Goodbye rural America -- Hello Big Apple

It was hard for me to leave my new found (actually long lost) family in Sparta but I only had 4 days left on the east coast, and I was looking forward to getting reacquainted with my cousin Marilyn who I have not seen for 50 years. So it was off to Jersey City via the Newark Airport where I dropped off my rental car. One thing I love about my city dwelling friends (or most of them) is that I can use public transit to get to them and to get around. I wish we had those options in Idaho, but I guess you need a city bigger than Sandpoint to warrant a mass transit system.

I have heard the term "brownstone" but really had no idea what it was.  For other city neophytes I will explain, and maybe one of my kind readers who knows more than me can fill me in on what I am missing or getting wrong.  I think a brownstone is referring to the type of brick that is used for these buildings.
They also seem to follow the rule that they sit side by side and they are all 3 story buildings (4 story actually, counting the basement which is usually occupied. Marilyn and Eric's has gone through several changes over the years, but it is very roomy and extremely comfortable. High ceilings, the second and third floors had two large bedrooms each, actually the top level had Eric and Marilyn's bedroom and an awesome art studio overlooking the street.


The first thing Marilyn showed me was their garden in the back, and it was way more prolific than the huge garden space I am beginning to develop in Idaho.
This is not their garden, I did not get a picture of that, this is a park a few blocks away with an awesome rose garden.

 Liberty Park in New Jersey

We took a walk to Liberty Park, I think you can guess how it got it's name. Great views of the NYC skyline including the new Freedom Tower right across the Hudson River.

 I loved the marina most however.

Ken's Marine Service 

One of the best marinas for the sailing community.  head out of the harbor, turn right and you are in the Atlantic

 I did not see any houseboats, but there are lot's of people living on their sailboats here. Ironically, I thought to rent a berth big enough for the Bountiful it would be way more expensive than Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho, but I was wrong. One of the workers at the marina told me I could get a berth and live within spitting distance of New York City for $5k a year.  I don't think I would survive the voyage, so I think I will remain the gypsy on Lake Pend Oreille.

Below a few more pictures from Liberty Park

Ellis Island 

My grandmother's father landed here.

Lady Liberty's Backside

My Cousin Marilyn

My gracious guide for the day in the City

It was a windy day, she probably won't forgive me for publishing this photo.

Last but not least --  What the heck is this???

Not sure what it is.  A float for a parade?  I would love to hear the story behind it.

NYC city was awesome! Marilyn was the perfect tour guide we went to the Museum of Modern Art which was way cool but I think the highlight for me was just people and building watching. One big surprise for me was after coming out of the Subway in Manhattan the first business I recognized (beside McDonalds) was a Home Depot right in the middle of the City. There was nobody walking out the door with 2X4's over their shoulder and hailing a taxi, then again there's not too much new construction in Manhattan that is "owner built".

I took a bunch of pictures at Moma (The Museum of Modern Art) but I used the camera they provided which is very cool.  After you leave, they send an e-mail with all the places you visited along with the audio explanations. Check out the link below if you are interested in this cool system:  http://www.moma.org/path/ken's day at Moma

Stumbled upon this and had to stop to add our wishes

We had a cup of coffee and then took a walk on the High Line

(Pictured in the background, and below)

 It's a very cool park that used to be an elevated freight railway, local conservation groups saved it from demolition and created a cool park running through Manhattan.

They are building skyscrapers all around it but it's cool that this space was preserved for the public.

From Elevated to Subterranean, a few subway shots.

A year ago much of the system was shut down due to flooding from Superstorm Sandy.

 Again, glad to have my awesome guide Marilyn, it's not hard to get lost below the city.
But we didn't get on one wrong train.

Below some street scene shots

Walking in NYC has a different flavor that any City I have been in. When you are at a corner waiting to get across, red lights don't mean much, but most folks crowd all the way out into the street to wait for the first opportunity to get across.  I felt like if I was not careful someone might nudge me out into the path of a bus. Really, people were quite courteous, just seemed to be in a hurry

New York New York!!  Oh what a town!

The Post office and the Library

Both done in New York City style! 

They wouldn't allow one of these outside of the Sandpoint Library

Inside of the Library

 Normally you have to go to church to see architecture like this.

Hurray for Librarys!

 Time to head back to Jersey City

Here's a landmark even more famous than Home Depot

I got close to Times Square, and a zillion other famous "Big Apple places but I didn't get pictures of those landmarks)

IN CLOSING A SHOT OF ONE OF MY NEW YORK CITY 4 LEGGED BUDDIES

Next stop San Luis Obispo, via Berkeley

Upstate New York to New Jersey

I left Little Falls late in the Morning Friday, for the first time in my life I decided that I would count on the GPS on my phone to get me from point A to Point B. Looking at the map I had two choices take the Interstate to the East, go through a bunch of big cities and get there quicker, or go west a ways and zig zag my way down the state coming into Sparta from the North. Of course I chose the scenic route!
Well, my phone died about ten minutes out of town, the charger actually was what died.  I got to see the scenery all right, and talk with lot's of folks along the way, one nice guy even printed out turn by turn instructions to Sparta that worked fine -- for about two turns. I got to see a lot of great country and it only took me about 3 hours longer than I expected.

 So Long to Sally and Susan

 On the road.

Folks said it was not a great Autumn as far a the colors went.

The colors were awesome as far as I was concerned

 I knew I was getting close to New Jersey when I saw this sign.

 This sign meant nothing to me, except that the Andes I know are in South America,

and if it said "Marguritaville" I would have made a side trip there.

And drank a toast to Jimmy Buffet

Lake Mohawk, Sparta N.J. 

This was actually my initial destination, my Uncle Wally passed on last year and I missed his memorial, and this was a "better late than never" appearance. It was a roundabout way of getting here but it was great connecting with my Cousin Don and his family (never had met Rachel and Charlotte and Ashton).
My Aunt Ruth I used to see every year or two, but I think it's been more than five since we crossed paths.

 Again the weather cooperated in a grand manner, we went on a Saturday outing to a Pumpkin festival and rode a haywagon out to the pumpkin patch. Little Ashton (on the left) is a dynamo, wish I could harness his energy.

 Charlotte too was a bundle of energy, I think these are the only two pictures I got of her where she was not running or jumping. Beautiful kids!

  Snuggling with Grandma on the hay ride.

 Sunday lunch with the Vorecks

Rachel, Ashton and Don in the back, Charlotte, Marilyn, Aunt Ruth and Paula in front

 More Autumn landscapes

 Three generations, Paula Marilyn and Ruth -  See any resemblance?

 We took a nice Sunday drive to a park that Paula used to work at. Great views a challenging hike for Aunt Ruth, but really only because she had the wrong shoes on. She laughed all the way!

 One last little walk with Aunt Ruth before I say goodbye to

Mohawk Lake and Sparta New Jersey

But first a little more Family memorabilia

Above, a song featuring my dad's family.

They used to sing it every New Years, and cook a big ham.

Below, my Dad and Greta his mom and friends. Greta is standing in the back

This little cutie is my Grandpa and his Dad Philo

So long Ruth and Sparta, off to the Big Apple,

New Jersey actually where my cousin Marilyn lives.

One last shot of Paula -  gotta love this one!

I am in Berkeley at the moment, still behind on this photo journaling, but having fun! I will close this for now, but expect to see the New York City/ New Jersey edition soon. Working my way South to my Niece Jessica's wedding next weekend.  

Yahoo!