I'm looking forward to unlocking the door to my little apartment this evening and spending a cosy night in. I wonder if the cat downstairs has missed me.
Sunday, 25 May 2014
One to tick off the bucket list
Today I discovered the thrill of riding up front in a helicopter. Frankly, it wouldn't have mattered what we had flown over but the fact that it was the spectacular sight of Niagara Falls bathed in sunlight made the experience all the more exceptional.
From the moment we lurched up into the air, I knew I was going to love every one of the twelve minutes I'd signed up for. I just wish I'd had more time to try and understand the what all those levers and dials were for and to interrogate our pilot with hundreds of questions about how it all works.
Rainbows danced in the water below us and it felt very special to be getting a birds-eye view of such an awe-inspiring natural wonder. You could really get a sense of the how the falls had carved their way into the landscape from up above.
Later on, we also had a lot of fun getting up close and personal with the Falls as we got drenched from our vantage point on the famous Hornblower. The yellow ponchos they hand out are rather fetching but also rather useless when you're being buffeted from all sides!
Eating ice cream whilst watching sailing boats glide by in the picturesque town of Niagara on the Lake was the perfect way to round off a day that turned out to be unexpectedly special.
My evening has been spent dining for one in a splendid French restaurant near St Lawrence's Market. American steak and French pommes frites are a rather perfect combination. The glass of Riesling from a local vineyard was delicious too.
Now I'm back in my top bunk and ready for sleep. Want to be up in time to see a bit more of Toronto in the morning.
From the moment we lurched up into the air, I knew I was going to love every one of the twelve minutes I'd signed up for. I just wish I'd had more time to try and understand the what all those levers and dials were for and to interrogate our pilot with hundreds of questions about how it all works.
Rainbows danced in the water below us and it felt very special to be getting a birds-eye view of such an awe-inspiring natural wonder. You could really get a sense of the how the falls had carved their way into the landscape from up above.
Later on, we also had a lot of fun getting up close and personal with the Falls as we got drenched from our vantage point on the famous Hornblower. The yellow ponchos they hand out are rather fetching but also rather useless when you're being buffeted from all sides!
Eating ice cream whilst watching sailing boats glide by in the picturesque town of Niagara on the Lake was the perfect way to round off a day that turned out to be unexpectedly special.
My evening has been spent dining for one in a splendid French restaurant near St Lawrence's Market. American steak and French pommes frites are a rather perfect combination. The glass of Riesling from a local vineyard was delicious too.
Now I'm back in my top bunk and ready for sleep. Want to be up in time to see a bit more of Toronto in the morning.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Leaving the hullabaloo behind....
I had a bit of a false start at writing this blog a couple of weeks ago but following encouragement from a good friend have resolved to try to get it going once more.
In order to be a little contrary, I am actually writing this from a top bunk of a dorm in a Toronto youth hostel. I decided to get away from New York for the Memorial Day weekend and hop north of the border for a couple of days.
My first taste of Canada has not disappointed. Toronto seems to be a friendly and accessible city. It's much less frenetic than New York... or London for that matter.... and has a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe, underlined by the number of different languages I've overheard whilst walking around this afternoon. I even enjoyed a passable oeufs benedict for lunch.
I was delighted to get out onto the water even if it was only for a 45 minute harbour tour of Lake Ontario. I do love being on a boat, especially when the sky is blue and there's a spectacular view to enjoy. My photos won't do it justice but I shan't forget how satisfying it felt when I'm back in the office next week. And if the memory starts to fade, I have the sunburn to remind me!
Tomorrow I am making the trip to Niagara Falls. I'm steeling myself to be disappointed by the town as I've been warned that it's been overtaken by souvenir stalls and wedding chapels but I hope that the Falls themselves will be worth the trip.
It feels good to be having another mini adventure. Having roommates to consider feels a little odd having spent so long by myself but it's actually quite nice to have company. I say this now of course before they've kept me awake all night by snoring!
Anyway, it seems like we're approaching 'lights out' time. I promise to write more soon though.
In order to be a little contrary, I am actually writing this from a top bunk of a dorm in a Toronto youth hostel. I decided to get away from New York for the Memorial Day weekend and hop north of the border for a couple of days.
My first taste of Canada has not disappointed. Toronto seems to be a friendly and accessible city. It's much less frenetic than New York... or London for that matter.... and has a distinctly cosmopolitan vibe, underlined by the number of different languages I've overheard whilst walking around this afternoon. I even enjoyed a passable oeufs benedict for lunch.
I was delighted to get out onto the water even if it was only for a 45 minute harbour tour of Lake Ontario. I do love being on a boat, especially when the sky is blue and there's a spectacular view to enjoy. My photos won't do it justice but I shan't forget how satisfying it felt when I'm back in the office next week. And if the memory starts to fade, I have the sunburn to remind me!
Tomorrow I am making the trip to Niagara Falls. I'm steeling myself to be disappointed by the town as I've been warned that it's been overtaken by souvenir stalls and wedding chapels but I hope that the Falls themselves will be worth the trip.
It feels good to be having another mini adventure. Having roommates to consider feels a little odd having spent so long by myself but it's actually quite nice to have company. I say this now of course before they've kept me awake all night by snoring!
Anyway, it seems like we're approaching 'lights out' time. I promise to write more soon though.
Monday, 12 May 2014
The sounds of the city
A muggy May Monday evening seems as good a time as any to start this account of my six months in the Big Apple.
It's take me a couple of weeks to find my voice. There's been so much to listen to, to watch, to work out that I haven't had the headspace left over to write.
New York is a noisy place, there's no getting away from it, yet tonight all I can hear through the open window is the comforting hum of a neighbour's radio and the odd rumble of a truck making its way down 9th Avenue.
I've struck gold with my cosy little apartment on the 2nd floor of a traditional Chelsea brownstone. I'm just a block from the High Line and two from the Hudson on a pretty tree lined street where people really seem to care for their tiny front gardens. I learnt on my Big Onion tour of Chelsea on Saturday that these were part of original building regulations put in place by Clement Clark Moore, the first owner of the Chelsea estate... and rather wonderfully also the author of Twas The Night Before Christmas.
My walk home from work every evening is the favourite part of my day. I have several different routes figured out now that take me through different corners of this fascinating neighbourhood. But every day I discover something new. Today it was cheese shop tucked away on 22nd Street that I hadn't seen before.
And when I finally skip up the stairs and through the front door of the block there's the daily anticipation of unlocking my mailbox to see if there's news from folks back home.
Well, it's nearly time to crawl into my oversized bed for another good night's sleep. Perhaps I'll write more tomorrow.
It's take me a couple of weeks to find my voice. There's been so much to listen to, to watch, to work out that I haven't had the headspace left over to write.
New York is a noisy place, there's no getting away from it, yet tonight all I can hear through the open window is the comforting hum of a neighbour's radio and the odd rumble of a truck making its way down 9th Avenue.
I've struck gold with my cosy little apartment on the 2nd floor of a traditional Chelsea brownstone. I'm just a block from the High Line and two from the Hudson on a pretty tree lined street where people really seem to care for their tiny front gardens. I learnt on my Big Onion tour of Chelsea on Saturday that these were part of original building regulations put in place by Clement Clark Moore, the first owner of the Chelsea estate... and rather wonderfully also the author of Twas The Night Before Christmas.
My walk home from work every evening is the favourite part of my day. I have several different routes figured out now that take me through different corners of this fascinating neighbourhood. But every day I discover something new. Today it was cheese shop tucked away on 22nd Street that I hadn't seen before.
And when I finally skip up the stairs and through the front door of the block there's the daily anticipation of unlocking my mailbox to see if there's news from folks back home.
Well, it's nearly time to crawl into my oversized bed for another good night's sleep. Perhaps I'll write more tomorrow.
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