Home again, Sunday 17th November, 2024
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| A chance encounter with the famous "Naked Cowboy" in Times Square last Sunday. |
Good morning everyone.
Here I am back home after our trip to New York which now feels like a dream. Olivia, my youngest daughter, and I had been so looking forward to it and it certainly met our expectations. New York is big, it's brash, very expensive, confusing, dirty, both poor and obscenely rich, one of the biggest shopping meccas I have ever seen, mind boggling and overwhelming at times. It's full of people from all over the world, a true melting pot and many, many of them speak Spanish. All the skyscrapers make you feel so small and Madrid is like a village in comparison Honestly, I don't think I could ever live there as I am more of a country girl but New York is always fun and fun we had as you will read on.
So let me tell you the stories of the second half of our stay there. I left off
last Sunday. Sadly, that day, we had to check out of our amazing 159m2 suite at
The Carlyle where we had been invited by the President of Rosewood Hotels himself and learned how the other half live for two glorious nights. I later found out that the price per night was around 6.500 dollars!!! We were moving to
The Times Square Edition, another 5 star hotel but not in the same league. That's where Illy, the Italian coffee company had booked a room for the other 3 nights for Olivia who was to be their MC for the Ernesto Illy International Award Ceremony on Tuesday in New York. We downsized but moved nearer to the centre.
Before checking out at noon, we took a stroll in Central Park and had a quick glimpse of the famous "Met" (Metropolitan Museum), both very near our hotel. We did not go inside as it would have taken a whole morning and we were only in the Big Apple for 5 nights. No worries, as I saw it last time I was in NY and, no doubt, Oli will return one day.
We saw Central Park in Autumn, or in the Fall as the Americans say, It is New York's version of Hyde Park and similar in many senses. It's full mostly of locals either running, strolling, cycling or chatting and eating and enjoying the scenery. Last time I was there, Eladio and I did the classic horse and carriage ride but Oli thought that was too cheesy. So we just walked and feasted our eyes on what we saw.
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| In Central Park last Sunday |
We were well wrapped up but actually we had very good weather during our whole stay. It hardly ever rained and was never very cold. Thus we had the perfect weather to do all the classic things one does when in New York. I was keen to show Oli "Strawberry Fields", the memorial to John Lennon who was killed in 1980 in the archway of his house, Dakota, where I think his wife, Yoko Ono, still lives. Many had the same idea and I just had to include a photo here of two Trump supporters of whom we saw more than we imagined. We saw lots of MAGA (Make America Great Again) memorabilia. It's funny but it's not.
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| At the John Lennon memorial in Central Park |
Someone was playing and singing Beatles' songs and it was an emotional moment. I then led my daughter to the entrance of the Dakota house across the way from one of the entrances to the park and we took photos.
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| Outside Dakota House where John Lennon was assassinated |
That is where our walk in Central Park came to an end after which we made our way back to the Carlyle, a moderately tall skyscraper. We learned many people live in apartments there who must be "rolling in it", I imagine. They have their own entrance as the concierge told us. This is the iconic NY hotel as seen on our walk back from the park.
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| The Carlyle as seen on our return from Central Park |
At noon we took a cab to our new hotel right by Times Square, which for me is the centre of America in terms of landmarks and it was full of people. Reception was on the 10th floor and we were given a room on the 35th! It was nice but 23m2 compared to 159m2 is pure downsizing and downgrading. However, it was also free and beggars can't be choosers and we very happy to be there.
As soon as we had settled in, we went out into the street to explore Times Square which I had seen before but was new for Olivia. It's like Piccadilly but much bigger and brasher. I had always heard there was a naked cowboy there but never saw him last time so I was stunned to find him. I was also stunned he let me have a photo taken of him with a security guard from Times Square. That just has to be this week's feature photo. I later learned that apart from a street performer, he is also a singer, songwriter and occasional actor. When I asked him why he goes round Times Square naked (apart from some underpants with the American flag on them), he replied because he was born naked. I couldn't argue with that and was delighted to have met him.
We took more photos to remember this trip which will be forever etched in our minds.
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| Times Square on Sunday |
We then went tacky souvenir shopping as Oli wanted to buy magnets, mugs, etc for friends. I couldn't believe the prices. We then went into the huge M&Ms store with the pretext of buying sweets for the children but we ended up getting all sorts for ourselves as well. What a wonderful store it is, even if it is tacky and such a commercial mecca.
Even though we had had a marvelous breakfast at The Carlyle, by about 3.30 we were hungry and went in search of food which we found at a Burger joint, called Burger Man, which was actually very good. It looked like something out of a film, a typical American diner. There are many places and things which seem familiar from all the US films and series we see on TV which is another reason why New York is so fascinating.
Before returning to our hotel, Oli had a craving for an ice cream which we ate in the street and then, tired out and still a big jet lagged we returned to our new abode. There we spent the whole afternoon resting. We watched a marvelous film called Still Alice which we loved and a bit of one called Safe which we didn't. We must have fallen asleep around 8.30 pm and were awake at 5 am on Monday morning.
Monday, 11th November was Armistice Day which is called Veterans' Day in the US. We saw plenty of military around but missed the 5th Avenue parade. But we saw some preparations on our way to the Empire State Building where we had booked tickets online. These approachable NYPD officers were happy for us to take a picture on 5th Avenue and here comes another iconic photo of this trip.
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| My new body guards, hahaha |
In the same queue to to go up the Empire State Building, or "line" as they call it in the US, was a group of soldiers ready to take part in the parade and I asked them to pose for me. They did.
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| Military personnel I bumped into on Veterans' Day last Monday |
The Empire State Building with its 104 floors was built in 1930 just before the Wall Street Crash. It is no longer the tallest skyscraper but it is still perhaps the most famous. I learned that the far smaller Tower Building was arguably the first skyscraper to be built in the city in 1889.
As I went up in the lift to the 80 something floor, I wondered what immigrants fleeing poor countries, wars and famine, must have thought of New York when they arrived. If it's overwhelming to me in 2024 what would it have been like for immigrants and refugees I wondered to myself. I suppose that is the essence of the American Dream. They all arrived at Ellis Island, that tiny island with the famous Statue of Liberty which we only saw from a distance. It is sad to think now that while they were all welcome at the beginning of the last century, today it is the other way round; walls are built to keep them out. Yet, America would not be America without immigrants would it? But I am digressing. The views from the top are amazing and we were lucky we had good visibility. Here are just two pictures of the many we took.
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The new Manhattan skyline as seen from the Empire State Building
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On our way down we were prompted to buy photos taken of us as we entered and we could not resist them. Here are just a couple of them. Fun right? Yes, we had fun at the Empire State Building.
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| Great photos created for us during our visit of the Empire State Building |
The next thing we wanted to do was visit the 9/11 Memorial in the Financial District. I wanted to walk all the way down Broadway but it would have taken 1.5h. Thus we dared take the subway on our own and we managed it. Here is Olivia at 34th Street I think.
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| Taking the subway to the new World Trade Centre |
We got off at The new World Trade Centre station and shopping centre. It is impressive and is shaped like a dove to represent peace. It is massive.
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| Inside the new World Trade Centre mall and station |
That is where we got off the subway. To replace the twin towers they have built a new skyscraper called the Freedom Building although its actual name is the World Trade Centre and it is now the tallest building in New York. This is it.
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The new World Trade Centre or Freedom Tower as it is called is now the tallest skyscraper in NY.
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When Eladio and I were in NY in 2010, there was nothing in Ground Zero. It was just a fenced off area. Today you can see two large memorials to each tower that got hit and where so many people died on 11th September 2001. This is one of them. All around the walls are the names of those who perished at the hands of Bin Laden.
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| One of the memorials of the twin towers |
As I read them, I shed a tear and have to admit it was a very emotional moment. The world changed after 9/11 and will never be the same again.
We were of course in the Financial District so we headed along Broadway to find Wall Street which is actually tiny. That is where the New York Stock Exchange is located and we had to have a photo there too.
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| Outside the NYSE on Wall Street, the financial centre of the world |
We then went in search of the famous "charging bull" which represents growth in the market and economy. Remember bullish and bearish, the terms to describe stock markets? The funny thing is that most people were queuing up to take a photo posing or touching the bull's balls. Honestly? This is the photo I got of this huge statue which has come to represent Wall Street.
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| The Charging Bull near Wall Street |
We had spied a Gap shop nearby which Oli was keen to go into. Would you believe we both bought the same white and black striped cardigan and that we both chose to put it on the next day without consulting each other? We must have looked funny at breakfast and wherever we went, hahaha.
By then we were famished, hot and tired and decided to take a break and find somewhere to eat. We found ourselves in China town. Oli found a Thai place where we had a very hot green curry and I ate bamboo shoots for the first time. It wasn't my favourite meal in NY but it filled our stomachs.
We then carried on walking until my legs gave in as by then we had walked at least 16km. We had had enough walking and sightseeing and got on the subway again, somehow arriving at 42nd Street, near our hotel. If you haven't been to NY, you will find it funny that streets generally have numbers for names but when you get used to it, it's rather a good idea. We arrived "home" dead but happy. We watched something on Netflix and ordered a salad and chicken sandwich for dinner which we had with a glass of Prosecco. Again we fell asleep early and again we woke up at 5 am the next day.
Tuesday was our last full day in New York and the day of Oli's event but that wasn't until the evening and the day was ours for taking. We had tickets for the "Top of the Rock", the top of the famous Rockerfeller Centre. It is slighter smaller than the Empire State Building but boasts better views. Also, it is like a city within a city with its ice rink, gardens and shopping centre. Soon too the famous annual Christmas tree will be in view as it had arrived just before us but has still to be decorated. This is it.
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| The Rockerfeller Centre |
Just before we queued up to go in and were admiring the area, I saw a mounted policewoman and asked for a photo as I can't resist horses and love taking silly pictures when I travel. She let me, telling me that Jack, the horse, was not behaving very well that day. I thought Jack was lovely.
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| Admiring Jack, a mounted policewoman's horse by the Rockerfeller Centre on Tuesday |
Once at the top, we were impressed with the views and again had great visibility.
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| On the Top of the rock |
We were invited to have out photo taken on a beam and people were queuing up to do so. We did too. If you have been there and even if you haven't, you must have heard of the famous photo called Lunch atop a skyscraper taken in the 30's probably by Charles Ebbets. This is it.
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| The famous photo of workers taking a lunch break on a beam while building the skyscraper at the Rockerfeller Centre |
So we had ours taken on a much safer beam which we later picked up along with other photos. These are some of them and they are great, even if they cost a small fortune. I told you NY is expensive.
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| A great photo on the beam at the Top of the Rock |
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| Wearing the same cardigans we had bought at Gap |
FAO Schwarz, the oldest and most famous toy shop in the US is at the Rockerfeller Centre and I just had to take Olivia there. Just as I had been to their Chicago branch many times to buy my girls toys - especially Barbies, years ago when I worked for Motorola, I wanted to take my daughter there to get toys for her children and my grandchildren. I told that story to the man outside dressed like a toy soldier who was so sweet and kind. This is him outside one of the most famous stores in the US. Just for you Brits, though, Hamley's is the oldest toy shop in the world.
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| Outside FAO Schwarz in New York on Tuesday |
If you ever saw the film "Big" with Tom Hanks, you will remember the scene on the floor piano. We saw the piano on the second floor and I had to have a photo.
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| The floor piano at FAO Schwarz |
We bought tons of very original toys for the children and sweets and decided to walk back to the hotel to leave them there and take a break in shopping and sightseeing until our lunch appointment at 2.
Lunch was to be very special for me as I had booked a table at
Smith and Wollensky where both Eladio and I had eaten on our last visit. It was recommended to me by my dear friend Julio who always knows the best places in town. The restaurant's slogan comes from a critic's headline "A steakhouse to end all arguments". I couldn't agree more. The food is fabulous and Olivia agreed.
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| Smith and Wollensky, the best steak in town |
When we were there last time I remember ordering a piece of steak which was mass massive. I said so to the waiter who replied "this is America Ma'am". I had learned my lesson and advised Oli that we share a portion which was more than enough. I think that was our best meal in NY.
We then walked back to the hotel for Oli to get ready for her event. I wasn't going with her as it was a corporate gala dinner where I suppose there is no role for the mother of the MC, hahaha. That meant I could rest, write this blog and generally chill out until her return. The only feedback I got about the gala dinner awards held at
The Peak was a photo of my beautiful daughter on stage. Doesn't she look amazing?
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| Olivia ready to present the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award at the Peak, NY. |
I had fallen asleep while she was out, watching a film called The Foreigner starring Pierce Brosnan as a former member of the IRA. I loved his Irish accent. Oli was back around 11 and soon in bed, our last night in New York.
Wednesday came and we were up just slightly later. Our flight wasn't until 10.15 pm but we had to check out by 11 am. I had pancakes and maple syrup for the last time and savoured every bite. We had quite a programme that day until a cadillac (we like to do things in style, hahaha) was to pick us up at 7pm: tickets for the MOMA, a visit to see the TVE correspondent in NY who is a colleague of Oli's and also a surprise reunion with Fátima junior. You probably all know that my best friend, Fátima, who was my colleague first at Motorola, then at Nokia and also my neighbour, died sadly 5 years ago this year. Her daughter, also Fátima, was 19 at the time and was left an orphan. Her mother had asked me and all her friends to watch out for her daughter and take care of her as well as we could but she is very independent and really never needed us. It was only through Gloria, Fátima's sister, that I learned Fatima junior was living in New York so we quickly organised a meetup before we left. It was to be the cherry on the cake of our 5 days in New York.
We walked to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and spent about 2h inside which is more than enough. I was deadbeat when we came out. I adored the Picassos, the Monets, the Magrittes, the Matisses, the Andy Warhols and the Van Goghs but was disappointed that Starry Skies was not on display. But I was not too impressed with the abstract art which I have never understood. There was one painting that was just grey and black. What the hell does that mean? Here are some pics of my favourite pieces and some of my least:
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| Magritte The Lovers |
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Needs no introduction
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I read that Andy Warhol painted cans of Campbell's soup just because he loved their soup. Oli didn't really get it as Campbell's is practically unheard of in Spain. But I ate it as a child. And that's art, apparently.
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| Needs no introduction |
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| Is this really art? |
After our visit, Olivia spent nearly an hour in the very enticing design shop. I sat and waited as honestly I didn't need to make any purchases. From the MOMA, we were take the subway to 26th Street but got lost in translation as the station we needed on 53rd street was closed. We made it the TVE studio half an hour late but we made it. Oli and Sara (Rancaño) were happy to reconnect as both of them had worked for España Directo. Sara showed us the premises and even the rooftop from where she makes most of her reports. She actually has to stand on a small ladder so that the skyscrapers behind her stand out enough. I took a photo of the two RTVE journalists in that very place.
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| Oli with her former colleague Sara (R) from TVE, now their correspondent in NY |
It was interesting to listen to her experiences covering the Presidential election campaign as well as the behind the scenes life of a foreign correspondent.
We left on time to meet Fátima junior at 4 pm and had decided on Le Pain Quotidien near Bryant Park. That was where we had our lunch; lentils and a cake for me. It was pure joy to see Fatimina as we call her, now 24 and a graduate of international relations. She studied at the UEM near here but also in Grenobles and Los Angeles. Today she is living in New York and working for
Global Fund for Widows, the world's largest nonprofit organisation dedicated to empowering women and widows financially.
Fatimina's CV at just 24 is impressive. Her boss,
Heather Ibrahim Leathers, of Egyptian origin and ex Wall Street, founded it and was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. Much of
Fátima's work has to do with the United Nations where she goes often. I later read that her NGO, "h
aving earned United Nations Economic and Social Council accreditation (ECOSOC) has been advocating widows' rights on a global scale. Upon the death of their husbands, widows are often denied access to justice and credit. They are also frequently subjected to harmful traditional practices".
As she was telling us all this, I could only think just how proud her mother would be. It was a very joyous reunion and it was great to catch up after so much time. Fátima junior, if you read this, I take my hat off to you. Well done sweetheart. Before we parted, Oli took a selfie to remember this very special moment of our trip to NY.
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| A wonderful and unexpected reunion with Fátima junior in New York just before we left |
After parting we walked back to our hotel, The Edition in Times Square and passed all the madness created there. We also walked into a drug store to get a sandwich for my flight as the food is awful on Air Europa. Olivia, travelling in Business Class would be well fed, hahaha.
Soon the Cadillac, a brand new version I had never seen, pulled up on 42nd Street. The "greeter", a lovely Indian lady from the Punjab, drove us to T4 at JFK airport, the biggest. We were there on time or so we thought but hadn't factored in just how long the security queues would be and at one point I thought we might miss our plane. Thankfully we didn't and it left on time. The plane was half full and I was lucky there was no one sitting next to me which meant that I could stretch out on three seats. That way I got at least 4h sleep. We left at 10.30 NY time which was 04.30 Spanish time and landed in Madrid at 11.30 local time. I got off the plane feeling like a zombie and dying to be home and to have a shower. I was at our house by 12.30 after dropping Oli off. And there was my faithful husband waiting for me at the gate to carry my luggage and there were Suzy and Pippa to greet me too, as well as Tana. The Carlyle might be fantastic but there is no place like home. I couldn't face lunch so unpacked, gave my presents to Suzy, had a shower and went straight to bed. I slept for 2.5h and woke up at 5ish feeling jet lagged. I could face dinner but not wine. I was bushed.
I managed a reasonable night's sleep but was woken by a beep from my Airbnb app at 1.30. It was someone wanting to check in the next day (Friday) for a couple of nights. Only when I read the message did I realise that I knew the guest, Lola (Z) from Nokia Málaga, a long lost colleague. I knew her very well but hadn't seen her for more than 20 years! She now lives in London and is married to a Brit. It turns out her sister lives in the next street to ours and she was coming to a big family do and needed somewhere to stay rather than sleep on a sofa. What a small world we live in. Amazing.
I woke up on Friday morning at 07.30 to carry on texting with Lola. She asked if I wanted anything from England and I asked for a mint chocolate Aero bar (divine). Eladio and I did the shopping that morning and Tana, bless her, met and greeted two other guests coming (Leonardo from Brazil and Raúl who I think is Spanish). We came home with enough food to feed an army. That's what I always think and then it only ever lasts a week. We had a pleasant lunch with Suzy who I had missed while in the US, of course.
It was on Friday that I finally caught up with the news this week. Anything we watched on American telly seemed to be only about Trump and the people he is nominating for government. That includes Elon Musk (X - Twitter) as his Chief Efficiency Officer (imagine). When they weren't talking about Trump there were adverts and they seemed to be mostly about health insurance. God save America if Trump does away with Obama Care. And when I read the news from England about the resignation of Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury over his handling of sex abuse in the church, the Church of England, I was appalled. In Spain, more floods hit Valencia and then Malaga and other areas but thankfully this time people were alerted by SMS and no lives were lost. But these "Dana" storms are getting worse and worse each year.
That night Eladio and I were up late watching a new Spanish period series called "Valle Salvaje" which had us hooked. Thus I woke up late on Saturday morning and Lola who had arrived the night before, was already in the kitchen. We spent a good 2 hours together catching up and later Suzy joined us. That's because when she was in London they met. Isn't the world a small place? Suzy took a photo of the two of us which I entitled "Nokia connecting colleagues". Here we are together, happy to be reunited by Airbnb 20 years on. What a beautiful surprise and coincidence.
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With Lola, my surprise Airbnb guest who was my colleague at Nokia and who I hadn't seen for 20 odd years. It was lovely to reconnect.
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When she left for her family gathering, I started on lunch for our family gathering. Oli and co were coming and I was making Spanish "cocido madrileño". Before going out to get some ingredients I needed for lunch and to have coffee with Eladio, I went up to Suzy's room to ask her to watch the hob. And there she was with little Pippa who is with her always. They are very close and I think Suzy is more her person now than me. That only makes me happy. The thing is that Pippa makes us all happy. I had to have a photo to share with you and remember the relationship.
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| Pippa is always with Suzy (sweet). |
While having our coffee at Manacor that morning, Eladio and I reached the decision that we shall finally not be building the wooden garden house. The estimates for making it habitable were prohibitive as well as the cost of the town council licence, not to mention furnishing it. We goth agreed that had we been 10 or 20 years younger, it may have been a good idea but not now. So that's the end of one chapter. Others will come.
We were home on time for me to make the finishing touches for the family lunch and Oli and family arrived just as everything was ready to serve. It was great to see my grandchildren again and to hold them in my arms. I had bought lots of bubble gum (gob stoppers) for Elliot from FAO Schwartz but it was not easy to show him how to make the bubbles. I hope he learns as I spent a fortune on them hahahhaa.
Their visit was a great end to a wonderful week. I love travelling but I also love coming home. Don't you?
Today is Sunday and we have no plans. Let's see how it pans out. Wishing you all a good Sunday, that's all from me for this week.
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