New York
When we lived in New York my first wife and I had an apartment in a York Avenue high rise, near the East River.
Apartment 27D 1365 York Avenue - new in 1977 under repair in 2010 for concrete cancer
My eldest daughter was born in New York Hospital just across the way. Over the years York Avenue hasn't changed much, except that New York Hospital no longer operates as a general hospital; it has become a medical research institution. But elsewhere New York’s changed a great deal since the late 1970s. The most dramatic changes are downtown, around Soho and on the West Side. An area that used to be mainly artists’ lofts and old garment factories has transmogrified into a major retail area with lots of trendy boutiques. It seems the whole West Side, up into the hundreds, has been gentrified.
Because of my familiarity with the area we rented a serviced apartment in east 58th street. This is still a good choice as it is an easy walking distance to Fifth Avenue, Central Park, the Museum Of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum and the Guggenheim. We were there at the end of March but there was still snow piled at the end of Central Park the day we arrived. Our first night we walked across town, past Carnegie Hall to Broadway and then back via Grand Central station and Lexington.
Broadway - to see more photos click on the above image
You either love New York or you hate it. I’m in the former group. It’s like London, I feel at very much at home when I’m there. But of course it’s quite different to Sydney.
Needless to say we visited the various museums; the Empire State Building; Radio City Music Hall; the Chrysler Building, from outside and above; took a Circle Line tour around the island, taking in the Statue of Liberty; and went to the Opera at the MET one night (la Traviata). We also did the ‘sex in the city thing’, based on the TV show, and shopped. I picked up some new skis and boots from the after winter sales and a new camera. The catalogue of Wendy’s purchases is too long to list here.
Then it was time to pick up the rental car and drive to Washington.