Almanac Travel: Travel Shorts NYC #5 – The High Line and Greenwich Village

The High Line and Greenwich Village

 

2.30pm 26/8/14. Just a short break in transmission here folks whilst I sort this out. You see, I’ve just returned to Brooklyn after sitting in a café in East Village for four hours waiting for Mr Scorsese. It appears his absence was due to other commitments. I know he has been working on a new script for ‘Son of Taxi Driver’ and the number Riccardo gave me kept reaching Tino’s Pizzeria Harlem, so unfortunately it appears my dream of being a bohemian artist in NYC is over.

 

 Lynda was a tad more frank than that, saying that I had been duped by a wise guy and that I had ruined her entire life. She has subsequently resigned before commencing at Malcolm X Primary.

 

The following is an open letter to my boss Drew, my team and daughters.

 

I’d like to firstly apologise to Drew if he has interpreted any of my previous correspondence as being the truth. You know I’ve been on antibiotics for the tooth abscess prior to departing Melbourne and this has no doubt contributed to some somewhat radical thought processes.

 

From my perspective, as a Regional Manager at Campbell Arnotts you have no peer. For me to even consider being your equal (or above) is ludicrous and your decision making since I have been there has been first class. I look forward to our continued success together as one team with one message coming from you and another one from me.

 

I can’t wait to get back into the fray on 22/9 at our scheduled leadership team meeting. I will leave you with my favourite quote from Peter Cook:

 

“I have learned from my mistakes, and I’m sure I can repeat them exactly!”

 

To my team, I am yours to serve and only serve. The very thought of leaving you made me ill. You bring class and dignity to everything you do and it is my honour to be your humble servant.

 

To my wonderful daughters. The very thought of you being there and me being here, left me cold and empty. You are the wind beneath my wings and I have decided to grab you a few more trinkets such as Big Apple fridge magnets and Empire State key rings as compensation for any lost time we have encountered.

 

Normal transmission will resume shortly…once I get through this prescription of Amoxycillin and get more than 3 hours of consecutive sleep.

 

Unconditionally Yours

 

Willow and Dad

 

 

Tuesday  26/8/14 9am. Well it seems Brooklyn Willow has been put to bed so let’s get back to some more traditional travel writing shall we?

 

The weather has been amazingly hot (approx. 30+ degrees) and very humid. If you’re coming over, the subway platforms can get really hot so don’t run to get there or you will be a sweaty mess. Fortunately the carriages are air conditioned and every subway trip provides plenty of quality people watching and conversations that are going on around you that can be highly entertaining.

 

4pm. Geez it’s hot. Just returned to clean up before heading to Rock of Ages on Broadway. We got a surprise when we got to the pier on the Hudson expecting a bus. What we got was another ferry trip which was cool. This time we had the added bonus of a commentator on board, John, who was a native New Yorker, 55 and he fair dinkum was the Bruce McAvaney of New York insights without the guttural screams that Bruce provides. He was like a race caller and interesting facts and historical pointers were flying left right and centre! I learnt more in 90 mins than any Lonely Planet book. A wonderful experience floating south down the Hudson around to the East River and the Statue of Liberty. This cruise used a smaller boat which allowed it to get a lot closer to land. Highly recommended. Did you know the Holland Tunnel, which connects Jersey to Manhattan under the Hudson River was built along with its two huge exhaust fans on either side of the river, over seven years? It was completed in 1926. That number again, 1926. The Ring Road in Northern Melbourne started about 10 years ago and is still going.

 

We then headed to the High Line. This is a former disused railway line that runs from the midtown west of Manhattan and goes downtown for approx. two km or eighteen city blocks. The railway and land that came with it was bought off the railways by an enterprising artist and his mate, a writer for $1! They have transformed it into one of the best things you can do in the world for free! Imagine floating through the historical neighbourhoods of Chelsea and the Meatpackers District about 40ft in the air through beautifully landscaped pathways and benches all made from the finest timbers. An example of how New York continually surprises you. Extremely relaxing.

 

 

Finished off in the stunning Greenwich Village which is now a far cry from the days of Bob Dylan and the beat poets halcyon days in the 60s. Home to many rich and famous, it’s simply an oasis of peaceful tree lined apartments straight out of many movies we have all seen.

 

Anyway, nothing planned as yet for tomorrow which is a good thing. No need really. Just hop on the subway and take a chance in NYC. Need to do more of that back home. We recently went to the State Library in Melbourne which was beautiful because I hadn’t seen it before. There’s lots of pleasant surprises out there when you get off your backside.

 

 

To read more from Ian Wilson click here.

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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