THE CONEY ISLAND Cyclone wooden roller coaster (a New York City landmark on the National Register of Historic Places) has been in use since 26 June 1927, one day after My Mother the Dowager Duchess was born. She never rode. Neither did I. My sister Dale and our father rode it together in the 1960s. Dale was brave. My father was brave for his daughter.
Every year, I ask The Kid Brother if he'll go on it with me. Every year he says, "What are you, nuts?!?" I guess I'll be in trouble if he ever changes his response.
Our English friends Nick, Alison, and their son Ed rode the cyclone this year on their visit to New York.
As Alison said (I'm paraphrasing), "Oh, Ed, look at the old thing. How bad can it be?"
Todos los años le pregunto a El Hermanito si lo hará conmigo. Todos los años dice: "¿Qué estás? ¿Loco?" Supongo que estaré en problemas si alguna vez él cambia su respuesta.
Nuestros amigos ingleses Nick, Alison, y su hijo Ed cabalgaron el "Cyclone" este año en su visita a Nueva York.
Como dijo Alison (estoy parafraseando), "Oh, Ed, mira lo viejo. ¿Qué tan malo puede ser?"
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| NEITHER THE CYCLONE NOR ROME WERE BUILT IN A DAY. THE SIGN SHOULD READ "OPENED ON JUNE 26, 1927." NI EL CYCLONE NI ROMA FUERON CONSTRUIDOS EN UN DÍA. EL SIGNO DEBERÍA DECIR: "INAUGURADO EL 26 DE JUNIIO 1927". |
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| VIEW OF THE CYCLONE (FAR LEFT) FROM THE WINDOW OF MY OLD BEDROOM. (CLICK THE PHOTO.) VISTA DEL CYCLONE (IZQUIERDA) DE LA VENTANA DE MI VIEJO DORMITORIO. (HAZ CLIC LA FOTO.) |
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| NICK, ED, AND ALISON. "OH, ED... HOW BAD CAN IT BE? NICK, ED, Y ALISON, "OH ED... ¿QUÉ TAN MALO PUEDE SER?" |
Wow, that's QUITE a view from your old bedroom!
ReplyDeleteBrave, brave Nick, Ed, and Alison. No way you'd get me on that thing! Ha!
Judy,
DeleteWooden rollercoasters do not offer a smooth ride. Not for me. Also, The Kid Brother says, “That’s dangerous!”
NOT ME!!
ReplyDeleteJim,
DeleteMe neither. But. Do love the Wonder Wheel, also in my view.
NO F-ING WAY would I EVER get on that! although I DO appreciate the architecture/historic significance of the coaster.
ReplyDeleteAnne Marie,
DeleteSometimes I wish I had the nerve.
I'm down with the kid brother: what are you, nuts? ;)
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteHe does know what he’s talking about.
I ADORE those old wooden roller coaters. I rode the Giant Dipper on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk (opened May 17, 1924) a couple of decades ago. It was fantastic. The carousel wasn't bad either. Great view from your old bedroom. Did your friends love the Cyclone?
ReplyDeleteWilma,
DeleteI like smooth, modern rollercoaster rides... with no loops or reverses.
I used to love roller coasters. I once took an afternoon off from work with a colleague to ride all the coasters in a nearby amusement park. But those days are gone. When I look at one now, bad headlines appear in my mind.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth,
DeleteCrushed vertebrae and death in 2007. No thanks!
Well no one has died from it, recently.
ReplyDeleteTravel,
DeleteEleven years. Not long enough for me!
Makes me think of the first Captain America movie, where Steve Rogers confesses that he threw up after riding it.
ReplyDeleteDebra,
DeleteMaybe I should see a Captain America movie... Would I throw up after?
As long as I'm sure it's been maintained properly, I'd give it a try.
ReplyDeleteKirk,
DeleteSomeone died of crushed vertebrae in 2007. I’ll pass.