Ground Zero
So I stayed for the first three nights in Hell's Kitchen.
55th Street New York.
It's got an atmosphere alright but it was kinda eerily reminiscent of Dublin. Probably because there are so many Irish there and every bar would appear to be an Irish one.
It was goddamn hot too just like Toronto.
So took in Times Square and did the whole Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island deal. That, in tandem with the deafening bus tour that I took firmly established my tourist credentials.
In between all of that, I made a brief stop off at the United Nations to shake hands with the devil.
We were conducted into the Security Council chamber and I got to see live and large, the table around which many a human life has been bartered away by diplomats. This was exactly where troops for Somalia were withdrawn and where plans for effective peacekeeping in Rwanda were fudged.
My bleeding heart liberal companions who made up the tour obviously didn't have much of a clue of what goes on in the UN but felt strongly enough about world politics to interrogate the hapless chinese guide who was full of smiles and naive hope for the future.
"It makes me sad of my heart to think of these things."
Quite.
So after quite some time in Magee's and Hell's Kitchen I moved on up on my final night to see how the other half lives.
And crikey, do they live!
Millenium Hilton, 4 stars and overlooking Ground Zero from the 27th floor. Right bang beside the newly reconstructed building no. 7, an amazing view indeed and it afforded me an opportunity to take in the site at my leisure.
It started raining in New York 2 days before I left. It rained so hard it managed to shut down the subway.
In between showers on my final night I picked my way to CBGB's.
Blondie, Television, The Ramones all got their start here along with countless others.
And it's a cool place and the two bands I saw were vaguely rocking even if the lead singers were nothing but Robert Plant impersonators.
I skipped out early again though in order to fully enjoy my 4 star experience.
And I did.
It was a mere six hour flight to return to the auld sod in the morning and as the plane taxied for 40 minutes at JFK I bid farewell to the Americas.
And we punched the sky for the final time.
Around the world in 124 days.
55th Street New York.
It's got an atmosphere alright but it was kinda eerily reminiscent of Dublin. Probably because there are so many Irish there and every bar would appear to be an Irish one.
It was goddamn hot too just like Toronto.
So took in Times Square and did the whole Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island deal. That, in tandem with the deafening bus tour that I took firmly established my tourist credentials.
In between all of that, I made a brief stop off at the United Nations to shake hands with the devil.
We were conducted into the Security Council chamber and I got to see live and large, the table around which many a human life has been bartered away by diplomats. This was exactly where troops for Somalia were withdrawn and where plans for effective peacekeeping in Rwanda were fudged.
My bleeding heart liberal companions who made up the tour obviously didn't have much of a clue of what goes on in the UN but felt strongly enough about world politics to interrogate the hapless chinese guide who was full of smiles and naive hope for the future.
"It makes me sad of my heart to think of these things."
Quite.
So after quite some time in Magee's and Hell's Kitchen I moved on up on my final night to see how the other half lives.
And crikey, do they live!
Millenium Hilton, 4 stars and overlooking Ground Zero from the 27th floor. Right bang beside the newly reconstructed building no. 7, an amazing view indeed and it afforded me an opportunity to take in the site at my leisure.
It started raining in New York 2 days before I left. It rained so hard it managed to shut down the subway.
In between showers on my final night I picked my way to CBGB's.
Blondie, Television, The Ramones all got their start here along with countless others.
And it's a cool place and the two bands I saw were vaguely rocking even if the lead singers were nothing but Robert Plant impersonators.
I skipped out early again though in order to fully enjoy my 4 star experience.
And I did.
It was a mere six hour flight to return to the auld sod in the morning and as the plane taxied for 40 minutes at JFK I bid farewell to the Americas.
And we punched the sky for the final time.
Around the world in 124 days.
posted by Christophe at 4:21 a.m.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home