New York, New York

Did I say “Paris, forever Paris” down there? As predictably as ever, I have (temporarily?) switched my allegiance to New York after spending the two most amazing weeks there. Here is a kinda short travelogue. No, it really will be short. Ish.

So first I went to Montreal where I met Ange. This was my first time in Canada. Montreal is pretty cute, I liked the many things they had going on, street festivals, music, stuff like that. Also the area we were staying was lovely. Their cathedral is also seriously beautiful! And lots of great street art. Also the fact that they speak French is so weird. French! In North America! I did some cycling there as well once Ange had left. I like cycling. 🙂 Then there were thunderstorms and I was stuck there for an extra day, which meant I didn’t make it to Philly to meet Jimmy’s mom and see the Barnes Collection. 🙁 But I did get to see St Jean, the Quebec National Holiday, which was pretty cute.

But then I made it to New York! And it was awesome! Let me count the ways in which it was awesome (links in the bullet points will be to corresponding Instagram pics):

• The weather was mostly awesome, except one day where it rained and was cold. But oh, the heat!
• The cycling is just awesome. Nothing makes me happier than cycling in NYC traffic. Okay, maybe Placebo concerts, but they don’t last as long.
• The people were mostly awesome. Even the grumpy ones.
• Gay marriage SCOTUS ruling made it a big awesome celebratory occasion.
• I was staying in an awesome place just off the Williamsburg Bridge.
• New York is just so incredible. I kept trying to understand / put into words why I love it so much, but I don’t think it’s rationally explainable. Like being in love. I love the messy bits and the annoying bits just as much as the glorious bits and the beautiful bits. Just the New-York-ness of it all. Wonderful.

So those were some of the reasons it was an amazing trip. Let me now list some of the things I did. Probably not all cuz I’ll have forgotten some.

• I went on the new World Trade Center.
• I walked (most of) the Pride Parade.
• I cycled to Coney Island and Brighton Beach.
• I met Kal and Nick!
• I had dinner at Lady Gaga’s family’s restaurant (and got rainbow cake).
• I went to the new Whitney.
• I went to the very cute City Reliquary Museum.
• I tried about three times to go to the Mmuseumm but it was never open. Not even when it was meant to be.
• I went to Green-Wood Cemetery.
• I went to St John the Divine.
• I went to Roosevelt Island.
• I cycled to Fernwood Cemetery to see Malcolm X’s grave.
• I did my now traditional (lol) Five Boroughs Challenge.
• I went to DUMBO to see Tom Fruin’s water tower and glass house.
• I had a pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen.
• I did a hard hat tour of the closed off areas of Ellis Island.
• I read at the NYPL Outdoor Reading Room.
• I watched 4th of July Fireworks.
• I had lunch with Vlad at the WFC food court and he took me on a mini tour of the financial district which is much changed.
• I went to Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg and bought bike things.

And mostly I just cycled aaaaaaall over. All over Manhattan and many parts of (gentrified *cough*) Brooklyn, and in the parks and along the rivers and it was glooooorious, the best the best the best. 850km altogether I think (tho that includes Montreal). Really really great. And next year I’m gonna do it all over again. If I can find someone to look after my cat. :))

PS. posting pictures to Instagram is kinda shit cuz now I can’t just link to an album. So here are a few random ones in addition to the ones linked above:

• Street art: one | two | three | four | five.
• Awesome view from the plane.
• Sunset from DUMBO.
• Eldridge Street and Mott Street (Chinatown).
• Rainbow Empire State Building.
• Sunset with bike.
• Leaving Brooklyn. Oy Vey.