Sonntag, 25. September 2011

Washington, D.C.

Fortunately the Metro started working just in time after if was shut down due to Hurricane Irene. And after we figured out all crosses I made in my Lonely Planet, we could take the bus from Chinatown NYC to Chinatown DC. The bus was very modern and the ride comfy - no need to take the greyhound or the train ;-)

The first thing (after apartment and lunch) we did in Washington was strolling along the Mall of course. And the first bunch of people that caught our glance were joggers. The next days an uncountable number of them crossed our way. In contrast to New York City Washington was so neat, so white and had only five store buildings - and you could put a sign for architectural heritag on every other on of them. In addition it was even hotter than in NYC - you always forget that you are more south than Naples.
Getting to the Washington Monument, we saw the crack from the earthquake and wondered why the state monument looks like a penitent (as the ones walking the semana santa in Sevilla) instead of something more elaborate...
The next discovery was that the Philippines were made to one of the states in the WWII. memorial (the same as the colony Guam).
When we reached the reflecting pool, we only found a huge pool of mud (or as some people would say: duck shit). The view would be so cool, but we could only enjoy the view inside the Lincoln Monument.
To finish our roundtrip through the city we went to the White House and almost missed it. You could only follow the map, because at the moment you can actually see it, you are only ten meters away.
Washington at sunset really gets romantic and as we headed back home we stopped by the beatiful lighted Capitol.
Aus Washington, D.C. 2011

Aus Washington, D.C. 2011

Aus Washington, D.C. 2011


On the next day we went to Arlington. It was a beautiful day and despite the trees that Matt told us about there was so much space without any shadow so we almost melted away while visiting the graveyard of John F. Kennedy, Arlington House, the war monuments including the monument of the unnamed soldier and a lot more small and big white graves. During the nice walk you can see the Pentagon, the Potomac River and some parts of the Mall from above.
Aus Washington, D.C. 2011


Back downtown Washington we starte from Union Station (and finally Taco Bell for Helen) to the tour inside the Capitol and the Library of Congress. Our tourguide was quite crazy but knew a lot to tell about murals painted by three artist, presidential statues and the gifts/famous people of every state. In the Library of Congress which is connected to the Capitol via an underground tunnel (I suppose that not only these two buildings are connected underground...), we found an original copy of the Gutenberg Bible among other things.
Getting a view over the city, we went to the old post tower, got some ice cream and paid a visit to the front side of the White House.

Aus Washington, D.C. 2011


Aus Washington, D.C. 2011


For our third day in Washington, we planned a Smithsonian Museum tour. Starting at the Air and Space Museum with the Apollo spacecraft, the inside of a boing 747, Emilia Erhartds aircraft. After that we spend even more time in the Natural History Museum among the T-Rex, the Hope diamant, the giant squid, from insects to mammals. In the forensic department they showed how scientists discover crimes or analyzed living habits of former cultures. You could even watch paleontologists cleaning fossils and bones - and of course we could not let pass the chance to have a picture as neanderthaler ;-)

Aus Washington, D.C. 2011
Aus Washington, D.C. 2011


Aus Washington, D.C. 2011

Daily needs in NYC and Washington

Food and beverages
Colleting tipps from friends and colleagues before our trip, we were provided with very good addresses allready and found some more on our way.
  • Burger: Try TGI Fridays, even if it's a chain, these are real restaurants with one of the most delicious burgers
  • Chinatown: Doesn't depend on the city, if you crave for Asian food and atmosphere you should hang out there
  • Cheesecake: It's a little tricky to find (as Lonely Planet wrote down the wrong address), but Junior's will not disappoint you. This is the most delicious, most creamy Cheescake - try the classic one or chocolate cream cheescake, but beware that you don't need anything else to eat for the rest of the day :) (and never order a chocolate milk shake as a side dish - cream-overload!). There is one just next to the Marriot Hotel at Times Square.
  • French Breakfast: Balthazar serves you a fine breakfast, even if it's not that low priced it's a good thing to start a day with a delicious breakfast. In Wahington you could try Le Pain Quotidien on Pennsylvania Avenue at Eastern Market Station.
  • Sushi: Our lessor in Williamsburg recommended us Ako Sushi at 205 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. This is the best Sushi I ate so far outside of Japan.
  • Pizza: If you're on Pennsylvania Blvd heading away from the Capitol in Washington, try the fresh slices and the best variety of housemade lemonade at We are Pizza.
  • Slow Food/Market/Coffee: It's not a street market, but if you want to watch the bakers baking your bread, get a meditationally made crepe, buy original italien ingredients and even just for the look you should go to chelsea market
  • Mexican: You can try one of the Chipotle branches, as a fast food store it's ok, quick and cheap
  • Icecream: Find the small vendor in Little Italy :)
  • Softdrink: Don't miss Bubble Tea at Chinatown. I have to admit, it's even better than Zagu's becaus it's freshly made out of real fruits - I think we had it at Vivi's
  • Supermarket: You can find almost everything in Wholefoods. This organic supermarket chain serves even fresh made sushi, soup and other meals. And I found a Schneider Weisse in the alcoholic section. Other supermarkets could learn from their cashier system, there are six lines for around 15 cashiers and a computer anounces the next cashier per line (starting from the first line to the last).
Aus New York 2011


Aus New York 2011
Aus New York 2011


Shopping

  • Department Stores: Don't miss Macy's and JC Penney (Bloomingdales turned out to be to expensive - again)
  • Shoes: Payless is unbeatable, but be careful to not get addicted and fly home with their whole collection :D
  • Century 21 is the mecca for outlet-designer-shoppers on Manhattan. It's really worth a try, but in my opinion you could skip the clothes department (stick to bags, shoes and maybe accesories)
  • You can also try Nordstrom on Union Square, but you have to be lucy for what you're looking for
  • Our insider's tip: Queens Center has everything you need, is less expensive and less crowded than the shops in Manhattan. Actually these are to malls connected with a closed overpass and with a Target Departmentstore just one corner away. The Daffy really has clothes you want to wear, JC Penney is huge and . In addition the food court covers your need for lunch without going out (you could go there with the E, M, R Line / Wodhaven Blvd. Station or Grand Station

Housing

As for our housing, we tried airbnb.com this time and weren't disappointed at all. The apartments were as described, getting the key from a friend of the lessors were no problem and having a complete apartment with kitchen and washing machine was quite handy.

In New York, we lived in Williamsburg along the L-Line. Pefect there is no apartment left in Manhattan or if you want to save some money. It's only 15 Minutes to Union Square station. And if you want to spend a nice evening in a pub or restaurant outside of the busy center you could go to Bedford Street.

In Washington we had right on the Capitol hill just five streets behind the Capitol. The area was so save and sound and the apartment totally neat.


Last but not least
You should think, to take a leak is no big deal in such a developed country as the US. But as we're not the only ones disappointed by lots of the public facilities, let me list some nicer possibilities ;-)
If you're in NYC you can sneak in to the Hard Rock Cafe (it's hard to select who was buying something), St. Peter's Chapel was a nice surprise downtown and Chelsea Market has some nice ones as well, but use the ones in the rear of the alley, these are the modern ones.
In Washington it's not that bad as in NYC, just try the toilets in the museums or the capitol and don't use the ones nearest to the entrance.

New York City

Sorry for the delay, but better late than never... :D

In August we (Heike, Helen and me aka 3H) went to NYC - not for the first time but to discover a lot of new sights.
But first we had to master taking the cab from the airport to Queens. If you think cabdrivers know the city, you will be disappointed. Even if we just had to follow three of the well known avenues, the cab driver didn't have a clue about streets outside of Manhattan. Luckily Heike is an old stager: She had printed out the google map.

As it was the first time for Helen in NYC, we decided to start our tour on the first day arount Bryant Park, getting Coffee at Starbucks and heading to the flashy heart of the city: Times Square.
The view up with all the skyscrapers pointing to the sky wasn't as impressive as the first time, but still I couldn't stop to look up again and again.
Afterwards we went further uptown, crossing Columbus Circle, Central Park and Fifth Avenue. On the way to Grand Central station we found a street market with food, clothes and shows from Asia and Latin America. Pouring rain kept us within the station where my camera stopped working and a three days search for the right repair shop started. (If you ever need anything audiovisual equipment, go to B&G on 9th Avenue, it's almost like Akihabara in Tokyo, but with Jews instead of Japanese sales people).

For the next day we started downtown at the old city hall and woolworth building, saying hello to the most curious squirrels. Just across the street you can walk up the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the hottest and crowded viewpoints, but also one you shouldn't miss when you are in New York City.
Aus New York 2011


Passing Ground Zero I was shocked how noisy the construction site was. Helen met a man outside of St. Paul's Chapel which was spared 9-11. He came here for the 10th anniversary of losing a family member and stated: This looks wrong...

For a more buzzing atmosphere we went on to Chinatown - for apparent reasons one of my favorite spots where you can get bubble tea and different asian food, have your hair straightend, find uncountable lucky charms and drink from a fresh coconut if you want :)
But I have to admit Little Italy has it's charm as well - especially at night.

Finding the port for our speedboat trip was a hassle. We got off the right station but went down the wrong street and walked a three mile detour...(For the records, it's just 42nd street down ;-) At least the speed boat tour was more than a compensation. You will see the same as with the 90 minutes circle line tour with a stop near the statue of liberty. But going back and forth its a wavy ride with some wet stop-turn at the end :D
Aus New York 2011


Another new experience was walking through Highline Park. Before it was the trail for the freight train going through the Meatpacking District around three to five meters above the ground. Today it is a walk paved with smothe stone and wood, build in benches and enclosed with all the plants and bushes that wildly grow there. And if you look around you can see several innovative buildings which offer exclusive (and expensive) housing.
Aus New York 2011


Missing it the last time, I wanted to go to the Flatiron Building. Even if we followed Helen's little cousin by: "Saw it, was awesome, let's go!" - we only added some pictures.
Aus New York 2011


If you pass Union Square one day, you should look out for the 9-11 memorial. People posted all the names of the victims - one on every wall tile.
Aus New York 2011


When Matt visited us, we went to the UN early in the morning, catching the first tour. Even if they are renovating the office building we experienced sitting in the great assembly hall. Until 2014 they want to be finished while having the rooms look the same as intented by the great architects and designers who designed it in 1952 (e.g. Oscar Niemeyer, Le Corbusier, Marc Chagall). Unfortunately the security council hold a meeting, so we couldn't have a glance at their hall.
Even if the girls backed out due to the buring sun, Matt and I went for a bicycle ride along the Hudson river. What a fun and what a pity the girls missed it! There is a special bikelane on which you could go up all the way, but we didn't want to make the girls wait to long so we turned around at the USS Intrepid.
For the evening we went uptown again to the observation deck of the Rockefeller Center. During sunset you can have the greatest view over the city. We were a little early but still, the orange light started to coat the buildings. And as we were on Top of the Rocks, we had a awesome look at the Empire State Building - but the Chrysler Building was a little bit covered by the Met Life Building.
Aus New York 2011


I wanted to go to at least one of the museums so just on the day we went back to Germany I went to the Met on my own and spend a short but fantastic time there. Having lingered to long around the modern paintings I had to almost run past the complete egyptian temple with mummies, the huge figures of the polynesian section, the classical american housing, tiffany artwork and the roman statues.
Aus New York 2011