Chelsea Markets and Walking The High Line....

I woke today feeling like we are actually on a holiday! The beautiful penthouse apartment we are staying in on the edge of the Hudson is a treat. I turned over in bed to catch the following view...

Even in my sleepy state, I grabbed my camera from my bedside table, snapped a quick shot, rolled over and went back to sleep to dream of the day ahead. After a long breakfast we headed out to visit Chelsea Markets. A quick ride on the subway and a walk amongst some beautiful Brownstones past some interesting graffiti....

and we arrived....

I was surprised at how beautifully decorated the markets were - very stylish indeed! I could have spent all day exploring the many food, clothing and flee stores.

And did I mention the spices?

After some meat pies for lunch from the Australian Pie Store we continued on to walk The High Line.

The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition.

Poor Yasemin, with a terrible flu and fever, soldiered on. We were rewarded with amazing views and fabulous artworks along the beautiful walk.

We headed for home walking past the infamous Chelsea Hotel. This fantastic establishment  has been the home of numerous writers, musicians, artists, and actors, including Bob Dylan, Virgil Thomson, Charles Bukowski, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith, and Iggy Pop.  Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey while staying at the Chelsea, and poets Allen Ginsberg, and Gregory Corso chose it as a place for philosophical and intellectual exchange. It is also known as the place where the writer Dylan Thomas was staying when he died of pneumonia on November 9, 1953, and where Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, was found stabbed to death on October 12, 1978.  Last but not least one of my favorite painters, Brett Whiteley also lived in this hotel with his wife and daughter.

More Brownstones along our walk  back to the Subway.

Another great day in the city that never sleeps. It is meant to snow all day tomorrow - I will believe it when it happens! Our plan is to explore the MOMA and keep the kids out of the cold.

After a roast chicken dinner, red wine and chocolate ice cream I put the kids to bed and admired the amazing view from the lounge with Garry.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular....

We decided that a visit to Radio City with the kids to see the Christmas Spectacular was worth the expense. So last night we braved the freezing cold, wind and rain and walked the three blocks to attend the 8.00pm show.

We were not disappointed - in fact quite the opposite. Max exclaimed that the show was, "awesome" many times throughout the performance and the look on Yasemin's face was priceless.

The 11/2 hour performance began with Santa and his beautiful reindeer.

Our favorite was the Toy Solider routine where they all tumble down at the end. Apparently this act has always been in the show.

It was truly a spectacular of special effects, great costumes, wonderful dancing, all the christmas songs mixed in with the whole Radio City Music Hall vibe - Wow!

After the show we headed for home fast - Yasemin had a fever and was not at her best. We did have to walk past one of the most photographed holiday decorations on Sixth Avenue - the giant Christmas ornaments in front of 1251 Sixth Avenue building (Exxon Building). It was so wet and cold that we had the beautiful balls almost to ourselves, I couldn't resist one last shot!

My Most Favourite Building Ever....

I have loved The Chrysler Building from afar for many years...... and today I was able to get up close and personal! I was impressed with the beauty of this Art Deco masterpiece.

For Walter P. Chrysler, from the car manufacturer, building the tallest building in the world was a status symbol. The Chrysler Building was in a race with the Bank of Manhattan (now 40 Wall Street) for obtaining the title of tallest building in the world. It looked like the Bank of Manhattan would win the race, with an expected height of 282 meters (927ft) to around 230 meters for the Chrysler Building. But the spire of the Chrysler Building was constructed in secret inside the tower.

Just one week after the Bank of Manhattan had topped out, the spire of the Chrysler Building was put in place, making it 318 meters (1045ft) tall, thus beating the Bank of Manhattan as the tallest building in the world. It would not keep this title for long: one year later the Empire State Building was erected.

The Chrysler building is one of the last skyscrapers in the Art Deco style. The gargoyles depict Chrysler car ornaments and the spire is modeled on a radiator grille. Since it was restored in 1996 it glitters again like it must have in the 1930s.

And the building's Art Deco interior is even more magnificent than its exterior. The marble floors and many Art Deco patterns such as on the stylish elevator doors make the Chrysler Building one of New York's most beautiful office towers.

The artworks on the ceilings were originally painted on canvas by artist Edward Trumbull. The paintings are called, "Transport and Human Endeavor" and were cemented to the lobby ceiling. At the time of completion tis was the largest mural in the world and featured buildings, airplanes, and scenes from the Chrysler assembly line, as the Chrysler building itself.

My travel buddy Max liked the beautiful Christmas tree the best! Poor Yasemin was back in our apartment with a fever.

I can only imagine how fantastic it would be to go to work in this building everyday!

A Very Sad Day...

The time that I have both dreaded and blocked out has arrived. We are leaving.

I don't know exactly how it happened but it bloody hurt! Last Thursday morning I fell down a flight of stairs in a most undignified manner. My legs were cut, bruised and swollen. As I sat in the Nurse's office with ice bags on my legs I cried. All the emotion of having to pack up and say goodbye to my colleague's at two schools. The emotion of saying farewell to the sweet children I teach. Accepting that the special friendships we have made will most likely end due to the distance between America and Australia. I was in shock and this combined with all the pressure involved with leaving signalled the opening of the floodgates.

I was feeling very emotional and overwhelmed when I woke on Friday morning but also grateful not to have to go to work as I was home on workers compensation leave.

Then I heard the terrible news - that On December 14, 2012, a gunman killed twenty children and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Connecticut, before committing suicide.

I sat and cried while watching the event unfold on television.  It has deeply upset me. As an elementary school teacher in the US with two young children, my heart aches for the parents of these children and the other innocent people who died. I watched desperate, panicked parents looking for their children, waiting outside for the news that their children were still alive. I watched as youngsters at the kindergarten-through-fourth-grade school exited the building with their eyes closed so that they wouldn’t see the bodies, blood and broken glass. I watched as little children the same ages as my own children,were escorted through a parking lot in a line, hands on each other’s shoulders.

I felt proud to be a teacher as I learnt of the brave and courageous decisions that saved the lives of many innocent children at Sandy Hooke.

I sat and watched President Obama deliver an emotional and powerful speech, and I continued to cry.

Throughout my year abroad I have regularly been asked about the differences between America and Australia.

I have one answer - GUNS!

I am thankful for Australia's gun laws. I have been shocked and am tired of hearing that Americans have the constitutional right to bear arms. I suggest these people read the Second Amendment to the constitution which says: ''A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.'' Gun owners always fail to mention the need for a well-regulated militia.

It feels like the world has gone crazy! I am stunned and appalled that so many in the US believe the solution to prevent mass shootings in schools is to simply arm teachers. Surely less guns and not more guns is obvious the answer!

When my children ask about this tragedy I am going to tell them that we are going home to Australia, to a country that cares more about their children then an individuals right to bear arms!

Trout Fishing on the South Platte River...

Our dear friend Susan generously organised for Garry and I to spend a day learning how to fly fish on the South Platte river in Colorado. This was an incredibly kind farewell gift because she also was minding Yasemin and Max so we could enjoy the day child free!

We left early on Sunday morning to meet our guide, Dave. We headed to the popular area know as Deckers. Deckers is an area situated along The South Platte River, considered s a Gold Medal Western trout river on the Eastern Slope of Colorado. The river is well known for its wild trophy population of Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout. As a result of the close proximity to Denver, the river sees thousands of fly fishing enthusiasts each year. With seven dams on the river, the South Platte is considered a tailwater fishery.

I knew it was going to be a great day when we spotted two Bald Eagles flying in the sky from the car. Dave has a number of favorite spots he favors and we went in search of one free from fellow anglers. When we found a suitable spot we started to layer up. It was not a warm day, and the previous night had dusted the area with fresh snow - the water was super cold! Thick wool socks, thermals covered by Marino wool clothing followed by fleeces which were then covered by waders and boots were hopefully going to keep us warm. Dave thoughtfully provided Garry and I with hand warmers - which he placed inside the fingerless I was wearing. These were fantastic!

We were fishing catch and release, which in my mind eased the pressure because we didn't need to catch our dinner. We started the day learning the finer points of casting, mending the line and striking. Garry and I were enjoying the beautiful landscape while working on practicing the basic fishing skills  and focusing on assisting the little white indicator to float down stream as naturally as possible. This was more difficult than it sounds and I was beginning to understand why Fly Fishing is recognized as a sport.

The water was freezing and it was not long before we couldn't feel our toes but we ignored the pain because we were truly having a great time. I actually was so busy concentrating on my technique that sometimes I forgot we were out to catch fish! Then all of a sudden Garry landed the first fish of the day - a lovely looking Brown Trout.

We continued on and we both had a number of bites but no more luck landing any fish. The best feeling was to get into the car and thaw my feet on our way to another fishing spot. This place was even more beautiful than the first! Susan was great with the kids and they had all kinds of fun playing in the snow on the riverbank.

Being the competitor that I am, I was determined to catch a fish because Garry did! Dave was great to have as he was always checking our techniques, changing the line weights and adjusting lures. While Dave was helping me Garry hooked a second Trout which he didn't land. I couldn't believe it - now I was more determined than ever  and then it happened! But it became the fish that got away story. I didn't release the line quickly enough and the line broke. The enormous trout jumped out of the water and swam away with my lure. Bummer!

Eventually my patience was rewarded and I landed a rainbow trout. It was a great moment as Susan, Yasemin and Max cheered from the rivers edge. The obligatory photo will appear asap when Dave emails it to me.

To be continued...........