Friday morning, I took the subway to 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, shopped at the original Macy's, and then met our wonderful old friends Cesar and Daisy
(who trained down from Connecticut) for a long walk and lunch. The plan was to walk The High Line, a new park opened in 2009.
Per the official website
(click here), The High Line is an elevated freight rail line transformed into a free, public park on Manhattan's Westside. It runs from the Meatpacking District (around West 14th Street) all the way to West 34th Street. In New York, 20 city blocks equals 1 mile (1.6 km). Given that The High Line meanders here and there between 10th and 12th Avenues, the elevated park runs for more than 1 mile.
I have more to share from my day in "The City." It was all exhilarating. But the best part was simply spending time with Cesar and Daisy, and being reminded of how lucky we are to have such incredible friends in our lives.
(
"Metropolize" any image by clicking on it).
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| LOOKING BACK TOWARD 34TH STREET AFTER ENTERING THE HIGH LINE. |
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PENN STATION IS BEYOND ALL THOSE TRAIN CARS.
HISTORIC PENN STATION WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1963. |
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| DAISY WAITING FOR ME TO CATCH UP. |
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ANOTHER VIEW OF THE TRAINS.
A NEW GRAND PENN STATION IS ANTICIPATED IN 10+ YEARS. |
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| THE OLD RAILS TURNED INTO A FOOTPATH. |
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| OUR FRIENDS FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS (SINCE PRE-SCHOOL... UM.. MAYBE NOT). |
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| LOCAL ARTISTS FEATURED ALONG THE WAY. |
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| I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE PARTS OF THE CITY ANYMORE. |
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| A MIX OF THE OLD AND NEW... AND ART. |
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| A NOOK. |
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| OLD NEW YORK. |
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| ANOTHER VIEW. |
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| A GRAND OLD NEW YORK BUILDING FRAMED BY THE NEW. |
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| RUSTY RAILWAY ART AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE. |
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| I LOVED THIS BUILDING... |
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| ...AND THE DOG WATCHING THE TRAFFIC DOWN BELOW. |
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| ART FRONTING MORE OF THE NEW ... AND THE OLD. |
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ACCESSIBLE AT INTERVALS ONLY FROM THE STREET BELOW,
AND FLANKED BY OLD AND MOSTLY NEW CONSTRUCTION. |
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A BIT OF A TRAFFIC JAM...
AND THIS WAS A CHILLY, OVERCAST DAY. |
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MORE ART... I THINK. A SET OF EXIT STAIRS TO THE
STREET AT RIGHT (YOU HAVE TO GO UP TO GO DOWN). |
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| A NEW AND EVER-CHANGING SKYLINE. |
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| BUT I KNOW THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING! |
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| MAYBE A 5-BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR $20-MILLION... PLUS? |
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| A NEWLY THRIVING 10TH AVENUE DOWN BELOW. |
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| A BIT SURREAL. |
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| NEARING WEST 14TH STREET... |
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| ... AN OUTDOOR CAFE. |
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| LOOKING BACK AT THE CAFE. |
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| ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER TO HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY. |
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| AND MAYBE A REST ON A CHAISE LOUNGE. |
Thank you. I feel like I have almost walked the Highline myself.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteThanks! I was worried my photos wouldn't show enough to give you a sense of it. It is really wonderful.
I love when you bring New York to us! I'm so happy for you to be having a great visit. :)
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteThanks! Lots more to come.
Fascinating! When I was on sabbatical in Rhode Island twenty years ago and studied at Brown, there was a thirteen-mile stretch of old railroad track converted into a walking/biking path. It went from East Providence to Bristol. It was not urban or elevated, of course, but passed through small towns, along ponds and bay, through parks. I walked it often and loved it. The last week I was there I walked the entire length one day with a friend.
ReplyDeleteBTW, when I first drafted this, I said it had been ten years ago. Where do the decades go?
Michael:
DeleteI;ve heard of that walking/biking path; it must be beautiful. Regarding, 10 or 20 years: I do the same thing. I said I hadn't seem someone in more than 25 years. Not a lie. But it was 12 years more than 25 years. And I had already been an adult. I was convinced I was counting wrong.
Mitchell, what a grand way to use the old rail tracks, and a way for the city people to get out and walk! Loved your pictures. Have only been briefly in New York, but sure am enjoying your visit.
ReplyDeleteLinda:
DeleteI've seen pictures of it in spring. Really beautiful. And they planted only native plants. Many more pictures from around New York to come.
Mitchel, lovely city the old and new. Mixture of styles.The best photos is traffic jam....
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteSorry I didn't show you a better traffic jam. What I shared was nothing in comparison to what it CAN be!
Thanks fort this vicarious exercise. New York has so much to offer. I'd like to live there...for a year.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteIt's an amazing place and I doubt I could ever live here again!
I'd read about this innovative walking path not long after it was built, but how much better to see it through your eyes!
ReplyDeleteJacqueline:
DeleteI was surprised at how busy it was given that it was a bit raw. Can't imagine what it must be like in spring and summer (but also how beautiful it must be).
Thank you so much for this Mitch! This city continues to amaze me and with your view well ~~ it's time to visit NYC!!!!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteThe city has changed so much since I lived here, and it continues to change. It's exhilarating ... and then I can't wait to go home!
This is absolutely spectacular, Mitch! What a wonderful way to see so much of the diversity in NYC. Smart thinking too on the planners of this park.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and thanks so much for sharing this.
Jim:
DeleteThanks so much for the kindness and enthusiasm. It was an amazing day and The High Line is exceptional.
thanks for all the nice picture, gave me a good idea of what this is all about. I had heard of it but had no idea what it looked like. Very nice for walking.
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteIt is a marvel to have a park like that running through The City and to be able to walk 20 blocks without ever having to cross a street or watch for traffic. Thank YOU. As I shot the pictures, I didn't think I was getting much I could do anything with. I was pleasantly surprised.
I agree with Laurent. Splendid photos, all.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteThanks so much! As I told Lauren, I was pleasantly surprised by what I had to work with. As I shot the photos I didn't think the light was working at all well. What a place!