My Week With New York
by Lena
I really do love NY!
New York greeted me with so much life!
Rainbow of colors ~ Priceless Art, grand architecture, talented Artists of Broadway, delicious cuisine, mysterious Jazz bars, parks, lakes, history and character!
Have lived in US for 9 years , but never visited NYC until now.
I knew deep down that it would be very hard to live in Los Angeles if I’m ever tempted to taste The Big Apple.
I was right…
I’m a city gal, after all, who also happens to be a night owl.
That’s why I felt very much at home in New York ~ Moscow has a very similar energy and just like NY, it never sleeps!
Los Angeles is too spread out and it’s not really a city, it’s more like a giant suburb.
Although they call it the “Entertainment Capital of the world”… it only has entertainment until 1:30 am and they stop serving food at 10 – 11 pm.
Los Angeles should be renamed to “Welcome to Industrial Capital of California, press 1 for English”
Yes, the weather is warm ( for the most part ) in California, Mountains and The beach are great, but for someone who loves to walk as much as I do, LA can be a nightmare!
I have yet to see a sign like this one in Los Angeles .. everyone is too busy walking on their step machines inside sweaty and overpriced gyms ( to which they drove to from around the corner )
Lower Manhattan.
LA was build for cars, not people. New York, on the other hand, is the other way around.
Since I don’t want to drive, cities like NY were made for people like me.
Hopefully, sometime in the near future, I’ll be able to spend time in both – In the breathtaking nature of California and in Art, culture, nightlife and walk friendly city, like New York.
5th Avenue
I loved the fact that when it’s lunch time in NYC, people come out of their offices into parks and share food with their friends and co-workers.
Bryant Park
” Love Boat ” Central Park.
“The Metronome” by Kristen Jones and Andrew Ginzel in Union Square. It has a secret…
Symbol of Capitalism ~ “Double Check” statue in Liberty Park.
I felt that in New York, you have a more personal connection with the world around you;
Be it while taking a Tango class outside, in Union Square or having a chat with a total stranger in a coffee shop…
Coffee Legend
Sharing your opinion with yet another stranger, on that “weird Art piece”
at The Museum Of Modern Art …
Michelangelo Pistoletto’s “Man With Yellow Pants” is staring into a mirror… I decided to focus on his face…
I want to see our world as a place where all people & religions stand as ONE …
One of my favorite Art pieces in MOMA is the “Totem for All Religions” 1947. Wood and rope. by Frederick Kiesler.
In New York they don’t just talk the walk, they walk the talk too …
Museum Of Modern Art
You might also find yourself in someone else’s story, while waiting for that green light …
However if you’re a true New Yorker, you don’t discriminate when it comes to colors and cross the street when you feel like it.
And the most important thing about New York, is the fact that the whole energy of this magnificent City is not manufactured and then awkwardly glued together for some sort of display of ones vanity.
door detail of New York’s Public Library
Instead, it was naturally integrated into the proud and sophisticated craftsmanship of the buildings and passionate hearts of New Yorkers,
for almost 400 years…
The New York Public Library
Traveler’s favorite book is …
Grand Central Terminal
” I paid my Taxes ” sticker next to a New York businessman.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral & Atlas Statue
The Big Apple
Tiffany & Co. display on 5th Avenue.
high-end shops of 5th Avenue
Rockefeller Center
Masonic Hall
A very loud sadness and despair still hangs thick over the memorial for September 11 victims. That day has left an abyss in so many hearts and souls…
World Trade Center Memorial
And yet, you can always sense hope & compassion
The Gardens of Remembrance
I would like to dedicate this poem, to anyone who has ever lost their loved one…
~
” WINGS OF PEACE “
Fly away, be free!
Find peace, taste the air of freedom and warm us with the morning sun! Kiss me goodnight with the moonlight on my wet cheeks.
When I’m falling, lend me one of your wings, so my soul won’t crash into pieces, that nobody wants anymore.
You will be flying amongst the strongest winds and swimming with the most powerful and brutal waves…
You won’t feel no pain, no sorrow, No blood or tears, No scars or fears.
When I’m lonely and scared, I ask you to lie down next to me and warm my cold hands with your loving breath.
If I give up, crashed by reality and forced onto the ground, shaking and bleeding — you just come and take me in your arms, healing me with your angelic whisper.
It will echo through my whole body, which will heal my heart and I’ll be saved.
At times when I’m happy and everything is good, still walk with me — taste my laughter, and my happiness. When it’s time for me to go — I’ll go…
Somewhere, beyond this time and my imagination, I’ll be given those wings of peace.
I promise we will fly again! Side by side, into freedom and happiness!
So when it’s time for me to go,
I’ll go …
© Elena Levon 2004
~
Heading to NYC from Staten Island
My favorite place in New York is The Metropolitan Museum Of Art
didn’t want to leave this room..
Meet Me at the MET ..
I went back to MET to soak up some Art for a few hours before my departure to Los Angeles
Cleopatra
Nessus Abducting Deianira
One of the four elements of life ~ FIRE
Bust of woman. Roman mosaic artwork of the Imperial era.
” Student “
this probably would be my favorite room in the house ..
Medieval Italian wall fountain, MET.
it’s a shooting star…
I wish …
____________________
WARNING
The following to be avoided at all costs ~
NEO SUSHI STUDIO NEW YORK
( Review coming soon )
___________________
The woman behind the words …
↓
PS – I want to thank all of my readers for all of your support and kind comments on my “The Pursuit of Happiness” post!
Thank you for all of your love and encouragement! I’m a very lucky gal to have all of you in my life! All my love to you and yours,
EL xo
Long time, no see…..Love your posts & photography! Thank you!
Lovely pictures! So glad you enjoyed NYC. 🙂
love the pictures. i also am in love with this wonderful city. so glad you had a chance to enjoy it. 🙂
Thank you! You made me fall a little more in love with my city.
now that’s a real compliment : )
New York is one of my favorite places! I have been several times, but have been going through withdrawal since It’s been 3 years! My husband used to own a toy and school supply business and he went to Toy Fair every year. I went every other. After he sold it we have been only twice!
Thanks for the photo journey. I needed the escape!
I love NY too for many of the same reasons. Well put with great photos, words and narration.
beautiful photos – at first, I thought I didn’t like New York – but I fell in love with charm and diversity – I go once a month now! 🙂 Looking at these pictures reminds me I need to go back soon.
I can see you truly fell in love with New York! Outstanding photos – thank you for sharing your view of the city.
I really loved your post! I work in NYC and after reading your post I saw NYC from a different perspective! Amazing pictures as well! Glad you had an awesome trip! Also made me want to go to MOMA again!
I enjoyed your post, and now I definitely want to visit NYC someday. I actually have been there once, one winter night in ’95, to see a hockey game with New Jersey relatives we were visiting for Christmas. But we had just flown cross country and I was exhausted and it was dark; I hardly remember it at all.
I lived in Los Angeles county for 5 years, ’95-’00, so I know what you mean about it being built for cars. There are some walkable places there, however, like the city where we lived, Glendale.
Thank you for the virtual visit to NYC!
What a lovely tour. NYC is such a magical place.
You found the beauty in the big city! I love to visit it but I don’t think I could live there. This way it always remains a special trip for us.. a quick getaway!
agree, living in a place and visiting a place is very different. Not sure I would like the coldest of the NY days… but then again, I can always hide in the MET museum or in some cozy place with fireplace to keep me warm : ) there must be more positives about the city then negatives to be happy living in it..
I love New York too, and your photos are gorgeous!
like – where is your like button
i left it in my deleted facebook account
: ) Elena : )
You just brought me back in time when I used to lived in the Big Apple..
If you still in NYC you possibly bump into my twin.. : )
Thank you so much for your post.. You just made my day..
I just KNOW I will love New York. Your beautiful post underscores my belief. Thanks Elena
Love your photo’s. I’ll be going to NY in September. This post just made me more excited about it, thank you!
amazing photos
I don’t want to drive either Elena! I love your way of seeing the world. Janine xx
Wonderful photos Elena. Will be there next month to watch my daughter, a 12-year NYC resident, perform in a play at the NY Fringe Festival. I taking this post with me!
I’m sure she’ll shine.. you must be a very proud dad : )
Have a wonderful time!
Loved the photos and your writing style is captivating.
Wonderful photos & great post!
Beautiful pictures and their presentations with commentary.
Hi Elena, thanks for the fine photos!
I don’t drive either.
I have not been to the USA (well, just five minutes in its territorial waters on the ferry from Vancouver island to Vancouver 🙂 ).
I was surprised to see that small towns in Canada were car-centred and there were hardly sidewalks for pedestrians.
great shots of a buzzing city! Makes me want to visit, too, even more! 🙂
I visited New York in February after wanting to visit for years! It exceeded all expectations. Though a country girl at heart I could honestly say I was devastated to leave. Can not wait to get back there. Loved the pictures
What a stunning report on NYC – haven’t been but virtually everywhere you went is on the wish list. Now you have to find a way to share your time between the two cities.
Congrats on the citizenship by the way – not easy to come by and well earned.
Thank you!! Yes, hopefully I’ll be able to do that.. but then again, i need to be in constant movement.. even if I to live in the best place in the world.. the need to move and travel still there..
Wonderful pictures Elena. Have you considered becoming a tour guide 🙂 ?
Thank you!
that work is not for someone like me… don’t like routine much
Stick to the virtual guides then, you do a wonderful job at those !
Your photos and commentary make me feel as though I have just had a guided tour of New York armchair style. Much thanks, Elena!
Love, Annie
Terrific photos! Though I’m near NYC and there a lot, it’s nice to see it appreciated by someone else. I hope you get to return often. I was in LA once and hated it.
yes, LA is not an easy place to be in
You use great angles on those photos. Even your photos of common tourist sites look different, your style is really your own.
Thank you very much!