New York, Part One: High Line and Meatpacking District
Well, it looks as though we were extremely lucky with our trip to New York. Not long after we’d returned they suspended travel in and out of the US.
I hope everyone’s coping with these uncertain times. It’s definitely quieter here on Skye, and no doubt there’ll be a big impact on the tourist industry. Certainly we’ve seen the ugly side of things already in the form of panic buying - worrying when we’re so remote and don’t have access to the usual selection of supermarkets.
I don’t enjoy uncertainty. Will schools close? Will everyone be on lockdown? Will jobs be safe? Although, unusually for me, I’ve managed to remain fairly calm so far.
So - New York. It was fantastic, obviously, and the weather was kind. We covered so many miles on foot (and on the subway) and took hundreds of pictures. I’m putting three blog posts together to cover it all and to be honest, I’m aware that looking at other people’s holiday photos can be deathly boring. It’s all here to act as a kind of journal for myself if nothing else. But of course, you’re welcome to scroll through and see the city as we did.
The High Line was absolutely a highlight of our stay. Lots of art, views, a bit of nature (some still dormant after the winter, some bursting into life)… If you’d like to know the story behind it, take a look here.
I loved the buildings: the old and the new. And the new are just vast. You can’t capture the scale with a camera. It’s breathtaking.
And no, they don’t bend! I only took the one camera lens. The building on the lower left (below) was named ‘The Pinecone’ by Joe. It’s in Hudson Yards, a posh new development with lots of shiny glass and a very high end shopping mall. They did, however, have a Zara which is more my style (and budget).
The old dock buildings reminded me of Liverpool. You could look out across the water to Hoboken and Weehawken.
The Empire State Building was outside our hotel window (we stayed in the Chelsea District) and it was a good place to base ourselves. The High Line was maybe a ten minute walk from the front door.
We walked it on our first day in the city, and again on our last. It gets very busy at weekends with both tourists and locals enjoying the space and wildlife. There are lots of places to sit in the sun and read a book and drink a coffee (or a peach tea Snapple - Joe developed a bit of an addiction during our stay).
At the end of the line, you step off and into the Meatpacking District. It’s an extremely trendy area which has seen a lot of investment and is the epitome of gentrification. It’s also home to the Chelsea Market, a truly hipster destination for food and covetable treats. I didn’t get many pictures in there (maybe a few on my phone) but it’s very cool. They’ve retained the industrial character of the building and everything is just lovely to look at.
Favourite shops: Pearl River Mart (imported gifts and exciting things from China: kimonos, slippers, bags, toys, ceramics, lanterns…) and Posman Books (stationery - I love stationery). I also bought some earrings from Anthropologie…
And the food in New York is incredibly expensive. Astronomical, in fact. Everywhere. Apart from the street vendors, if you’re willing to take your chances (we didn’t). We tended to shop at the little local supermarkets and - in my case because I liked it - Whole Foods Market. I couldn’t believe the sheer variety of food in the shops; things I’d never heard of before. It was almost too much. You just stood there and stared until it all became slightly confusing. Overwhelming.
But a good overwhelming. Like New York itself.
I can honestly say I hadn’t slept as well, or as deeply, for years.
So there it is: Part One.
Please don’t feel obliged to return for Parts Two and Three; I’ll be back to the usual Skye goings-on very soon. But I do want to record this very special trip of a lifetime and I’m very grateful we managed it and that Joe got to experience such an amazing place.
In the meantime, keep safe. And in the words of that great man ;) Jerry Springer:
Take care of yourselves, and each other.
