Day: September 18, 2016

So sorry if you think it is obnoxious for me to post from the airplane but I just love playing with technology.  Try to remember that I am old enough to remember party lines (it was a telephone thing), black and white TV, rotary dial phones, etc., etc., etc.  So if I like to indulge myself a bit please cut me some slack.

The wedding was wonderful as I previously posted and today is get-away day.  Of course we couldn’t leave town without one more taste of the “City That Never Sleeps”.  This morning we headed uptown to have breakfast at the Barney Greengrass delicatessen.  This is one of those city icons that serves quality, but overpriced, food in an overcrowded sitting area as the waiters yell at the customers almost as much as they yell at each other.  When we arrived there was a 20 minute wait for a table but we got lucky to find 2 seats at the counter (which only seats 4).  It was obvious we were seated next to some locals so I asked for their recommendations.  After we decided on sharing the Sturgeon Sandwich and Eggs and Onions with Nova Scotia Salmon our conversation progressed and it turns out that the guy attended USC.  Imagine that, 2,500 miles from home and I find a New Yorker (yes a native) who went to USC.  After breakfast it was time to head for JFK.

So as I relax here on our flight home thoughts and questions float through my mind about the Big Apple.  For example why do they ask people not to stand but keep moving.

So this had me confused but then I saw this:

One thing we learned quickly is that the subway is much better than the taxicabs.  Here is a picture taken from a street near our hotel.

Five minutes later here was the view from the same spot.

The other thing I don’t understand is how anyone can afford a car in this town.  Our hotel charges $90 per day for car parking (yes $90, not a misprint).    Of course you can find some cheaper places to park like this.

And hopefully you don’t need your car in a hurry because this is where they are keeping it.

One other question, why does Sephora cosmetics needs these guys?

I asked a New Yorker why Sephora would need police with assault rifles protecting the store.  He said possibly because it is an Israeli company.  That made a lot sense except Sephora is from France.

Just a couple of more questions.

 

And finally, I still don’t have the answer that I previous asked: Why do people keep putting chewing gum in urinals (saw it twice on this trip)?  But it is good to see that I am not the only person who is upset by this activity (see below).

Today was the big day.   Gary’s son, Kevin, was to be married to Jenya.  To the best of my recollection I’ve never met Kevin and I know for sure this is the first time meeting Jenya.  Gary is a good friend and after all who needs an excuse to go to New York.

Prior the the wedding we planned to get an early start and head downtown to the One World Observatory. At about 11:30 we finally got our act together.  The attraction was not cheap ($37 for adults $35 for seniors) but the long line to get in played to our advantage.  It gave Patrice time to get tickets on Tripadvisor and save us $5 each.  Not a huge savings but if we had done this in advance we would have not needed to wait on the long line.

Although overpriced the Observatory was definitely enjoyable.  There were a variety of videos and visual effects leading up to the big moment at the viewing deck.  At the top you get a 360 degree view of New York City (you can see also New Jersey).

Next it was off to the wedding.  The ceremony was in a park located very close to the United Nations.  It was a lovely venue.  They had a cellist and violinist playing.  The brother and sister of the groom officiated at the wedding and friends read a tribute and poetry.  Then the bride and groom read their vows to each other.  Like I said I hardly know the two but I was teary eyed.

In addition to the guests the wedding was also observed by the park’s pigeons.  Unfortunately these were not the type of pigeons who hang out on the park grounds looking for food scraps.  No these were the type of pigeons that hang out in the trees and deposit their feces below.  They managed to hit at least 6 of the  wedding guests including Patrice (her phone and dress) and me (major attack on my right arm).

We then were bussed to the reception at a nearby restaurant.  Upon arrival we received our table assignments.  Patrice and I had separate cards because the groom had written personal notes to each of us on the cards.  I saw his father read his card and it brought the relatively stoic Gary to tears.  This is one special kid.  We had a great time at their wedding and wish them many happy years to come.  I had planned to write some sarcastic wedding and marriage comments today but this wedding was much too special for me to do that.