Floral Hope and Light

I posted a little bit last week about the Highline, a new park in New York City built on a raised train platform that runs for about twenty blocks through the west side of Manhattan. In that post (here's the post) I gave a short, mostly-accurate story of the park, and described how desperately cool the place is. It's insanely cool. I also shared a bunch of photographs of the park, people in the park, the surrounding skyline, and views of the street a few stories below. That post ended up being about the length I wanted, and then, I noticed I still had more photographs of the park. It took me about another week to compile them in a moderately creative way, acquire enough internet connectivity for a long enough amount of time to finish this piece, and get it posted. Now, it's here. Whee.

So, I noticed that most of these accidentally forgotten photographs were of the flowers and other fauna of the Highline. I'm a sucker for flowers. I'm a girl, and I love them. Roses make me swoon. It's October, not prime flower season in New York City by any stretch of the imagination, and half of the photographs I've been taking lately seem to be of flowers. This borders on almost a kind of obsession, it seems. But, damnit, they are just so pretty. They are gorgeous. Flowers are natural, beautiful reminders that there are powers, influences, gods, what have you, that shine happiness and light on the world despite all of the darkness. They amaze me every day with their hope. Every flower I see makes me think about all of the lovely moments in my day, and my life.

Call me Candide, but I've become a crazy optimist lately. I mentioned this in my post yesterday, but the world is WONDERFUL. My life is going well, the lives of everyone I know are going well. Change is occurring, and change is fabulous. The world is moving forward. Isn't that the point? I like logic, facts, and good points. Like these ones- there is less war than every before. There is so much less poverty than at many points in history. In this country, the public is starting to make itself generally better informed, and is stepping up to take a more active role in politics. The cool air of the weather change is refreshing. Flowers are pretty. Food is delicious. I love my job. Some people are rude, but for every single asshole I meet during a day who doesn't want to let me on the train, or cuts in front of me in line at the deli, or almost runs me over with his bike while I cross the street for which I clearly have the green light, there are hundreds more people that I encounter every day who did not do that.

People are nice, and people are good. Some people aren't, but most people are! It's so exciting and uplifting. I have such wonderful feelings about this world. We are all so lucky to be alive!

And, for real... LOOK AT THOSE PRETTY FLOWERS AND PLANTS AND STUFF!

They're so pretty. Even the dead one.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

On the Line, the Highline

Highline Park is the coolest and most wonderful re-purposing project that I have ever seen, and, it might possibly be the best one ever.  I know I haven't seen many things in my life- I'm young, and haven't traveled a particularly large amount.  But, it's such a damn brilliant idea.  I was actually struggling when it came to writing about the Highline... in a few short monthes, it has gone from being an old, abandoned train track to one of the major tourist destinations in New York City.  So much is being said about this place, that I wasn't sure how to say something different.  It's the center of media, local, and traveler attention, and I feel like everyone seems to know about it.

But, maybe you don't. The Highline Park is an elevated park that runs for many blocks (more than 20!), from Gansevoort St to 34th St, on the West Side of Manhattan.  The park is often twenty or thirty feet above the ground.  It's amazing. The ground consists of constructed sidewalks and old train tracks with flowers and trees growing in between the old, rusty metal.  Instead of seeing the surrounding street at your level, you are on par with buildings two or three stories up, and you can look down at the busy intersections and streets below, watch the cars and busses going by.  If you look out to the west, it is easy to see the Hudson River, and, from a few points, you can even see the East River if you look out to the east.  Benches are plentiful in the park, and a few cafes and streetcarts serving gourmet foods, coffees, and even wine and beer are present in some locations.  The Highline is a wonderful experience, and it takes about 20 minutes to a half an hour to walk the whole thing, if you aren't stopping often.  If you really stop to take a look at the beautiful New York architecture around, the rooftop gardens, the rivers, the flowers, and the food and drink offerings, it could easily take an hour to traverse the whole thing.

The far West Side of Manhattan is very easy for tourists to ignore, and I sincerely hope that the Highline Park will help to change that.

It's beautiful.  If you are planning to visit New York City sometime in the near future, I think you should go.  If you live in New York City, go.  I waited monthes after it opened to check it out, and I'm just disappointed that I didn't go sooner!  It's so lovely.

More to come about the Highline this weekend.  There might be some flowers!
:-)

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Warmth

So, I know that I posted that "Autumn Falling" blurb a few days ago, but this fall has actually been very warm so far.  It's been in the 70's (Fahrenheit) all week long, and it is supposed to be for about another week.  Now, I'm not griping- as a matter of fact, I'm pretty happy about it.  The flowers are still blooming, the beach is still usable for sunbathing and swimming purposes, and I can still wear sandals and sundresses.  But, pumpkin flavored/ scented things are appropriate.  It's the best of both worlds.

Here are some phone photographs I've taken lately to chronicle this unusually warm early Autumn.

 Cheers to a few more warmer days before we descend into another winter blizzard-pocalypse.

Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA