Translate

Friday, October 25, 2024

Some Brand New Notes on New York City!


 


One thing I've learned over the years is that there's always something different in New York City, and my last couple of visits have found yet something new that I've never seen before.


The Meatpacking District situation around 9th Avenue has been home to some elephants over the last couple of months.  I don't mean live elephants, but there have been 100 life-sized elephants hanging out in that neighborhood since early September.  By now the display is moving on, but what was it all about?


It was cool, but that wasn't all.  The exhibit is The Great Elephant Migration.  In partnership with Elephant Family USA, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) came up with it as part of the work they do to help the endangered species.  This fund raising venture benefits indigenous and community led conservation efforts and are meant to help create environs where people and species can coexist peacefully.  The elephants are made of an invasive plant called Lantana Camara and they made one elephant sculpture for each elephant helped by eradicating this invasive species so that the elephants could have the plants they needed to survive in the area.  


You can contact the Elephant Family USA to find more about what they do and how you can help.  Unfortunately, the Great Elephant Migration was due to pack up and go on to their next destination after October 20th.  The next stop for the Elephants is reportedly Miami Beach, FL in December.











https://thegreatelephantmigration.org/



https://thegreatelephantmigration.org/pages/join-the-migration






Escalators on the street in Manhattan?  Not that anyone would question it, but still not something I see every day.  This belongs to 55 Water Street.  The address has a crazy history, but in short it belongs to the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) and is a 53 story building located along the waterfront in the Financial District at the base of Manhattan.  Over the years, many things have happened to this building, including damage from hurricane Sandy, while it's been inhabited by such names as Goldman Sachs, Chemical Bank and Morgan Stanley at some point or another.


Right now, the building next to it says D.O. T.  Not sure what kind of office it is, but it's the government.  


But, what makes this place so special?  I suppose it would be the view.














The escalators go to the Elevated Acre, a New York City Park.  You can see for miles from this small, yet beautiful park, nestled between two tall buildings.  I thought it was something new, but apparently this park has been here most of the time since the building was erected.  It has had some problems over the years and needed to be refurbished, especially after Sandy hit.  It even was the topic of remodeling ideas at one point as an investor wanted to erect a shopping area where it now sits.  The public didn't want to give up their unique park, and the idea to demolish it quickly went away.















This well landscaped park has a lot more to offer than you'd think.  There are generous picnic area options, plants and trees on an elevated terrace, and even a field for people to play a game of soccer or throw frisbees.  Below the park is a veterans' plaza that is also a great place to hang out.  The park is open until 10 pm most days and is a city park and therefore, free.


I'd only recently heard about this great little park with its amazing views of the East River, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, and the harbor.  It's a great little stop and well worth taking the 1, 2, or 5 subway to the Financial District and walking toward the waterfront to Water Street.






Do you love an interesting park?  I obviously do.  Here's a new one.  Little Island Park opened in 2021 and is one of the most unique parks I think I've ever seen.  It lives at Pier 55 right between the remains of Piers 54 and 56, also victims of hurricane Sandy.  This park was created by a group of artists in association with the Hudson River Park Trust and took over a decade from inception to opening.  


The construction is complicated.  There are 132 concrete pots, of which no two are alike assembled together to create one space.  Each pot weighs up to 75 tons.  There are hundreds of species of plants, grass, trees, and flowers.  There is a walkway with amazing viewpoints throughout the park.  There's an area where you can stop and have a snack or a drink and rest.  There's an amphitheater that holds up to 815 people on the river side of the park.  They've put a lot in this truly unique park just west of Chelsea Market and the High Line.














This park is crowded and you will feel the push to move along.  That was the only thing I didn't find fabulous.  The views of the Hudson are amazing and I always love a good view.  We took the L train to 8th Avenue in Chelsea and walked the rest of the way.


https://littleisland.org/


https://hudsonriverpark.org/locations/pier-55-little-island/









We like Asian food.  It's that simple.  Urban Hawker was a place that we'd never tried and we thought we'd give it a whirl.  Located on 50th Street, not far from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center this is a food court that has a little something Asian for everyone. 


The style is Singaporean and the options are plentiful.  We saw Singaporean food, Indonesian food, Malaysian food, Indian food, and many other types of Asian food.  It's a food court, so there are several stalls that are available for you to choose from.  They also have a bakery and a bar.  It's something different to try and it's right in midtown.  You can take the Orange Line, B, D, F to Rockefeller Center and walk the two blocks or so to get there.











https://www.urbanhawker.com/


https://ny.eater.com/2022/9/23/23365517/urban-hawker-singapore-midtown-nyc-review







I've saved my favorite for last.  A couple days after our visit to Manhattan, I went back to the Bronx to take some pictures of the George Washington Bridge.  I made some great discoveries on this simple trip. 





It's called the Northwalk, and it's open for business.  This reinforced walkway goes across the top of the Bridge!  There's nothing I love more than to walk bridges and this one I hadn't expected to walk across, but I couldn't resist once I saw the opportunity.  My walk included a visit to part of the Palisades Park on the New Jersey Side of the Hudson River and was approximately a four mile walk round trip.  The views are amazing.  The experience is one of a kind.  I would happily take this walk again.























https://panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/en/george-washington-bridge/pedestrian-bicycle-info.html


https://njbwc.org/port-authority-opens-newly-renovated-and-vastly-improved-bicycle-and-pedestrian-walkway-on-north-side-of-george-washington-bridge-as-part-of-comprehensive-restoring-the-george-progra/


The walk now opens at 5 am and is open until midnight.  It is fast becoming a wildly popular place to walk, run, and bike.  I saw tons of people on the bridge and everyone was enjoying the weather and the walk.  From where I live in Connecticut, I took the train bus from Waterbury to Bridgeport, the New Haven Line from Bridgeport to Stamford, the local train from Stamford to Fordham, I walked six blocks to take the D Train from Fordham Road to 145th Street, and the A Train from 145th Street to 175th Street at the GWB Bus Station and followed the little signs the rest of the way for the remaining few blocks.  My return trip was the reverse.


I love to walk bridges and most of the bridges in New York are walkable.  Not all, but most.  This one was a surprise, because I intended to go to the park and take pictures of the bridge for a calendar I'm making that will be available soon on Imagings on Zazzle.  The park was hard to get to, but the walk was right in front of me.  Great time.


There you have it; my latest finds in New York City.  Always keep an eye out for new things that I run across in the city.  I'm becoming a senior very soon, and train tickets will be far cheaper.  I'll probably wear out Metro North and the New York City Subway.  So, let your imagination run wild and find awesome new things to try in NYC and Enjoy!


https://sideways.nyc/street/50th


https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g46907-d9577663-50th_St-Weehawken_New_Jersey.html


https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/little-island-new-york-city-pier-park/


https://nyc.eu/visit-new-york/parks/little-island/


https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-elevated-acre-new-york-new-york


https://marveldesigns.com/work/the-elevated-acre-at-55-water-st/117


https://njbwc.org/port-authority-opens-newly-renovated-and-vastly-improved-bicycle-and-pedestrian-walkway-on-north-side-of-george-washington-bridge-as-part-of-comprehensive-restoring-the-george-progra/


https://secretnyc.co/george-washington-bridge-path-nyc/


https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/new-york


https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/g44227360/free-things-to-do-in-nyc/?slide=2&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_toc_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_17942344289


https://www.zazzle.com/store/imagings

Posted by at No comments:

Friday, October 18, 2024

Let's Get Outside for This Week's Fast Five!


 

























1.    The Galapagos Islands, Chile.  I'm not going to talk all about the Galapagos, because that's at least one entire in-depth blog.  I just want to let you know that you don't have to take a cruise.  Cruises to the Galapagos are great if you don't like to spend a lot of time researching and planning for yourself, but you will pay for someone else to do it.  The difference between a cruise and a self planned vacation to the Galapagos can be thousands of dollars.  

When you go on a cruise there are a lot of pros.  You don't have to do all the research and planning.  That's always huge, but if you have a budget research can be worth it.  If you worry about missing out on any little thing, cruising is a way to get the most thorough experience.  If you just want to see the place and the animals that call it home, you can easily do this yourself.

You can book flights through Quito, Ecuador to Saint Cristobal Island.  From there you can visit other islands by ferry or short flight.  You will pay up to a $200 fee to enter the National Park, but you will be charged that as part of your cruise if you go that way.  You can take some day tours if you like.  If you aren't a cruise person, which I'm not, this will give you a great visit as well.  You'll still hang out with sea lions and lizards.  You'll still get to go snorkeling and see sea turtles and sea life in general.  It's a great trip.

Here's the thing.  You'll meet more locals and learn the feel of the islands if you stay on one.  That's a fact.  Cruising rarely gives you the time to get to know a place.  This method of visiting the Galapagos is normally cheaper.  Just a fact.  If you get seasick, this is your method of travel.  All things to consider and then make up your mind about how you wish to visit this world famous iconic location and see all the Darwinian wildlife that calls it home.




































2.    The Metelkova Mesto Alternative Culture Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia.   This is taking street art to a whole new level.  This used to be a military barracks, and it's now one of the most popular places to visit in the city.  Slovenia used to be part of Yugoslavia.  As we all know, that didn't end well, but in 1991 they became independent.  I won't bore you with the whole history, because most of us have heard a lot of it.

Slovenia is known for beauty and has a distinct culture.  Because of all that, it's slowly but surely becoming a tourist destination.  Over the years, street art developed into an organized culture and this art center is the zenith of it.  

The outdoor art is open to the public all day free of charge.  There are numerous events throughout the year on the premises, so you may have to pay for some of those, but I hear they're well worth it.  Long explanation short, Ljubljana has taken street art, organized it and made it popular with everyone including tourists.  They've made something for all to enjoy 24 hours a day.



































3.    Vintgar Gorge, Triglav National Park, Bled, Slovenia.  Most of us have heard of Lake Bled.  It's a beautiful scenic gigantic lake in Slovenia with a photographic island in the middle of it.  But, did you know that in the same area, there was an amazing gorge with one of a kind views that you can hike through?  That's Vintgar Gorge.

The gorge runs along the Radovna River between the carved walls of Hom and Borst Hills.  It's approximately 1.6 KM long so it's very walkable, and there are boardwalks all along the way.  It's lined with beautiful waterfalls and is just really something to take a look at. 

This once again is not a destination for travel.  This is something that you should check out when visiting Lake Bled and the area.  Slovenia is one of the more scenic Eastern European countries and all of this makes for a great trip when you put it together.











































4.    Krka National Park, near Knin, Croatia.  No, this isn't Plitvice, but it is beautiful and will remind you a bit of it.  Located on the River Krka this park has it all for visitors.  There're waterfalls, caves, hiking, biking, great views, swimming, dramatic scenery and even a lake with a monastery on an island.  That's right, there's a lot to see and do.

The thing is, in my early life no one went to these countries.  They were behind the iron curtain, then they were controversial, then there was a war, and we just didn't go there.  Now Croatia and many other countries are independent and making the most of what they've got.  And what Croatia has is beautiful outdoor water areas.  This is something to add to your Plitvice vacation and it has all the amenities you can think of.  They have activities, nature, accommodations and so much more.









































5.   The Uvac River, Lake, and Nature Reserve, Serbia.  This area is amazing and in the southwestern part of the country.  It's remote, and you might want to make tour arrangements to see it.  The winding river cuts through a stunning gorge with several sharp bends creating a thing of beauty.  There's hiking with viewpoints, and there are places to stay, especially along the lake at the North End.


One of the best ways to see this area, is on a local boat tour.  The river boats glide through the canyon showing some of the best views of this natural wonder.  I wasn't able to get a definitive distance for the hike, but it does go up and down over several meters of elevation change and it goes across an amazing pedestrian bridge.  I've read that it takes at least two hours to complete the hike and I'm not sure if that's round trip or one way.  Better allow a day for that adventure.

As far as the popular way to see the reserve, which is by boat; there are several ways to go.  You can book a boat tour at the reserve for anywhere from 12 Euros up.  You can spend any amount of money to do it as a guided tour from Belgrade and spend a long day visiting.  The boat tours themselves take roughly 5 hours with stops at vistas along the way.  

So, no matter how you do it, the Uvac Nature Reserve is a river journey with a lot of views to see and a great addition to any trip to Serbia.
















There you have it.  A fast five with a lot of outdoors to wander.  There are so many places that don't make the list of a lot of tourists.  I enjoy some of the out of the way yet stunning locations when I travel.  Remember, there's a whole world out there to see, so get a little off the beaten path and enjoy!



Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, October 17, 2024

More on Porto! How to be a Traveler and See Some Touristy Stuff Too!


 













More and more as I travel, it becomes clear that there's more than one way to enjoy a place.  We've all been to Disney and we've seen what's designed for tourists.  One of the best ways to enjoy a place is to enjoy the simple things and appreciate what the locals appreciate.


In Porto, we stayed in a moderately touristy neighborhood.  We were right across the street from one of the city markets.  It was the most touristy one and you could even buy a glass of Port and drink it while you shopped.  They had a second level with high priced restaurants for the tourists.  It had its pros and cons as a place for us, but we did visit that market.  We didn't go to the restaurants, but we did get some take away food and had a couple of afternoon noshes there.  Of course, we got a glass of Port.  It was too kitschy not to participate.


But one of the things that we found annoying was that most of the businesses in our little neighborhood were designed for the tourists.  There were nonstop bakeries selling Pasteis De Nata or Nata as the locals called them.  They are a lovely egg tart and if you go to the right place, which is not in the touristy areas, you can try different flavors as well.  There's also a dozen or so places in a confined area where you can buy the Porto specialty sandwich, the Francesinha.  This is a heart attack on a plate, but is delicious and everyone should try it once while in Porto.  


Our question became where do we find what the locals are eating?  The only place near us that sold normal food or drink was the coffee shop, My Coffee Porto, where we went for our morning coffee.  They had the Natas, but they also had all the normal things you'd expect at a coffee shop.  My favorite part was that they had an iced latte.  Not something that we found in most places in Porto and it was really nice as was the atmosphere and the staff.  They were wonderful gentlemen and I can't recommend this place enough.  We made a point to go there every day, even though we could have made coffee in our apartment.  It's wonderful.  Yes, there was a Starbucks around the corner but I was enjoying Portugal, not Seattle.














To be honest, if you're in old town, as we were, you'll be working hard to find a restaurant that isn't meant for tourists.  Even the Korean, cook it on a bbq at your table restaurant that we went to was in a very touristy spot and only took Portuguese credit cards and cash.  However, in the middle of a club neighborhood that was full of Francesinha restaurants, we found an authentic Portuguese Restaurant.  We had to look for it online and find it on a side street, but it was there.  It was a regular restaurant, as opposed to the famous Majestic Cafe and all their J.K. Rowling stories, but the food was local and so were the customers.  The prices were realistic, which didn't always happen in the area, because it's full of tourists, and the people who operated that place were fantastic.  Murca No Porto was the name and it's on Rua Da Alegria.  We went there twice.  Great food for a good price and great atmosphere.


One of the big things we learned was to stop at a small restaurants instead of an actual bar to have a drink.  We found that being in a tourist neighborhood, the bars were meant for tourists once again.  We even had a couple of bars around us that were what we would call in the United States; dive bars.  

We learned what kind of Port we liked.  Yes, there are several.  We learned about the local beer, which was overwhelmingly Super Bock and came in many different brews.  We went to a wine tasting and tour in Villa Nova de Gaia which is a standard tourist thing to do.  But we did take our walking tour guide's recommendation on what wasn't a tourist trap rip off.  Always take the advice.  We were very happy we did.









Simply remember to include some more touristy stuff with your local experiences.  Just like in the markets.  You can buy fish and veggies and some fabulous cheeses, but you can also buy chocolate sardines, Nata, and drink a glass of Port while you shop.  Always have a mix of the two.


We visited a local church, just around the corner from our apartment.  It was free to go inside, because it wasn't on the tourist list.  It was covered in the iconic tiles and was gilded inside and was stunning.  But, it was not the tourist trap that the Igreja de Sao Francisco Cathedral in Ribeira was.  Because it was in the most touristy part of the city, they charged 10 Euros per person for entry.  Ribeira is where the tours go, and where the tourists congregate.  They have a busy McDonald's down there.  Just saying.  One of the main things I always do, and in Porto it was no different, is I spend very little time in the most touristy parts of the city.


We went to a Fado Performance at the Sao Bento Train Station.  It was touristy, but it was just a taste of the national music, and it was worth every penny.  I stand by that one.  Some things touristy are worth it.  We took a walking tour to get an idea of how things worked in the city, and I stand by that.  I learned a lot, and I'm glad I went.  The train station itself is ground zero in the city.  It's where you can take a train anywhere you want. It's a museum with the beautiful tiles in the entry area, which tell some historic stories of Portugal.  This is also where you can go to a Fado performance.  You also get your tourist passes for the metro and bus there.  The train station is a one stop shop if Porto's old town has one.  We went there a lot for many reasons.










Don't be a tourist when it comes to transportation.  There's a hop on hop off bus that goes around Porto.  There are also guided bus tours, tuk tuk tours, and a magic train that I don't truly understand.  That's more of a carnival ride.  Putting all that aside, you have to get around and the hills are steep.  I was advised, and after seeing Porto I understood not to rent a car and try to drive.  You'll get killed or at the very least wreck the car or get lost.


I've rarely been to a place that had more public transport options than Porto.  I've said it before, you can get a three day pass for all the buses and metros.  It's a great way to get around.  The 500 bus goes along the shore just like the tram and further out along the coast.  The 200 bus goes to the Jardins do Palacio de Cristal, which is a great park and that route ends at the Castelo do Queijo; a fabulous old fort along the shore.  The park is free, because it's a city park.  The fort cost us .50 Euro to go inside.  The beach and the shore are right there and free.  They are areas where the locals go.  Along the 500 bus route is the river with a lot of parks, beaches along the shore, and a lighthouse.  All free places to visit.  Save your money some days.  Go local.


Transportation can be part of the fun.  Porto has a Funicular next to the Luis I Bridge, and if you need to get up the hill, you can ride it to the top for 4 euros.  Great tourist attraction and public transit.  You can ride the old trams for 6 Euros and get a nostalgic trip.  There's an elevator that takes you up the cliff from Ribeira to the Porto Cathedral neighborhood which is free.  You just have to find it and figure it all out.  Great views of the river though.  The metro goes across the Luis I Bridge with amazing views of the river and inches away from the pedestrians.  Quite a trip.  We walked across to Gaia and took the Metro back to get a mix of experiences.  The cable car that takes you down to the wine tasting district will cost 7 Euros one way or 10 Euros round trip, but what a view.  I love cable cars and didn't want to miss that.  If you wish to have a great view from below; and it is great; take a water taxi.  They run back and forth most of the day and cost 3 Euros.


Once again, there are many ways to enjoy a location.  You don't have to spend a fortune every day to enjoy a place like Porto.  There are so many things to do and see that don't cost an arm and a leg that you'll never be bored.  So, get away from the obvious tourist traps and do a little local living in a place like Port, Portugal.  You won't regret it!


So, get a pass, take a walk, go to a park or a beach and enjoy!

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)