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Published: November 22nd 2005
Cypresses by van Gogh
One of my favorite paintings in the world.Crossing over the Hudson via Brooklyn Bridge to Heather’s place in Brooklyn, I looked out from our subway car window over our shoulders and saw the illuminated Manhattan skylines behind us. Ah, we are in New York City again. Beau and I landed in Lombardia this evening from a rough plane ride and we managed to figure out how to ride the subway to Brooklyn, where we will be staying for the next few days. The NYC subway is a very extensive system, with $21 for a five-day pass. This should be an exciting adventure in the Big Apple, as always.
We started our journey after spending a night in Brooklyn from the notorious Harlem, north of the Central Park, through the lush forest of Manhattan. It’s hard to believe that we survived walking in chaotic Harlem and totally shocked over the dramatic change of atmosphere surrounding us. As an urban park smacked in the center of a megapolis, Central Park is very calm and inviting. Now I understand why people value the Park so much, as I tried to put myself as a jogger, running around the lake and looking at the skyscrapers in the back ground, even with
Guggenheim Museum
One out of five Guggenheim Museums in the world. frosts still on the ground. All the credit goes to Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the Central Park.
Museum Mile is a stretch of famous museums along the Central Park. Just like a magnetic energy to lure us out from Central Park, Guggenheim Museum is a must tourist picture, especially with the stretch of hotdog stands in almost every corner of street. Almost immediately across the street from the Guggenheim is the Metropolitan, another famous museum in NYC. With nothing to expect, we entered the Met to see the permanent collection of the museum.
The Met is huge! Not only for American standard, but also for even European museum standard, the museum meets what an art lover would expect to experience. Is it the Met, or the Louvre, that I like better? The highlight of the visit was the ‘Cypresses’ by van Gogh, one of my favorite paintings in the world. Even so, it was ‘buried’ among other famous work by Monet, Rembrandt, da Vinci, Seurat and the list goes on and on. I wish I had weeks to see and to appreciate them all, but unfortunately we have to move on after Beau found a modern art
the Met steps
I am sitting on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum painting of an empty plate and glass that describes our feelings at the moment: emptiness and hunger. We had a good laugh about that.
If thousands of famous paintings are not enough, how about some restored architectural structures? The States was grateful to receive Temple Dendur, an ancient Egyptian temple from the Egyptian government as a token of appreciation when USA assisted Egypt in the construction of the Aswan Dam. This temple, along with several others ancient temple, was supposed to be lost forever, submerged under the water of Aswan Dam in the Lower Nubia, Egypt. So what did they do? They dissembled the structure, brought it over to the Met, and assembled it back together under the glass roof of the museum. I’ve heard that the Chinese government is thinking about doing the same thing with the Three Gorges Dam project, so heads up, if you want to buy an authentic ancient Chinese temple, might as well acting now. Besides the ancient Egyptian temple, they also saved a Frank Lloyd Wright’s room to be demolished from Minnesota, and constructed a perfect harmony Chinese Astor garden inside the museum.
Empire State Building has always been Manhattan’s lovable landmark
Temple of Dendur
Temple of Dendur, saved from the Lower Nubia, Egypt. since 1933. Surprisingly, as we found out, the queue to go to the top of the structure wasn’t bad at all, in fact almost instantly we were soaring up above the Manhattan, sightseeing in delight. I’ve been on top of Empire State Building before, but this is Beau’s first time. It is interesting to see how diverse the crowd were, confirming that NYC can be easily the most of “International City” in the world. As Heather and Katie decided to wander around themselves shopping or do what girls do, ironically the experience became ‘a boys’ night out’ for me and Beau, as we were staying on top of Empire State Building, watching the sunset over Manhattan. Nearby, the last orange ray of the sun reflected by the iconic Chrysler Building.
Visiting the Ground Zero is devastating, especially if you recalling a vivid memory on going up to the observation deck at one of the World Trade Centers. Hardly anything left on the place, let alone the observation deck’s NYC Map museum, glass auditorium as if Manhattan was a stage, or big windows. The only thing left in the area is a big hole on the ground, with the famous
Emptiness
This is how we felt that day ... hungry! beam cross bearing an American flag.
Then, smack in the middle of Manhattan high skyscrapers is the gothic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, across the street from Rockefeller Center. Did you know that the architect of Rockefeller Center, Raymond Hood, is a brethren Theta Delta Chi?
It feels like there is no organization in Chinatown, which is chaotic with people and cars. Many things are different compared with what we are accustomed to in Iowa, but I’m pleased to tell you that we found a durian. What the heck is that? It is a South East Asian fruit, covered with lots of spikes in the hard shell, protecting the yellowish mushy fruit in the core of the fruit. It has strong smell and flavor (did I mention STRONG?), and I thought it would be a good experience for Beau, Heather and Katie to try it. I was wrong. After having a hard time opening it, the first smell revealed from the inside was so strong in scale that they would consider as a fault odor, filling up the whole apartment. Katie and Heather were about to pass out, and Beau was the only one who was brave enough to taste it,
Empire State Building
Looking down from the Empire State Building. but then he was puking his guts out. As Beau would describe it, “ … taste like rotten onion and dirty wet socks”.
The biggest disappointment of the trip is the MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, where they keep the van Gogh’s famous Starry Night. It turns out to be a big renovation for the past couple months, and the museum is relocated temporarily in Queens. There was a big sign announcing that the Starry Night is on a display in Berlin, Germany. What?!
Even an experienced traveler like me can make a mistake. Hum. Having spent a full day in a Staten Island mall and going there, I wish we were doing something else instead. Manhattan definitely has a completely different atmosphere than the rest of the NYC. Brooklyn Bridge is one of the NYC’s jewels, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan. Someone would not realize how significant it is until he stops from the daily routine and admires the mega structure. It is highly recommended for anyone just to walk along the Hudson approaching Brooklyn Bridge.
Have you heard about the Broadway Shows in NYC before where a bunch of people singing and dancing on stage,
Empire State Building
Welcome to New York City! and you have to pay a small fortune to see them? Well, that’s the closing event for our visit in NYC this time, and we managed to get $50 bargain tickets each to see “Little Shop on Horror” show, after waiting in lines for hours in cold, misty Times Square. Amanda (Sanders) met up with us at the square, and she is the expert of the Broadway. Many shows are offered, but we can afford to see a less favorite one instead of big Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, or Aida. After having tickets in our hand, we had a couple of hours to kill before going to the appropriate theatre to enjoy the show. The show itself is interesting, with live orchestra playing striking music, dramatic background stage settings, and intimate atmosphere in theater design. It was a perfect show for a first timer, contrary to the freezing rain pounding outside the theater.
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Ivan
non-member comment
Great review
NYC is pure magic! I remember walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan over East river in May 2007.... No one mentioned, nor it wasn't on TV that it was actually over Hudson back in 2004 ;)