Holidays in NYC

It's been a while since my last post... The weather has been cold: we had a snow-storm yesterday and are expecting another one tomorrow, still, you can't beat NYC this time of year. There is something magical about the scale and scope of American decorations and lights. There are Christmas Tree sellers on almost every street corner, with couples in head-to-foot North Face coats comparing the features of various trees. Speaking of North Face, I think NY might be sponsored by them. A North Face jacket is like a uniform on the streets of Manhattan. Everyone from the dustbin men to business executives has one. Having spent the past 5 weeks walking around in sub-zero temperatures, I completely understand why. So much so, that I finally ventured into the North Face to buy my own. Since then, I have been so much warmer. It feels like being encased in a portable duvet. The next thing I need is a pair of winter boots. Trust me, without waterproof boots, the streets here become a continual trap. Every curb morphs into a black hole of water, ice and God-knows what. If you aren't paying attention, you end up standing in a foot of ice-cold liquid and ruining your afternoon. For those of you who remember the movie Groundhog Day, it is like the scene where Bill Murray's character steps of the curb into the puddle and the insurance salesman says "Watch your step, it's a douzy!" I've avoided it to this point but thousands have been less successful!

Pizark

Just in case you are wondering where the name Pizark comes from... The genesis is in a 1960s/1970s US song called 'The Name Game'. Don't ask me what the purpose was or what the entertainment value was but seemingly the essence was to take any name and go, for example, "Park, park, PIZARK, banan-afana fo-zark, fee fi fozark, park." If you don't believe me, google it! Anyway, a teammate of mine at W&M was called Mark McCain. His license plate was Mizark. My nickname at W&M was Park, hence the Pizark. Convoluted perhaps, but there you go...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Name_Game

Strange and Strangers

The most profound quote I heard so far this week was by Daniel Radcliffe, who is currently performing on Broadway in Equus- Harry Potter naked anyone? In response to a question about New York City, he said " It is the only place on Earth where you can see the most beautiful woman in one glance and the most crazy person in the next." I couldn't agree more. New York is truly a smorgasbord of cultures, people, degrees of sanity and everything in between. Strolling along 8th avenue close to my apartment, I am likely to see office workers scurrying to work, construction laborers returning home after a night shift, tourists from every corner of the world and out-and-out raving lunatics.

I was accosted in Starbucks a few days ago by a homeless woman with a deep interest in Tudor History. Strange you may say. It was more than strange. She had the will but not the way. Her command of Kings and Queens was a bit off- a Philip instead of a Henry; a IV instead of a VII, but honestly, her enthusiasm was so refreshing that I spoke to her for 30 minutes. She was truly enthralled by our discussion of London, its history, its culture. The strangest part of the exchange was how normal it felt. In all my years in London, I have never had such an exchange. In New York, conversation is the most natural thing in the world. In the space of a week, I have had spontaneous discussions or chats with at least 1o people- in the grocery store, the coffee shop, the elevator, the subway. People talk. It is so refreshing. Granted, you are always skeptical and unsure of people's motives, but generally it is a wonderful and heartening aspect of life in the Big Apple.  By way of example, I was minding my own business in Whole Foods today, eating soup and reading a book. The woman who had been sitting next to me for the previous minutes got up to collect her things, looked back at me, smiled and enquired about my book, triggering a conversation about Buddhism and careers. The strangest aspect of that exchange was that it seemed so normal. The adventure continues...

Days 2 & 3

It is so helpful to check the weather at your destination before packing and traveling. Helpful, that is, unless the information you find is utterly incorrect! Instead of the balmy 50s shown on the web, we have been treated to sub-zero wind-chill and generally bitter conditions. NYC definitely tests your mettle at this time of year. You can be walking along a street, minding your own business, not particularly aware of the conditions, only to turn a corner and be bombarded by a powerful gust of icy wind intent on biting your face, ringing in your ears and stinging your eyes. It is a momentary reminder of the extremes of the weather here. However, having spent the day wandering around in the cold, it merely heightens the enjoyment and warm glow of the hole-in-the-wall bar you find yourself taking refuge in. Cheers!

What a difference 1st class makes...

My adventure got off to a good start with a sneaky upgrade to first class on my flight to Washington D.C. One of my sister's colleagues very kindly moved me from an already spacious business class seat before takeoff. Instead of having plenty of leg room, a good selection of wines and decent food, I had a private suite with fully-flat bed, an even more extensive selection of wines and even better food. It really did make all the difference...

After touchdown in DC, I progressed through immigration and customs thinking how smoothly the day had gone so far. The experience of past trips left me thinking that something could, and probably would, go wrong at any moment. However, everything continued to go well. I re-checked my luggage to New York and managed to get the last seat on the flight to LaGuardia. Then the wheels came off. As my first suitcase emerged wearily on the baggage conveyor, I thought I was home free. I waited for the second one thinking how I would be sipping a beer shortly thereafter. It never happened. The second suitcase didn't arrive. Instead, thanks to United Airline's handy new computer terminal that allows you to try and find your own lost luggage (what does that say about their track record? I guess you can't shout abuse at a computer... not without seeming insane anyway) My inconvenient suitcase had decided to separate from it's partner and take a later flight. Two hours later, it emerged looking smug and arrogant. I dragged it away to atone for it's sins in the boot of an NYC cab. 

Day 1 was complete. I had that beer after all, having purchased a 6-pack of Heineken from the shop next to Russell's apartment. Lesson number 1: the guy in that store makes up prices based on how much he thinks you can pay. Note to self: wear fingerless gloves, a ratty old wool coat and frayed trousers next time I feel like a drink...

Word Watch:  Bodega.  A Grocery-store in a Spanish neighborhood. Now applies to any small convenience store in NYC.