Hello dear reader,
thank yu to a native of New York, Billy Joel for the title. We did walk down 52nd Street.
thank yu to a native of New York, Billy Joel for the title. We did walk down 52nd Street.
As a foreigner in America I am somewhat conflicted. I genuinely love the place, the people are beautiful, but in the post-shooting world of Umpqua, it makes me so angry that the spin doctors have the wheel. It is not possible to question gun ownership. Really? How about bullshit. It is time that the Constitution was questionned, you do not have the right to bear arms when so many people die because they have arms and shouldn't. Here's a thought, government is also about protecting the people from themselves. Clearly this is a society that needs protection and that protection is FROM guns and cannot be achieved WITH guns. How many more people need to die?
Every great empire through history eventually declined, America's fall will be through their own inability to confront their greatest problem, guns in the hands of those who shouldn't possess them.
Every great empire through history eventually declined, America's fall will be through their own inability to confront their greatest problem, guns in the hands of those who shouldn't possess them.
So ... anyway ...
The forecasters got it wrong - again. Who was suprised? As a teacher I'd like to be able to upgrade or downgrade my students' results at a moment's notice, or post event. It works for the weather people.
Fort Greene Flea Markets
We set forth this morning in very light drizzle. It was the usual walk to the subway, although we can choose several routes. This morning we chose the path that had the most shelter. All good, hit the subway - and, it wasn't sardine-style - major bonus after the last few trips.
The markets are a bit of a way from us and it required a change of trains after we travelled under the East River across to Brooklyn. It was nice to be on a train where we could sit down. Actually, it was good to be on a train where we could find a seat.
Sunlight. Well daylight. We came from undergound to the light and our view was a cemetery. It was quite large, but there was still plenty of space. Not far from our destination.
Above ground we peered around asking the usual questions. Jayne consulted one of the many maps she carried for just this situation. After, careful consideration she set off in the wrong direction as we discovered a block later. Turn around and back again. We carefully negotiated ourselves past the site of the markets. How is this possible? We walked past the best flea market in Brooklyn. A quick about face and a short walk brought us to the open gates of a Catholic school and their debris strewn playground. There we met several other people who were on the same quest. Then this American dude turns up and asks are we looking for the markets. "Yes", we all reply. "I'm the manager," says he, "and they should be here, but none of the stall holders have turned up after the rain and storm last night. It was pretty bad here at 7am when they would have been setting up."
OK then, back to the station, plan B. And what may that be you ask dear reader, shopping at Macy's!
Macy's
There commenced the search for Alycia's Green Bay Packer's jumper. Macy's has 9 floors, no customer assistance and minimal information available. We thought floor 4, women's sport gear might be the place - incorrect. We asked, yes I know, a shop assistant, "Try the basement." she said. So we did. There the assistant sent us to floors 4 and 8. Still no success. Someone else suggested floor 4 but men's wear in the Locker Room. YAY! Jumpers! Not what we were after. We then went to the Visitor Centre thinking this was for information about Macy's. Wrong. They were a NYC Visitors' Centre within Macy's. But they were helpful and suggested Mordell's - just across the road - it was a 'fan store' where you could buy all measure of supporter gear, but not a Packer's jumper in number 52.
At some point during this fruitless search I thought a new pair of 501s would be a good buy at $38, so I bought three. Even with alterations and the exchange rate they are still a bargain.
5th Avenue
It was then time to get to know NYC a little better and we walked down 5th Avenue looking for Tiffany's so I could get Kylie's present. Six floors of diamonds - the wow factor was everywhere. As were the tourists - I'm not sure how many sales they made, but you get champagne for the right sort of sale. Just thought you should know that Kylie, your present is in my bag.
Next door to Tiffany's is Trump Tower. It's all shiny black mirror glass and goes into the sky forever. What does it say about someone who builds a skyscraper and puts his name on it? What an ego and in terms of Freud, perhaps he's compensating for something else.
When we emerged from the shiny world of Tiffany's the rain had commenced again, a little heavier this time. It was time for home to dry off and rest our weary feet.
Fort Greene Flea Markets
We set forth this morning in very light drizzle. It was the usual walk to the subway, although we can choose several routes. This morning we chose the path that had the most shelter. All good, hit the subway - and, it wasn't sardine-style - major bonus after the last few trips.
The markets are a bit of a way from us and it required a change of trains after we travelled under the East River across to Brooklyn. It was nice to be on a train where we could sit down. Actually, it was good to be on a train where we could find a seat.
Sunlight. Well daylight. We came from undergound to the light and our view was a cemetery. It was quite large, but there was still plenty of space. Not far from our destination.
Above ground we peered around asking the usual questions. Jayne consulted one of the many maps she carried for just this situation. After, careful consideration she set off in the wrong direction as we discovered a block later. Turn around and back again. We carefully negotiated ourselves past the site of the markets. How is this possible? We walked past the best flea market in Brooklyn. A quick about face and a short walk brought us to the open gates of a Catholic school and their debris strewn playground. There we met several other people who were on the same quest. Then this American dude turns up and asks are we looking for the markets. "Yes", we all reply. "I'm the manager," says he, "and they should be here, but none of the stall holders have turned up after the rain and storm last night. It was pretty bad here at 7am when they would have been setting up."
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| The 'before' photo, wait till next week for the 'after' shot. |
Macy's
There commenced the search for Alycia's Green Bay Packer's jumper. Macy's has 9 floors, no customer assistance and minimal information available. We thought floor 4, women's sport gear might be the place - incorrect. We asked, yes I know, a shop assistant, "Try the basement." she said. So we did. There the assistant sent us to floors 4 and 8. Still no success. Someone else suggested floor 4 but men's wear in the Locker Room. YAY! Jumpers! Not what we were after. We then went to the Visitor Centre thinking this was for information about Macy's. Wrong. They were a NYC Visitors' Centre within Macy's. But they were helpful and suggested Mordell's - just across the road - it was a 'fan store' where you could buy all measure of supporter gear, but not a Packer's jumper in number 52.
 |
| The largest department store in the world |
 |
| Fashion Avenue - we've seen some interesting fashions. |
At some point during this fruitless search I thought a new pair of 501s would be a good buy at $38, so I bought three. Even with alterations and the exchange rate they are still a bargain.
5th Avenue
It was then time to get to know NYC a little better and we walked down 5th Avenue looking for Tiffany's so I could get Kylie's present. Six floors of diamonds - the wow factor was everywhere. As were the tourists - I'm not sure how many sales they made, but you get champagne for the right sort of sale. Just thought you should know that Kylie, your present is in my bag.
 |
 |
| Audrey was nowhere in sight |
Next door to Tiffany's is Trump Tower. It's all shiny black mirror glass and goes into the sky forever. What does it say about someone who builds a skyscraper and puts his name on it? What an ego and in terms of Freud, perhaps he's compensating for something else.
 |
| Who is over-compensating with this phallic symbol? |
When we emerged from the shiny world of Tiffany's the rain had commenced again, a little heavier this time. It was time for home to dry off and rest our weary feet.
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