Thanksgiving by the lake

So, Thanksgiving lunch — turkey with all the fixin’s, plus pumpkin pie for dessert, all at the Boathouse by the lake in Central Park.

It was by far the largest crowd of white people I’ve seen since I got to New York.

The waiter told me I sound like an American who has lived in Australia for many years, so I guess he was half right.

Ducks by Monet

Farewell to Autum…uh, Fall

It’s been below freezing the last few nights.

Scenes from the park a couple weeks ago:

Yes They Did

Scenes from New York City, Tuesday 4 November 2008.

99% Perspiration

Yesterday morning, 40,000 marathon runners zoomed right past our street:

They’d come from Staten Island, up through Brooklyn & Queens, over the Queensboro bridge and up 1st Avenue to the 18 mile mark at our street. They didn’t stop there though…

Some cheerleaders waved.

(don’t drop them!)

Then the 40,000 runners zoomed up 5th Avenue into the park…

The runner who made the biggest impression paused briefly at the entrance to Central Park, the 23.5 mile mark, dropped to the ground and gave 12 push-ups, before continuing on his way, the entire crowd roaring.

Next year, if I can get a ticket…

Happy Halloween!

NYC at Halloween is one giant cosume party, with zombies:

Naughty librarians:

Ninjas on the subway (they ride on the roof of the train):

Cruella deVille:

And just in case you ever wondered what Scotsman keep under their kilts (no wonder she’s smiling!):

In New York, beggars CAN be choosers

Seen in Alphabet City – two skinny bedraggled panhandlers slouched on the sidewalk with their skinny bedraggled dog. On the blanket in front of them this sign:

“Vegan Food Please”

Err, will work for tofu?

Falling along the Hudson

An autumnal train trip up the Hudson river to Poughkeepsie, about 80 miles north of Grand Central railway station. For readers familiar with Australian topography, imagine taking a train up the Hawkesbury river — and it stays that wide for hundreds of miles…

A day of leaves, bridges, water, lonely peaks, mysterious castles and the imposing edifice of the West Point military academy:

Naval Gazing

(this one is for boat nerds)

I can die happy knowing that I’m one of the very few people who got to see the QE2 and Queen Mary 2 rendezvous in both Sydney and New York Harbors.

On both occasions, it was the QE2’s last ever visit to the respective port.

Here was the QM2 at Sydney’s Garden Island in February ‘07:

And here she was steaming into New York Harbor this evening:

To be joined by her elder sister the QE2:

The QE2 sails into history, seabound past Lady Liberty for the 710th and final time…

…to be followed by the QM2, as both will sail across the Atlantic together for Southampton, and the QE2 will go on to become a floating hotel in Dubai. Not a bad retirement!

Next on my bucket list: Blonde 19 year old twins (just kidding, dear!)

Geese!

The geese in Riverside Park seemed quite happy to pose for the camera…

And to offer advice to the kayaker on his technique:

They’ll be flying south soon. See you next Spring, fellas!