The Brooklyn Bridge

Today I took a train downtown and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a long walk, but not as long as everyone warned me it was. There was an amazing view the whole way across.

Starting the walk:



About half-way across:

(A view of Brooklyn)

(A view of Manhattan)

Almost there:

(A view of Manhattan)

(Same view zoomed in...
Chrysler building and the Empire State building in one shot!)

Welcome to Brooklyn!:

(A view of the Manhattan Bridge from the end of the Brooklyn Bridge)

(Statue of Liberty in the background)

(A view of Manhattan from the park in Brooklyn)

My motivation for walking across the bridge:
Claims to be the oldest and best Brooklyn pizza shop. Hence the line that was forever long just to get a table. Hence the reason why I had soup for lunch at the cafe around the corner instead :)

Venezuelan Food

Last night I went to a Venezuelan restaurant in the east village... I was nervous because of my Ethiopian experience. But it was actually very good. I had a popular dish called an Arepa.. it is kind of like a sandwhich.. mne had chicken, cheese and onions in it... heres what it looks like :

A Day In Central Park

So I set out to Central Park to find the John Lennon Memorial, Strawberry Fields
I actually found it really fast. I thought it would take me awhile because Central Park is like a Jungle to me.




(this was the actual "Strawberry Field"... kind of boring... sorry John Lennon.

But here is the rest of the memorial where people come to lay down roses for him:


SO I found Strawberry Fields pretty quickly so I got brave and tried to find the Belvedere Castle... and I did :)




The View from the top of the castle:




So I was feeling like a new yorker and all proud because I found my way around the jungle of Central Park... and then I couldn't find my way out! I walked for an extra two hours trying to get out of the park, only to end up on 5ave... which is on the east side.. I live on the west. Grr. But I did have time to take more cool pics..



This is called The Lake in Central Park:


I also found a sailboat pond where I believe you rent these mini boats an sail them in the pond..
I think.



Oh and on my way home.... I found my store!

Random Photos

Here are some views from my room as the sun was setting and a storm was going out

(if you look to the right and see that small red blurb... that is the Apollo Theater sign...)


Anddddd.... I saw my first subway rat! Well... two of them. You're going to think I'm crazy... but they were kind of cute!

They were dragging this trash bag around trying to get food out of it.

My Birthday

On my birthday, before I had class, I went to visit Rockefeller Center:

They had a special exhibit going on:

I got there right as the today show was ending... but here is where all those people stand. It's really not as big as it looks on tv!


Then I walked around the block to 5ave to shop and sight see...

The Rockefeller Statue


Radio City Music Hall... next time I will try to go inside!


Here is a huge church on 5ave


Then a store I wasn't brave enough to walk into:

Ethiopian Food

I thought I would try new things... there's this Ethiopian restaurant right on the corner of my street. So, I got some girls from my building to go.

Note to self, and everyone else, I don't like Ethiopian food. It was basically a big pile of spicy goop on top of flat bread that you're supposed to dip in the goop. The girls I went with liked theirs.. not sure how. When I left my hair smelled like it, and my hands smelled like it... it made me sick until I showered. I guess I'm just not meant to be cultured...

I know you're curious... here's what it looks like:

Hudson River Run

Finally found the path in Riverside Park that takes you down to the Hudson River... luckily I had my camera :)

Well, before I found the path I found this cool soccer field in the park:


Then once I got down on the path:



It doesn't look very busy... but there were a lot of people out, and a lot of bikes... some of which weren't so nice and would run into you if you didn't move out of their way even though you are in the right lane... Grrr..

I also saw a crazy woman stacking small rocks and balancing them on top of larger ones . It's kind of hard to see in the picture. I also saw a man standing on rocks like these very close to the river.. doing yoga poses.. in very short shorts... and that's it! I was too afraid to take a picture :)



Once you get on the path you're kind of stuck on there for awhile (unless you want to hop over the freeway). So finally, I found the trail that takes you OFF the running path. It was very pretty: