| The following morning, I walked from 46th
street to 175th street to meet my cycling tour guide, Joel, who was to
give me an unforgettable cycle tour of New York. I can recommend it as an
excellent way of seeing the city with a totally different perspective to
that of an ordinary tourist. Joel and his company can be reached at: http://www.toursbybike.com
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Joel seen in his wing mirror. He finds it useful to keep a
check on his charge(s). Me! |
| It was the 9th of June, my birthday, and a memorable day it proved to
be. |
| First, we crossed the George Washington Bridge to New
Jersey (on the right of this picture) by a dedicated cycle path. I was
surprised how many keen cyclists were using this and the other cycle paths
and trails. new Jersey provides easily accessible country and seaside for
New Yorkers. |
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It is a double decker bridge, the lower
level originally designed to be used by rail traffic, designed by George
Ammann. It had been planned to face the structure with stone, but
economies prevented this from happening. |
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As the sun broke through, a group of
patriotic girl guides came by. |
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Back to Manhattan and down by the waters
edge at the start of a cycle trail which eventually will go all the way
around Manhattan Island. Joel, my tour guide is in the foreground. |
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From where he is standing, he can see this
diminutive but perfectly formed lighthouse, just 20 feet high and sitting
under the George Washington Bridge. |
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As we cruise southwards, we leave the cycle
path and ride under these splendid steel arches carrying Riverside Street
over 125 street valley in Harlem. This is the imagery of the city as seen on countless films. As a
lighting man, I would dearly love to light this for a night shoot! |
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Arches of a different kind here in the
cathedral church of St. John the Divine which is big enough for the statue
of Liberty to fit comfortably under its dome. It was built between 1892
and 1941. More info can be found at: www.stjohndivine.org |
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A beautiful contrast in colour of light
between the silk flowing from the lamp and the stained glass windows. |
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More tasteful use of coloured light high
over the main entrance. |
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Onward to Central Park. At one corner
stands this statue of Duke Ellington and his piano. Different, shall we
say. |
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Manhattan boasts a beach, this is it in its
entirety.
Central park is a vast green swathe some 2
and a half miles long by half a mile wide. In 1840 it was just wasteland
beyond the city limits inhabited by squatters. 3000 workers took 16 years
to complete the project. |
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2 million trees were planted and it is a
masterpiece of landscaping in my humble opinion. Here a leafy arbour of
twisted trees provides dappled shade. |
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As Joel and I take a short break, this
raccoon appears from nowhere, and gives the couple in the previous picture
and their dog, a fright. Joel knew of Raccoons but it was his first siting. |
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Yep, Cleopatra has been giving needles out
to N.Y. as well as London town. Being some 2500 miles old, it has suffered
from considerable erosion on its south face since its arrival here in just
150 years. That'll be the weather, then. |
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The sun shone on the Puerto Rican Parade
which had attracted a large crowd. NY has colourful parades most months of
the year. |
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Onward to Washington Heights in northern
Manhattan. This, the
Morris Jumel mansion and gardens built in 1765, just a few years before
George Washington became the first President of the U.S.A. The population
of New York was just 33,000. |
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My cycle ride over, having covered almost
30 miles, I took a look in one of Harlem's colourful shops. Hardware and
cooked meats are unlikely partners in this shop. |
