live long, and prosper...

Well the crazy mix of weather continues here - hot some days, cold the next. A range of flowers. The blossoms of the cherry trees fell as quickly as they arrived - it was all pink snow for a while (far nicer than yellow snow, that's for sure!)
and within mere minutes, it seemed, the vast green of spring arrived, and the city is transformed... In the spirit of all this nature, last weekend D and I set out early as intrepid explorers, off up the Hudson River to a place called Cold Creek to go and hike (aka tramp) a place called 'breakneck ridge'. we left home early, on the Q (the best subway line when working properly, home to central park in just over 1/2 hour!)
Well it wasn't that early (7.30 or something), and it wasn't as deserted as this. But we had on hiking boots, backpacks etc... all kitted up for our BIG DAY OUT. Except when crossing the Manhattan bridge, we looked out the window and saw the reality of the day:
(Nb this view isn't from the Manhattan Bridge!) At that point I suggested we abandon, and so we opted for an urban hike instead - getting off at Canal St, and hiking home, first stopping for Doughnut plant sustenance, over the splendid Manhattan Bridge, and all through Brooklyn. The bridge afforded some wonderful views of the local flora and fauna:
and great views across the city. Now, NYC is not exactly a city without diversity. In fact, it's easily one of the most diverse places I've ever been. And in terms of style, you see anything and everything, from the most conservative to the most 'out there' you can imagine! But despite this, we got more than a handful of 'looks' at our get-up on our 3 hr hike.

We made the most of change of plans by attending a 'block party' - put on by Habana Outpost, a great little 'eco eatery' place (Cuban, of course) I've blogged about before - that afternoon. Think grilled corn and fresh coconut juice... mmmm! DJs and a large crowd bursting out onto the street, all presided over by a stylish and fabulous NYC cop - called Hippolyte:
And the day finished perfectly, with the STAR TREK movie. fab!

Sunday we visited the absolutely wonderful Nogouchi Museum, a museum displaying the artist's work in his former studio space. It's right by the East River in Queens, and is wonderful and restful. We then went to a outdoor sculpture park, Socrates, where a new exhibition (State Fair) was opening, that David had worked on. Freezing! The Nogouchi is definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in sculpture!

Anyway, that was our art and hiking weekend, and the week itself was a blur of work... until Friday, which was tramping take 2... we set off at 6.30am, caught the Q to the wonder that is Grand Central Station, and then the Metro North train up the Hudson (fantastic views of the river, West Point Military Academy, the Indian Point nuclear power station) to the quaint historic 'town' of Cold Spring. Desperate for a loo (the town's public one's being shut!), we popped into the first cafe we saw, and the very friendly waitress convinced us to try some 'breakfast' (for us it was to be a second - aka hobbit' breakfast. D decided he wanted 'french toast' and she said 'share it, it's big... and it was:
It turned out to be the best breakfast we have had in the US (and probably the cheapest!), five thick slabs of 'Italian' bread, soaked and fried, oodles of fruit, and 'maple syrup (probably high fructose corn syrup)... and even between us we couldn't finish it! Laden down by that, we set off up 'main street' for what turned out to be a nearly 6-hour hike, through stunning forest, with wonderful views when we broke out into the odd ridge/peak:
It was hot and humid as hell, and we spent any bit of the tramp that involved an uphill slope absolutely drenched... glistening, one might say. As we were close to finishing, we crossed a little creek, and both of us used it as a time to splash and refresh. Walking on about 100m further, we realised we'd lost the track markers, and although there was an obvious track, it wasn't clear, so we backtracked to the last marker we could find... this was just over the other side of the creek. I was walking ahead of D, and just as we came to the creek I looked down to where I was about to step, and, suddenly, in very unlike me behaviour, screamed and jumped backwards... now why such crazy behaviour, you may ask!? Only the thing I have feared the most... continue to fear the most... a SNAKE!!! right there, barely inches away from my booted foot... black and slithery, about 4-5 foot long. It freaked me out, I was a shaking mess for about 20 minutes, resolved only by chocolate consumption!

D, on the other hand, was more excited than is humanly sensible. He'd spent the whole of our Arizona trip hoping to see a snake, and so instead of paying attention to my psychological trauma, grabbed the camera and spent 20 minutes photographing the thing... which crossed the creek: and continued on its merry way. Here's a close-up of the horrid thing.With a bit of research, I ascertained that it's probably a black rat snake, which is a constrictor. So I was probably never in mortal danger, but I can't even look at the photos without shivering.

Back to NY on the train, we stupidly chose a carriage without air-con, and boy was it ghastly...

Some great meals with friends on Friday and Saturday nights, and a good walk through Green-Wood cemetery today, about 25 blocks south of us. When it was first opened, it was the largest park in NYC, and the inspiration to create Central Park in Manhattan, apparently. It's home to the highest point in Brooklyn (220 ft above sea level, this not being a mountainous region), which was the site of the 'battle of Brooklyn' - the first battle between the 'united colonies' and the British, in what would be come the battle for independence. The British, with 20,000 seasoned troops roundly routed the (to become) 9000 unseasoned United Statesians (a more politically-on term than Americans, given that this whole continent, north and south, is 'America'!) led by one soon to be very famous George Washington. Apparently it's a bit of forgotten military history (as they said, probably because the US lost!). Great views of Manhattan. The cemetery is apparently also a (one hopes former!) site of Mafia killings, given that it's always very quiet. Luckily none were in progress today, or certainly none where I was walking. phew! Home after an absolutely scrumptious barbacoa huarache at the Guerrero Food Centre. Now that's one I'm going to have to go and enjoy a few more times before I leave.

On that note, my flights to the UK have been booked, and it means that the cold hard truth of leaving NYC has hit me. less than 4 weeks and I'll be bidding this fine city farewell. D, on the other hand, gets two weeks longer. To say I am envious doesn't half describe it.

with that note, since it's now Monday morning, sleep has to take priority. Even in the city which never sleeps. textbooks to not write themselves on no sleep, unfortunately. So, for now, live long and prosper!