Monday 14 December 2009

Quintessential..



Since I recently found myself in the greatest city in the world, I’ve taken a page out of S1nner’s book and gone nuts with a camera. While I make no claim to have an iota of talent or photographic knowledge, and my tools were, by most’s standards, basic (yet arousingly svelte), I did very much enjoy snapping away at every inch of that amazing town, and still have Rhapsody in Blue reverberating around my skull. So here then is a small selection of the almost embarrassing number of images I indiscriminately digitised, a little love letter to my favourite city on earth. Its quintessentially New York.

Is there a place in all the world that oozes such self assurance, such nonchalant hipness? Everywhere you go, you simply cannot move for something amazing, be it a fantastic view, an easy going bar, an exceptional restaurant (reviews coming up. Oh yes). No, London gets a lot of kudos for being a great city, and it is, in it’s own mean spirited, selfish kind of way – London you have to grab by the throat and squeeze the good stuff out of, make efforts to seek out the juicy, squishy delights lurking beneath a soggy batter of mediocrity. In NY, the goods throw themselves at you at every turn. And then if you delve a bit deeper, you find the really good stuff. Of course it’s easy to romanticise such a place, especially when decked out in it's festive trappings, but if ever there was a city worth romanticising it’s this one.

People say New Yorkers are tough, surly, mean. Balls. What a lovely, cuddly downright adorable tribe they are. Ok so we didn’t spend an awful lot of time in the Bronx, but generally speaking, the man on the NY street is about a gazillion times more likely to offer a lost tourist a hand than you would find on the poshest London street. And in the bars and restaurants? fuggedaboudit, the level of service borders on the ridiculous. Recommendations, honest advice, what not to have or do, all are more forthcoming than the endless coffee refills, and all are spot on. Sure there's a tip waiting for them with the bill, but hey, you gets whats you pays for. In every side street lurks a little slice of greatness, an energy and creativity that pervades the most meagre diner, the most unlikely looking tavern. If ever there was a place I could slip into like a fatman into plate of pancakes, it’s the Big Apple, if just to sit and watch the day unfold.

Do you New Yorkers ever get tired of your town? Is it possible? Sure maybe when you're not on holiday, wandering the streets in a silly hat taking pictures of doorways, and are actually say, making a living or something, it might become a little less striking, but really, does it? Can it? I really can't see it!

10 comments:

Tina said...

Beautiful pictures of a fabulous place. It's iconic for me. I've read and seen so many stories set in New York that it feels familiar to me, while strange. Really loved this. Very much!

kiwi said...

the best city in the world???? controversial comment...very controversial...lol

S1nnerman said...

Great photographs old man! I'd better watch out :)

Tina said...

I've given you guys an award. Pop over to mine to pick it up!

UberGrumpy said...

Oh! I thought you meant Swindon. Where's this New York place then?

Munial said...

Thanks for the kind comments, and Tina, an award?! You flatter us, thank you! (psst, S1nner, whadda we do with it?!)

Uber - its off the A4 near Maidenhead, but if you hit Reading you've gone too far..

S1nnerman said...

Tina, you're amazing. Thank you. Munial ... I'm printing it off and putting it on my wall :)

Anonymous said...

You love New York, and it shows in those photos.

Anonymous said...

Love your photos. I want to go back now!! I love New York, wish I could live there!

Munial said...

Wish I could live there for a spell too..!