Saturday, June 27, 2009

Precipitation and The Empire State Building

Hey hey, it has been a long time...I know, but the fasting retreat has lasted longer than orginally planned. Now I'm back here renewed, refreshed, (having hopefully increased my grey-cellstock:). So, today I'm showing you pictures taken from high above, and give you a few words about what you shouldn't do, while walking on a busy street in New York City...

PRECIPITATION AND THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

..."For heaven's sake, don't run like that, there's no hurry." I say to my husband, who has set his mind on reaching the Empire State Building in record time. He is hurrying down 7th avenue like a real New Yorker.

I complain loudly "I want to LOOK at things, hey, just look at this beautiful...HMMMPFFF"

Next thing I'm on my hands and knees, didn't see the deep step in the sidewalk, didn't see that we had to cross a street here, cause my eyes were elsewhere. Husband is now 20 m ahead (for your information = 65,616feet) and doesn't immediately realize that he has lost me. Two women come to my aid and ask if I'm allright, then my husband is there to help me up, while I grumble, shocked: "I can't hurry like that, not early in the morning...(well, uhh, it must be around 10:30...) " We sit down on chairs in the little square I had spotted right before I fell so that I can catch my breath.

We leave after 5 minutes, everything is ok, my ankle hurts a little bit but nothing serious. When we arrive at the Empire State Building, we are amazed to find that we don't even have to wait in a line. Instead, staff is ushering us through security and a souvenir shop and into the elevator and up to the open sightseeing platform, which is on the 86th floor, or so. You have to pay an extra of 15 dollars to go to the top of the building, and an extra elevator is taking you there. I guess this is only because there's not so much space on top.

The platform is wonderful, we walk around, it's sunny and a soft wind is blowing, the visibility is very high. I take many pictures. The architecture seen from high up above forms a wonderful pattern. This breathtaking view will find it's way into my art somehow, I'm quite certain.

After having taken in the 360° view of the city, it's the elevator up to the 102nd floor, to the closed platform. I take pictures here too, through the thick glass windows, and am a little dizzy, looking down at the buildings. I just love those watertanks on some of the buildings, they look like something out of a Wild West film decoration, and so out of place on the modern buildings.

Before returning to the elevators, I ask the security guard if there is a way to go to the very top of the building. The tip of the top, so to speak. Or roof. He points to a door which leads up and outside, but only the maintenance staff is allowed to go there. I just asked because of King Kong.....

On our way down we are channelled through another souvenir shop, but we already bought something in the first shop (which, later this week, we spot for half the price in a souvenir shop somewhere near Times Square:). But we do take the picture they took of us, when we came in, and which they have ready for us now (everything is so very well organized:): My husband and I in front of the illuminated Empire State Building at night. - 20 bucks, but hey, let's go whole hog...


















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9 comments:

Momo Luna S!gnals said...

Wow, must be great standing there. Nice pic's. I hope one day.....

Sweet greetz from Holland.

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

Ah.. Finally more of the trip. :)
I love the picture of you. and the shot of the Empire state building looking up the street. Reminds me of pix of seeing the Eiffle tower like that in some photos. I could NEVER go up there but I sure enjoyed the photos.
From up there could you see where the Twin Towers were?
Hope you didnt get hurt very badly to put a crimp in your trip.
Now I await the magazine night Party. :))

Patricia said...

The price of the elevator was worth it for you to take these photographs. Years, and years, and years ago I went on a date and we flew a small plane right over Manhattan at night. It was so exciting!

sukipoet said...

super photos. i got a little queasy reading your story of going up there though. i am pretty sure i've been up there once but dont think i'd ever do it again.

Katiejane said...

OMG!!! This is amazing, Andrea! I have never been to NYC, so these photos stun me. I cannot imagine living there. It is so crowded. It looks like a giant LEGO, but for you, being from Paris, this is probably not a surprise. I thank you for sharing these with us. I hope you had a good stay. The photo of you is very nice. You look so pretty.

Mim said...

LOVELY pics - and a great one of you. My first "real" job was after school - and I worked on the 60th floor of the Empire State Building. It was great in a big storm, it swayed in the wind. Glad you liked her, isnt' she great?

soulbrush said...

men!! what a wonderful view, i must go there some day...great pics.

Kathrin said...

We were at the same place on april, great feeling, really. I really hope to go back there soon, NYC is extraordinary, so different and so familiar, at the same time.
PS: your blog-name made me coming here. artist, Paris... I had to have a look on it. Really nice paintings in the last post. wonderful colours.

tammy vitale said...

been to NY but never up the Empire State building...not inclined toward heights (to put it mildly). Your photography is wonderful! What great shots! Now I don't even have to think about going up!