Category General
Double celebrations in New York
Yes, we have made it into New York!!!!! Over 14 months since we left and over 50,000kms. When our trip to Australia turned into a round the world trip because we couldn’t take motorcycles into Australia (thanks to Australia’s protectionist laws), I had this vision of finishing our trip by riding into New York from the grand old Brooklyn Bridge.
We cross 2 bridges before getting to the Brooklyn bridge, with the Big Apple skyline gradually getting closer. Spotting the Statue of Liberty, a tiny but distinctive figure in the distance to my left, is so exciting. You will see from the photos how I don’t need much to be super excited about something – see if you can see what I saw!!! After stopping at Louis Valentino Jr Park for a mandatory photo opportunity (I thought it would be a more private spot than the better known but busy Battery Park), we finally ride across the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. We had been feeling a little flat of late, confused about how we felt about the trip coming to an end, how returning to ‘normal life’ will feel like, how we will relate to our friends and family and home, riding into New York was a special moment, especially for me and I let out quite a few exclamations!! That felt very very special.
Goethals bridge
Verrazano Bridge
My first glimpse of the New York skyline!!
My first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty!!!
We’re getting closer!!!
We have made it to New York!!!
Looking through some old photos a few days ago, I came across a couple we took on our very first day. Oh my goodness. I felt like I was looking at someone else: this person in the photo had no idea what she was embarking on!!! I laughed to myself. That was no longer me. I feel so much richer and so much more complete. It is hard to describe…
What a feeling – we made it, after 14 months and over 50,000kms and countless memories
Riding across Brooklyn bridge, New York!!
Riding across Brooklyn bridge
Streak and Storm have made it to New York
We have been to New York many times before, I have held many exhibitions there, we have friends there now so we decided to stay just a couple of days. We also timed our arrival so that we could spend our anniversary there. A double celebration in effect.
After checking into our hotel and parking our bikes, it’s time for me to write and publish my next blog on our stay in Philadelphia and Princeton and download all the photos I took on the way over (and I took many!!). Then it occurred to me that our arrival in New York only required a single photo. Pressure is off, my job is done, Anthony has a snooze while I go for a walk along the High Line – an elevated park along a disused portion of an old elevated railroad line that was originally built to remove freight from New York streets due to too many accidents. I love so many features of this park: the plants carefully chosen for this park to resemble the grasses and wildflowers that normally grow along disused railroad tracks, lots of benches, some tucked away for privacy, a section of lawn where people just stretched out and enjoyed the warm sun, and an ‘urban theatre’ over 10th Avenue providing urban interesting view. (Check out Wikipedia for the fascinating history of the High Line at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_(New_York_City)
New York city
High Line park, New York
The first evening, we catch up with Suzun whom I met on my first business trip 10 years ago – she had been so welcoming and so helpful, we quickly developed a friendship and it seemed important to finish our trip and celebrate with her. Suzun picked the venue – Ladurée, no less!! Anthony decides a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck is appropriate for the occasion (all my friends know I only drink real champagne and Piper is an old favourite). It is a wonderful evening, sitting in the outside courtyard, amongst trees, a simple yet delicious dinner. Thank you Suzun for being part of our celebration.
Anne with Suzun, New York at Ladurée restaurant
Anthony and Suzun in New York
The view from our hotel room in New York City!!
The next day, 31st August, is our anniversary – we have always celebrated the day we met, 41 years ago today!! After doing our hand washing, we go for a walk on the High Line towards the new Whitney museum, then have a snack for lunch at a French café before visiting a dermatologist. Poor Anthony has been suffering from the most irritating, distracting and even quite distressing itching, all over his body, for the past 6 weeks, with the last couple of weeks being quite unbearable for him. We went to 2 urgent care clinics over that time, he was put on a course of prednisone which gave some relief for a time and the last doctor recommended he see a dermatologist for a biopsy, telling us she thought it might an auto-immune disease. Today is such a relief in many ways: not only is he seeing a specialist, she is certain it is not an auto-immune problem, but a reaction to an insect bite which got infected and she doesn’t see the need for a biopsy!!! Another mega course of the corticosteroid for 10 days with some anti-histamine spray should get him relief pretty soon and he will get over this. That was the best part of our anniversary!!!!
The High Line and ‘urban theatre’ in New York City
As always when in New York, we walked and walked. I do love the architecture there and noticing all the little quirks in what feels like distinct different villages within New York. As usual, I notice the graffiti artwork. But it dawns on me that this visit feels very different. I have always loved New York. Loved the buzz. Probably because I was excited about the exhibition I was preparing or holding. This time, I feel disconnected with the city. I had planned on visiting the Whitney museum and visiting the Freedom tower and surrounding area. They don’t matter to me today. I have changed… And it is more important to spend time together on our anniversary. The Whitney will be there next time I visit New York.
New York City
New York City
Back to our hotel for a rest, download my photos, a shower and a change, a free drink on our roof top terrace, enjoying the sky scape and we head to our friends Judy and John for dinner out. We are a little early so enjoy a walk in Central Park. What incredible vision back in the 1850’s to dedicate such a massive area (843 acres) in the centre of New York. It is a truly beautiful park and great to see so many people walking, running, and generally keeping fit or simply enjoying a quiet moment on a bench. I met Judy and John years ago, through one of my exhibitions in New York – Judy has been dealing in Vietnamese art for the past 20 years and was exhibiting at the same fair as me and the 4 of us have since always enjoyed each other’s company. We go to a lovely restaurant in Central Park, just across the road from their apartment and spend a lovely evening catching up.
View from our hotel room in New York City
Judy and John in New York
The next morning, 1st September, we ride out of New York. Anthony has got some relief from his itching so is able to enjoy the ride out more than our arrival. We are heading to Connecticut to see some friends for lunch and will be taking the FDR, so we end up riding through more of the city centre. How special to ride past the Bryant Park subway exit, opposite the distinctive Grace building, which we first emerged from on our first visit to New York in 1980.
Riding past Bryant subway station, New York – what a feeling
We would never have imagined we would have ridden past that point 35 years later, having just about finished a round the world motorcycle trip. That is a special moment!!! We both feel good.
– Anne
New York!!!!
We made it to New York after 14 months on the road and over 50,000kms!!! Feels good.
Friends & family in Philadelphia & Princeton
Wednesday is a great day: yesterday’s MSG induced migraine is over and we are riding through Washington DC to head to Philadelphia. The air is crisp, the sky deep blue, my head clear as crystal, the traffic is light and easy. It is my turn today to see a bit of DC. We ride past the Pentagon, over the Potomac, past Lincoln’s Memorial, run parallel to the Reflecting Pool, get a fleeting glimpse of the White House, ride along imposing National Archives buildings and get close to the Capitol. We have visited Washington many times before over the years, but have usually spent our time visiting most museums. Today is different. We are slipping through, as part of our round the world tour. Time is running out. A few months ago, we would have stayed another day. We no longer have that luxury. But it is still perfect. It still feels special to ride through DC.
Crossing the Potomac towards Lincoln’s Memorial
Riding out of DC past the Capitol
Our next stop is Philadelphia. On our way, we clock over 50,000kms since we left the UK 14 months ago! We have started to feel confused about how we feel about the end of our trip and when I notice my odometer clicking over this milestone, this lump in my throat suddenly came from nowhere and takes me by surprise. Yes, it was suddenly a little emotional, realising what we had done this past year. We are on a major road at the time, no place to pull over. A drive by video and photo will have to do.
Our first New York sign – we’re definitely getting closer!
Celebrating reaching 50,000kms on our way to Philadelphia
Why Philadelphia? For one very special reason: to see Oliya and her kids Sabina and Samir, whom we met in Uzbekistan just over a year ago in Samarkand at her father Jamkur’s home. Oliya has lived in the US for the past 6 years and was visiting her family during her kids’ summer holiday when we met them. Oliya’s sister Aziza, who we met first at a restaurant in Samarkand, and I have stayed in touch ever since through WhatsApp. Aziza and Oliya’s father Jamkur’s parting comment to us when we left has stayed with us ever since: “part of my heart goes with you”. Seeing Oliya, Sabina and Samir again outside Philadelphia was wonderful. The welcome they gave us was so heart warming. And what a feast we had. Oliya remembered that we had enjoyed her father’s plov – a typical Uzbek meal. After dinner, we skyped home in Samarkand. The line was terrible, we couldn’t understand what they were saying, the image was constantly frozen and blurry, but we did see everyone. The image of Jamkur with a beaming smile and doing a heart sign with his hands was so special. We are so glad we stopped over to see Oliya, Sabina and Samir. We were lucky to finally meet Oliya’s husband Parviz who came home early from his evening shift to meet us. It is hard to hear how difficult it is for them as a new immigrant family with limited English. Parviz used to be a lawyer in Uzbekistan but has not been able to get a comparable position here because of his level of English which is so tough for him. But both Oliya and Parviz are doing all they can to give their children a better chance in life while also supporting their family back home. I wish people who complain about too many immigrants or refugees could spend a bit of time with them and hear their stories… Leaving your home and families is never easy (we know, and it was our choice!) and sadly many have no other option. We feel for them… It is like time time stands sill for us while we are there, somehow, we get to do so much in an afternoon/evening: Anthony plays Monopoly with Samir, I go for a walk with the Olya and Sabina, I meet the Russian grandmother whom Oliya looks after every week end, we enjoy Oliya’s feast, we all play cards, we chat while we do the washing up, we reminisce about our gatecrashing that wedding in Samarkand, we laugh – we are so glad we are here. The next morning, Oliya prepares a huge cooked breakfast for us: she managed to start a little later this morning – she normally starts at the kindergarten at 7am but is starting at 9 today so that she can spend a bit more time with us. There is no greater gift than unconditional love and friendship and this is what this beautiful family has given us. After Oliya leaves, we spend a bit more time with Sabina and Samir before we head off too.
Samir, Oliya and Sabina (with Lucky)
Samir and Anthony playing Monopoly
Samir wants to take Anne for a ride
We are now headed for Princeton, to see one of Anthony’s cousins Inger and her husband Steve who have been here for the past year. We last saw them briefly in Melbourne just before we left Australia nearly 2 years ago (already?!). It is good to see family again. And it is a good time for us to catch up on family news and clean our air filters (we did an oil change just outside Philadelphia), give our jackets their first wash in 3 months, catch up with laundry, and catch up on our blog writing. And eat some delicious and healthy meals. The food we have been eating while in the US, apart from when we have visited friends, has been pretty bad really. We have never been to Princeton before and can see why it has such a reputation. It is a beautiful place, with lovely old houses, stunning university buildings. With its university which was established in 1736, it has a vibrant and cosmopolitan feel.
Steve, Inger and Anthony
It has been a lovely place to stop for a couple of nights and great to see family, thanks Inger and Steve, before heading into New York City tomorrow!!!!
– Anne
The Nation’s Capitol
In our previous visits to Washington we have never seen either the Pentagon or Arlington National Cemetery. Our location to the south of the city allowed us the opportunity to see the Pentagon and spend a little time walking through a small part of the cemetery. Seeing some of the dates on the tombstones is a sober reminder of sacrifices that individuals have been made on behalf of their country. It is nice to see that their wives can be buried alongside them, at a later date of course. Currently some 400,000 people are buried there.
Arlington cemetery
Washington DC, the nation’s Capital, is home to the United States’ Capitol Building, which houses the legislative arm of the US government. Congress, as it is called, is made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. We had never been inside the Capitol Building in previous visits, so decided this was time to see the interior and learn a little about how the Congress of the United States works. Anne unfortunately went down with a MSG induced migraine, so only I had the opportunity to visit the Capitol building.
Washington DC Capitol showing House of Representatives.
The visitor centre is extensive and built underground so as not to spoil the views of the Capitol Building. It is designed to take hundreds of visitors at a time and was much larger than I had imagined. I was able to see both the Senate chamber and House of Representatives chamber from their respective visitors’ galleries plus a tour of the old house of Representatives chamber and its 36 statues. Not bad for an hour and a half.
Throughout the Capitol building, one comes across many statues, the largest number reside in the National Statuary Hall which was the old House of Representatives meeting place from 1807 to 1857 – the tour guide said that each of the 50 States can nominate and provide 2 statues, bronze or marble, of famous people (deceased) or, as in the case of the Rosa parks statue, commissioned by Congress, the first by them since 1873. That is just the cover story, one of the other guides said that anyone on a tour left behind overnight gets turned into a statue! Reminds me of C.S. Lewis’s book ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, where the White Witch turns people and talking animals to stone. A much more plausible explanation than that the States provide the Statues I think, so do not dawdle on the tour.
Rosa Parks amongst the Capitol statues
Greek and Roman democracy influenced the founding fathers and this extended to the architecture of the Congress Building but one can see the local influences, such as the top of columns decorated with corn cobs and tobacco leaves. Good to see a local touch.
Washington laying the foundation stone for the Capitol building.
I find Washington is city of contrasts: we have wide avenues, amazing monuments, impressive buildings and poverty. As I walk though the city, I see government officials, military personnel, tourists, every type of law enforcement officer and the homeless and mentally ill. Such a mixture and we have noted that in wealthy areas, such as Santa Barbara in California, we find a higher number of homeless people. We should not forget how lucky we are and have been in life.
The White House
Passing the old post office on Pennsylvania Avenue half way between the Capitol Building and the White House, which is being converted into a hotel, I see a sign: ‘ Trump coming in 2016’. The hotel will be a Trump, or does this foretell the results of the 2016 Presidential Election? I cannot imagine that even Donald Trump planned that one, but we will have wait and see how the Republican Presidential Primaries turn out next year before we know if the poster was more than it was intended to be.
Post Office being converted to a ‘Trump’ Hotel
Capital DanceSport Championships were taking place in our hotel. The place was full of colourful dresses and bronzed people taking part in the Ballroom and Latin dancing. The hotel’s arrival information for the participants included warnings not to use the water sprinklers to hang clothing from and to contact housekeeping for old sheets if they were using bronzing sprays in the room! Talking to one of the makeup artists, I learned that she starts at 4 am, as the first dance heats commence at 7am and the competition runs until midnight each day.
Amazing dance dress
A day of contrasts…
– Anthony
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