A Day in New York

FALL IN CENTRAL PARK, 9:12 am

Nowhere else in the world does such a wide variety of urban life exist than in New York. It is the true melting pot of the United States, much more than one would ever experience in Nebraska or Spokane. On Thursday we spent the entire day exploring the city, without a true "destination" in mind other than to get a true glimpse of the soul of the city. These pictures tell an 8-hour adventure, enjoy!

CENTRAL PARK

FALL LEAVES ON COBBLESTONE: Central Park 9:21am

THE MALL, Central Park 9:43am

FALL WALKER, Central Park 10:06 am

Central Park is an oasis of green in the otherwise monochrome urban jungle. In my opinion the most photo friendly spot is the southeast corner, along a stretch called "The Mall." It is slightly more quiet than the busier paths that bustle with joggers, bikers, and horse-drawn carriages, and makes a beautiful photo in ANY season.

THROUGH THE CITY

SUBWAY, 11:02am

The subway is the great equalizer in New York, where people from all walks of life come together. Or should I say cram? We found the subway network to be efficient and a great chance to people watch, from a homeless guy blasting his stereo to an accountant trying to hit on two French girls. Always great reality TV.

WALKER, Chelsea Art District 12:02pm

WINDOW WASHERS, SoHo District 12:37pm

AFTERNOON SIDEWALK, Broadway & Spring 1:51 pm

This is my 70's record cover-photo, or perhaps for a Rolling Stone feature on The Eagles. I purposely let the picture slightly out of focus to convey the perspective of fighting your way through a sea of people with the sun in your eye.

LITTLE ITALY, 3:05pm

This waiter (I'm guessing: Giuseppe) was classic! He would serenade passersby in a deep baritone, singing, "Bella! Bella!" at any woman that would draw near. I asked to take his picture, but he told me he was working, so instead I just stood on the corner and took it all in. It literally felt like I was back in Rome's Piazza Navona.

CHINATOWN FRUIT, 3:31 pm

Directly adjacent to Little Italy lies Chinatown, where you can find a huge bazaar (that is sometimes also bizarre) filled with purses, clothes, perfumes, and food. A side alley caught my eye where a group of vendors were selling fruit you probably won't find in Safeway.

BROOKLYN BRICK, 4:21pm

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge created a surprising change in atmosphere from the financial district in Manhattan. It felt a little more "roomy."

STATUE OF LIBERTY, 4:32pm

Sunset over New Jersey - my first glimpse ever of the Statue of Liberty!

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

CABLES, 4:46pm

PINK SKIES, 4:49pm

Manhattan, 5:03pm

A perfect way to end the day, with a view back towards Lower Manhattan. I must say that New York has made a definite impression on me, much more than my last visit that only lasted 3 days during the dead of winter. The people, industry, and culture here are so vibrant, and the constant interaction with people reminded me of a European city.

After dark, we walked to Ground Zero where construction pushes forward 24 hours a day on the new World Trade Center. It was a sobering reminder of all that happened, almost surreal that there is now this huge hole in the city. Yet I came away with hope, directly from the people of this great place.

~ J. Twice