The Big Beast

It can eat you up and spit you out just like that and you can scratch your head wondering what to do next. But the Big “B” is not as scary as one might think, it’s a big teddy bear with lots of honey jars and goodies. Go 50 meters in any direction and there is food and lots of it, all kinds of donuts, bagels, juicy sandwiches, restaurants and bars, fresh food supermarkets and of course coffee by the gallon.  This is…….

Crea
New York on a clear day from Brooklyn

New York where, unlike Tokyo, no effort has been made to make its subway system user friendly for visitors. It’s actually not that complex but without good access to a local phone on which to search, a map, information on where you are or signage of what goes where it’s a bit of mystery. Figuring out your G line from your Q line is a challenge we faced, but we conquered Tokyo’s system, so once we started to get the hang of it, it was all good and so was getting to the next restaurant or dinner we were eager to try out.

S
SubWay girl
s
Subway entertainment

Whilst we were in New York it coincided that a friend of Malene’s from London was in town the same week on business. We met up with Sandra a few times and explored a bar or restaurant or two. Being in NY Malene was on fire and having the added bonus of a close friend to talk to after a year on the road really made her week.

With Sandra in New York
With Sandra enjoying ourselves in New York

Sooo… many cool looking bars and eateries one must wonder how NY cornered the market on interior style.

Schillers Liquors
Schillers Liquors

I think the secret lies in the old buildings, warehouses and railway depots which have been cleverly converted into lovely spaces still retain that old-timey feeling. Spending time in New York is as if we were in Perth, it’s so expensive, especially after Mexico with its $3 cocktails and $2 beers, now we are paying $8 a pint of beer and the service is so pushy, which am not keen on, but in NY one still has to tip regardless.

After a day of wandering we got back to our apartment and the bed has never looked more inviting. But it’s very exciting and like the tide you are out again the following day despite the weather, fighting waves of people and battling the subway just to get to see the next new thing or try those tasty morsels you couldn’t fit in the night before, because you ate too much, donuts hmmm.

Not donuts but meat balls
Not donuts but meat balls

No opportunity missed and we never know when we will be back so Malene caught up with Leeann an old friend from her hotel working days. So they met up one day and did the New York thing, had Sushi and asked a passer-by to take their photo standing in front of a big kitchen sink, actually it’s a pool on it’s side, don’t ask.

Malene and Leeann
Malene and Leeann
5th Av
5th Av

You could easily put a year aside to get to know Manhattan. We took an airbnb apartment in Brooklyn with city views just a short subway ride to Manhattan, it’s a smart and trendy-ish area and here too there is no shortage of nice looking places to kill some time.

We took some time out of our busy schedule to visit the High Line a disused raised railway line that ran down the west side of Manhattan and has now been turned into a stylized park, would be great on a sunny day but we hit it when the wind was cold so we wore our Shanghai vests to keep us warm.

Sleep walking man (Artwork on the High Line) along side frozen man and cool design on the line

If that is not enough there’s the theaters the galleries the fashion houses and museums to keep you out of trouble and for tourists there’s the tours which can be at ground level, above ground or below and if that is not enough you can just ride the subway for entertainment. Me, I like the latter and the bar crawl.

New York is a real melting pot
New York is a real melting pot

There is such a wide range of people in NY, more so than any other city I’ve visited and it’s as if each one needs to have their own individual look, I went for the old-man dorkish look in my winter essentials but Malene looked the NY part except for her shoes which after heavy use had the homeless person look. We got her a new pair of Nike’s.

All the way from Asia or are they New Yorkers
All the way from Asia or are they New Yorkers

We enjoyed our time here and didn’t do the big items like Empire Estate Building at $35-$65 per person but there was enough to keep us entertained just getting around town and taking in the people, the shops and the cafe restaurant scene.

Walking the streets at night
Walking the streets at night

What we’ve learned from our travels is that time flies and we need to move on to the next place.

Bag lady on our way out of NY
Bag lady on our way out of NY

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6 comments

  1. Anne Swanson says:

    Loving that you are doing the local stuff……I get a sense that I am walking with you. My shoes feel worn out too!

    Continue to enjoy the adventure and thanks for great photos

    Love to you both,
    Anne

    • Nick and Malene says:

      I though as much, my feet were killing me, must be those high heals of yours you got me wearing. Love getting your messages too. We were in London for a few days where we both caught up with old friends and family (I have nieces and nephews) there from CY. We only had 4 days there and now in Cyprus enjoying the warmth and the food (enjoying food here big time). I am popping (haha popping is a bit of an understatement) by WA for 10 days to see Elli and meet Willow my grand daughter.
      Will see if Rod, Jackie etc can catch up and will let you know, but most of my stay will be down south with Elli so not long in Perth.
      Love your comments, love nick and Malene

  2. Leeann Pisacane says:

    It was so great catching up with you and nice to be able to pick up right where we left off as if 8 years had not flown by…travel safe and enjoy the summer!!

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