New York

[vaneramos]

There was good, and there was bad.

Good was my air fare. Good was seeing a performance of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera House. Remarkably good was the selection of inexpensive restaurants in the neighbourhood of East 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue near our hotel. Awe-inspiring was The Cloisters, a branch of Metropolitan Museum of Art (see pictures below). Wonderful was flying, because I don't experience vertigo in a plane, and can enjoy looking down at the tiny, perfect skyscrapers and ribbons of highway, mattresses of cloud, everything seeming so peaceful. Especially good was spending time with wonderboyny. Best of all was spending four days doing it all with djjo.

Disappointing was missing avad and trapezebear. Bad was the cost of our room at the Marcel Hotel. Bad were the cleaning staff, who brought new toilet paper a day late, and didn't replace our dirty glasses until the last night. Bad was the belching toilet that invariably shot dirty water onto the floor.

Bad was I, for not pacing myself better on city sidewalks, hurrying from one train to another, and navigating too many museum exhibits. Bad was the lack of foot room at the opera house. Excruciating was the ache in my hip, turned to shooting pain down the entire leg, which I took for arthritis but may have been sciatica, and forced me to buy a cane.

I love travelling, and have endless curiosity and energy for new adventures, but need to be more mindful of how I tackle them. Home yesterday and back to work today, I am thankfully out of pain again. I'll take it as a kind warning.

Still, the good won by a landslide.

I've included photos of several rooms at the Cloisters, an illuminated page from an ancient Bible, and a rosary bead. This bead contains tiny carvings of Biblical scenes. Closed, it would be midway between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball. I'll post a few more pictures along different lines through the week.

Comments

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

Yay for your good time. Here is where I stayed in New York last time:
http://www.carltonarms.com/

The price is amazing, the location is good and the accommodations were just fine especially for the low cost. Each room is distinctive, decorated by a different local artist.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Excellent! (because we want to return.)

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

You were so close, yet so far...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It certainly won't be our last visit.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I hope you have the opportunity some day, Gary. Even to the non-religious (such as me), it provides a profound experience.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It was not the sort of thing I expected to experience in New York City. It is one of my favourites, too.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Beautiful location Van. {{{hugs}}} thanks

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I most enjoyed the different qualities of natural light about the place.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

What lovely pictures! (and boo to the hotel staff)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Boo indeed, and for what we paid!

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love the Cloisters.

Next time, you might consider a swerve toward Boston. Just saying.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It is on my list of interesting places to visit.

[avad.livejournal.com]

so close and so far echoed here with me.:(
we WILL meet next time. or I up there! (I've been threatening that one for a while...but it's bound to happen ONe day!)
ps...that bead is amAzing!!
*hugs*

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm sure we will. Danny and I want to visit New York again. We never made it to the bookstore you recommended, because that was the day my leg pain hit and we had to curtail our activities. It might have been bad news if we had tried to meet you that afternoon.

Have you visited the Cloisters? It is one of the best museums I've encountered.