October 14th
– October 20th 2013
14
Columbus Day. Monday. Not the greatest and not the worst
weather. Leaving the city around nine o'clock in the morning and
heading to New Jersey and Pennsylvania border. Quiet drive across New
Jersey (gas was cheaper – 3.33). Jest before entering PA we turned
off the freeway and were following Delaware river (it is National
Recreation Area). Visitor center closed (for season). River. Woods
all around slowly changing colors. Really pretty. Few stops and maybe
five miles in we hit the gate that was closed – the road was closed
– the end. We used some not so nice words and turned around and
drove back. Cross to PA. Visitor center – nice one, there are more
closed roads due the damn government shutdown. We left New York,
drove through New Jersey and now were in Pennsylvania. Funny. Drove
as close to the river as possible (not very close). Really nice
landscape – rolling hills, older towns and villages, kind of nicely
picturesque and pretty. We made small detour for Bushkill Waterfalls
(according to signs it is Niagara of Pennsylvania) – overflowing
parking lot and it was privately owned and run (13 dollars a person).
It did not look very appealing. Left. Still in PA, we drove away from
main road to the waterfall – the road was not closed and we found
it – short walk down where we found really nice fall.
Quick stop in the grocery store before crossing back to
New York. PA price for pack of cigarettes was about 5 dollars, NY was
about 9.5 dollars. That was probably the reason why there were so
many smoke shops on PA side. Continue driving in NY – the same
nice, peaceful, and relaxing landscape we encountered around
Syracuse. Warwick winery – found and surprised by the number of
people visiting. It is also working farm offering apple picking. J.
had some wine and good time. Few stops along the way – several
state forests, many and many lakes and changing leaves – it was so
beautiful. Some traffic. Cross Hudson. Drive home (more less fine).
Done for a day. And again bringing more stuff to the apartment (some
food, wine, maps).
15
Pretty nice day. It took a while in the morning but sun
came out and the city looked pretty. Some monkey business in the
morning – some practical and some useless (like life itself).
Subway A to Washington Heights (almost the top of Manhattan Island)
and walk across Fort Tryon to The Cloisters Museum.
http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters
The park was beautiful, bathing in sun and offering peace and
serenity so close to bustling city. It was like an oasis in the
middle of the desert. Those places are still surprising me – you
would not expect to find something like that in the city (or in that
neighborhood). Incredible views of Hudson River, Washington bridge
and cliffs of New Jersey. The Cloisters – I found it both strange
and interesting. It is a collection of medieval art and architecture
pieces from Europe. The architecture pieces (doorways, windows,
arches) are incorporated into the Cloisters building. It is pretty
but also strange, hard to say. After the museum we walked through the
rest of the park to Dyckman subway stop and went home. J. had some
monkey business – cancel gym – to do. In the afternoon/evening J.
had dinner with a friend in the city. Nice and easy day.
16+17+18
Not much. J. worked. Neighborhood walk – the city is
strange. Some new developments or really nicely redone houses and
next door is just trashed building. Hard to say. Gray sky. Really –
nothing special. More less the same, ordinary life.
19+20
Philly trip – described above.
