New York City #4 (last)

August 12 2012

I had to go to New York City to spend time with my friend Lisa from Costa Rica.  We met at her mom's apartment with a gorgeous view, then set off for Central Park.  With Li's broken toe, we opted for a pedal taxi, and enjoyed the scenery while our bicyclist driver Ahmou gave a running commentary.  What a huge, lovely park in the middle of a bustling city!  Most moving was the round tile remembrance of John Lennon with "Imagine" in the middle, located across the street from his apartment where he was killed.

We happened by the Paris movie theatre and stopped in to see a wonderful movie, The Intouchables.  We were both hungry for a great foreign film with English subtitles, and this film did not disappoint.  It is about a wealthy invalid and his improbably, brash but refreshing caregiver.

I rushed to get to the subway stop to make it back to Long Island in time for dinner, but it was clear I would have to take a taxi.  A quick goodbye to Lisa and I was off - until a few blocks before Times Square, which was closed due to a triathlon finish line.  Just like in the movies, I threw some money at the cab driver and jumped out of the cab to hike on foot down to the train station at 34th Street.  I realized I was not going to make the train, and I would have to wait an hour for the next one, so I slowed down and did some window shopping.  When I finally got to Penn Central, I was surprised to find another train that was leaving in six minutes so I hopped on.

I did make it to dinner - the last one for Cynthia, Arnie and me - at Chez Noelle, a lovely French relic with an entertaining waiter, Rene.  I learned that I like Pinot Noir wine.  And the duck was delicious.

The next morning I flew standby for the first time on my friend's US Airways buddy pass to Boston.

New York City #3

Aug 10, 2012

I'm not usually a big museum fan unless the work is contemporary, so off we headed to MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art).  Cynthia and I spent the entire day there, taking a break for lunch and coffee.  There were enjoyable pieces and pieces that I would not call art.  But that's just me.

For lunch, Cynthia wanted me to experience a real hot pastrami sandwich, so we went to the Stage Deli.  Ooh, was that great!  With a cream soda to top it off.

We met Arnie at Petrossian for dinner, a very fine restaurant.  When will I learn not to fill up on the delicious bread and wait for the main course?!  After the bread, I did eat all of my appetizer, which was caviar and sour cream on a blini.  Then came a deliciously prepared skirt steak, and an apple tartlet with cardamom ice cream.  Burp.

Aug 9

Arnie, Cynthia's guy, is a trooper.  Walking around is a little problematic for him, but he drove us into the city and waited in his air conditioned car for us all day.

First we went to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and took the Sweatshop Workers tour.  I tried to imagine my grandmother, fresh off the boat from Lithuania, working her fingers to the bone, along with 12 million other refugees who entered New York.

We walked around Chinatown, which is huge, then had an early dinner at Pellegrino's, voted the Best Italian Restaurant of 2012 in Little Italy.  For dessert we walked around the corner to Ferrera.  I was oh so full, and satisfied.  What an eating trip this has been.

Aug 8

Cynthia's friend, Cathi, and I took the LIRR (train) into the city to have lunch at a Mexican restaurant and to see the Broadway play, War Horse.  What I really wanted to see was The Book of Mormon, but tickets, which weren't even available, cost $300, and that was over the top for me.  So I settled for this less expensive play.  OMG!  From our fourth row seats, we saw the exact and exquisite way that three puppeteers directed every movement, every nuance of the star horse, Joey.  I loved everything about the play: the puppets (which were life-size), the story, the acting, the choreography, the ensemble.  Wowee.


My friend Alan was waiting for me after the play.  Alan is the brother of one of my old friends, Howard, from UMass.  Howard died a few years ago, and his legacy to me was his wonderful brother, who has become my friend.  I was still on an ethnic restaurant kick, so we stopped at an Indian restaurant that had great food.  Here we are walking through Rockefeller Center.

New York City #2

August 7, 2012

Cynthia drove us into the city.  She went to work and I went to Grand Central Station to take the tour.  This is a massive building with interesting architecture where trains arrive and leave. 

I couldn't figure out how to buy a train ticket using the machine.  A kind man helped me, but we didn't know if the machine would give me change for a $20 bill.  I put in my US debit card, but hadn't used it in a year and couldn't remember the pin number.  Geez, what kind of prepared traveler am I?  So the guy said, give me $2 and I'll swipe my Metro card for you.  And he did.

I found my way on the S Shuttle and then the #1 Uptown train to W 107th St, where I visited my cousins Marty and Jill in their beautiful new apartment.  We had lunch on the rooftop with a great view of the city.  Jill had bought foods that she thought I would appreciate, and we had a great time talking about family and personal stuff.  I wish we lived closer so we could spend more time together.

New York City #1

August 5, 2012

I arrived at Penn Station shlepping a very heavy backpack and a 53-pound suitcase.  My friends Cynthia R and Arnie were waiting for me at Lindy's Restaurant.  I found the sign for Lindy's and attempted to enter through the revolving door.  I got stuck with the suitcase jamming the door!  Arnie came and rescued me.  What a grand entrance I made.

After a comforting vodka tonic at Lindy's, we drove over to a Korean restaurant and had unrecognizable but delicious food.  I think I became a foodie when I moved to Costa Rica and had to give up exotic tastes, so when I travel, ethnic food is at the top of my list of attractions to experience.

Cynthia lives in Port Washington in a beautiful home that she decorated herself.  I feel like I am staying in a five-star hotel. 

August 6

We rode the hop-on/hop-off New York Water Taxi to get around the city.  My first stop was the 9/11 Memorial, where there are two reflection pools in the same footprints of the Twin Towers.  What struck me the most was a pear tree that survived the disaster and came back to life.

I left my friends at a restaurant overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge at South Street Seaport while I took off in search of the New York Stock Exchange's observation deck.  I wanted to see where I've lost so much money.  I stopped at a corner to ask a guy for directions and he asked me directions to The Bull, the big bronze statue that represents capitalism.  Since we were on the same wavelength, we went searching together.  Ash is from Melbourne, Australia, and came to NYC for a couple of weeks to sightsee.  We found The Bull and took pictures of each other in the two poses that everyone else was taking.

The Water Taxi passed by the Statue of Liberty, where all of my grandparents passed on their way to Ellis Island from Russia. 

Rhode Island with my sister

August 3, 2012 - Rhode Island

 

I'm in the US! Even after all these years of traveling, it's still sort of mind-boggling to be able to get on a giant metal structure and land in a different country.

Oh, what food! I'm staying with my sister, Cynthia, not too far from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. There are so many types of ethnic restaurants near Brown. Last night we went to one with my favorite cuisine: Vietnamese. OMG - the best, freshest food with flavors that made my taste buds cry with joy. This morning I went for a walk and got a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. Heavenly.

 

Five years ago my sister started tutoring a refugee family from Rwanda (via Cameroon).  Her French helped them learn English and life skills.  Cynthia has been adopted into the smart and lovely family of four: Appolinarie (mother) and kids Merci, Emmanuella, and GoGo.  I met them and had fell in love with them, too.

 

 

My sister and I went to see a movie yesterday, To Rome, with Love. Geez, I am glad I do not live inside Woody Allen's head. The movie theatre was air conditioned - it is so very hot and humid here, more so than in Grecia and the price was right ($8 compared to $12 at a mall theatre). This morning I'm going to take pictures of her so she can upload a good one to match.com. Yup, we're both single and looking. :-)

This afternoon I get on an Amtrak train to Penn Station in New York City. I'll be staying for six days on Long Island with my friend (another) Cynthia for six days.

 

 

My Social Security Birthday

I'm not bashful about celebrating my birthday, or even about throwing myself a party. As my father used to say about having birthdays, it's better than the alternative. And this birthday deserved celebrating. I turned 62 and will receive my first Social Security check in June.

After a year in Grecia, I've made several friends, and I wanted them to help me celebrate my birthday. All but one of my invitees came, and that one was laid up with an injured leg. I even had a gatecrasher. Todo bien. Everything was good.

My favorite bar/restaurant is the Grecia Social Club, just five blocks from my house. I walk down there once a weekend or two for dinner and a beer when I don't want to cook. I sit at the bar, speak English with Roy, the bartender, and Spanish with Napo, Pili and Ibo, the three waiters. The staff is very friendly, as are the other customers. So that's where I decided to have my birthday lunch.

Most gringos don't know the Grecia Social Club, but that is about to change. They think it's a real club and you need to be a member. That's not the case; anyone can go in there. And there are pool tables downstairs, but I've never played there.

So there were 11 of us seated around a big table. Dolores, my dancing cohort, brought a bottle of Cahuita Lizano (coconut rum), which I introduced her to and which is mentioned in one of my earlier posts. Our wonderful waiter, Napo, brought us copas (shot glasses) and most of us cheered my birthday and tippled. It was a great and generous idea that set everyone to talking and having a good time.

We ate typical tico food, and then got to the main event: a black forest cake that I had ordered at my favorite bakery and coffee shop, Grupo Electa. I made my wish and the group sang. I sliced enough pieces for everyone at the table, and brought the rest of the cake back to the bar and kitchen for my friends who work there.

We got separate bills, and when I went to pay, the owner said, no Margie, it's your birthday. You don't have to pay. I was shocked, as he is not known to be overly generous. So I left a big tip for Napo and thanked him for his service.

Bosque del Niño

I was an invited guest to the World Water Day celebration at Bosque del Niño (Children's Woods). My two retired tico buddies, Heriberto and Gerardo, and I may have a volunteer gig making trail signs at this park, which is located in San Isidro de Grecia.

It is oh so hot these days in downtown Grecia, so driving the half hour up up up into the mountains to this park was lovely. The air was cool and fresh.

There were local and national dignitaries at this event, along with the principals and a few selected students from each elementary school. The winning essay was read by its author, a sweet little girl about 9 or 10 named Jimena. She wrote about water being a precious resource. Each school that participated in the essay contest received a laptop, printer and sound system.

I went up to the principal of the school that's just a few blocks from where I live and introduced myself. I asked if she was interested in having me go to the school on occasion to speak English to the kids. She was very interested. All kids learn basic English skills, but usually the teachers don't know how to speak the language. So I'll go and the kids and teachers will listen to a native American-English speaker.