I am exploring my neighbourhood while waiting for school to start on Sept. 8. My apartment is in Hudson
Heights, a gem of a neighbourhood just a 20 minute subway ride from Midtown. Hudson Heights is
south of the Bronx and north of Washington Heights. It is known for its leafy oak trees,
Romanesque Revival architecture and Mom and Pop shops. Fort Tryon Park (where the above self-timer was
taken) is a 66 acre park designed in , in 1935 by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of the architect of Central Park.
The park is home to the Cloisters, off leash dog areas and the New Leaf restaurant owned by Bette Midler.
Within the park is the Heather Garden ...
And beautiful lookout areas...
Some preliminary observations about New York City include:
-hotel evevators are small and play loud muzac (at least at the Hotel Mela).
-people are friendly. Jason and I were saddled with luggage and looking lost. A man asked if we
were looking for the subway. We were. Without breaking his stride, he pointed to the subway 100 metres away
(328 feet ) and kept walking.
-traffic moves: despite the sheer volume of cars, trucks and tour buses, there is a natural flow to vehicular and
pedestrain traffic. One-way streets and no right turns on red lights helps that flow.
-olfactory overload: Near Times Square, within one city block, I was hit with the smell of high octane urine, fresh
shampoo, diesel fuel and warm bread.
-beautiful people: among us are tall, pencil-thin, women (and some men) who sashay down the street
without a care in the world, or an ounce of fat.
I am sure I am morbidly obese by Manhatten standards.
But fresh veggies are eveywhere, including this mini mart just around the corner from my apartment.
Liquor stores sell wine and spirits (no beer). Convenience stores sell beer.
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