{Rockefeller Center New York City}

On August 28 of 2015, when we did tour NYC by bus, of course one of the stops was at the Rockefeller Center.

Atlas is a huge bronze statue in front of Rockefeller Center

It is just across from St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The sculpture depicts the ancient Greek Titan Atlas, holding the heavens.

Rockefeller Center is a HUGE complex, spanning 22 acres or 8 hectare

Using the New York Public Library Digital Collection (see link below post) we can see the Streetview, Then and Now in 1911 and in 2015.

The Rockefeller Center is build in 1939

Beautiful Channel Gardens

I bet, the view from the Rock is breathtaking!

One only needs more time...

Happy sight to see all those flags waving!

Have you been to the Rockefeller Center?

Thanks for your visit!

Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink.
Rockefeller Center | FB Page for lots of photos

                                               

{New York City Police Department on Harley-Davidson}

On August 29, 2015 we walked to the Grand Hyatt New York for a coffee/tea break at their Starbuck's restaurant in the main lobby.

Just in front of the hotel we spotted these two NYC policemen on their Harley-Davidson.

You can read the sign with Grand Hyatt above the white van...

Grand Hyatt is also next to the Grand Central Terminal, so that would be a great location to stay!

We were at the Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South which was not that far away either.

Thanks for your visit!

{Zuccotti Park with 4 World Trade Center NYC}

On August 28 of 2015, we also did visit in New York City, the Zuccotti Park with 4 World Trade Center

The famous Joie de Vivre sculpture in red painted steel by Mark di Suvero is seen in the front.
To the right you see the One Liberty Plaza, formerly the U.S. Steel Building.
And in the center you see the tall, new 4 World Trade Center just click on link for more info.

Interesting to watch the short 2 minute Official 11 Year Time-Lapse Movie of One World Trade Center by clicking this pink hyperlink.

This was such an impressive area!
Contrary to the belief of many Europeans, those are not 'flats' (Dutch for high rise) for living but purely office buildings!

Thanks for your visit

{Saint Patrick's Cathedral NYC}

When in New York City, you have to bend backwards quite a lot for capturing all the tall buildings. Such was the case for this magnificent Saint Patrick's Cathedral. For United States standards, this is quite an old, historic building. The cornerstone of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was laid in 1858 and her doors swept open in 1879. If you click on the above hyperlink, you can read more about its history.

We were so very lucky on August 28 of 2015 with the weather we had!

Sure, we would love to go back to this marvelous city on an equally beautiful day.

Have you visited New York City?

Thanks for your visits.

{Trump Tower 5th Ave NYC}

Back to our trip to New York City on August 28, 2015...

So many things have happened in-between that I never had time to work these photos in.

BUT, with the world-wide media coverage about Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump, guess it is about time that I show them!

I've taken this photo of the TRUMP TOWER, with my iPhone 6 Plus, from the bus... 

Wish they would have given us time to get inside!

We'll have to go back again and explore this fascinating city a bit more in depth.

Provided, Pieter's knee will get somewhat better so he can endure the walking.

This all-glass structure got completed in 1983, the year that we came to the USA. 

Inside there are luxury condominiums, offices, stores and restaurants and yes, having a cappuccino there for a break would have been great!

You can also find Trump Tower New York on Face Book, just click the pink hyperlink.

Has any of you had the privilege of dining or having a cup of coffee/tea inside one of the Trump Tower restaurants?

Related links:

DonaldTrump saved my family: Widow's daughter recalls how The Donald paid off hermom's $300,000 mortgage after her father committed suicide | Daily Mail UK about a Georgia widow in 1986 (yes, from my state!)

Watch at min. 0:55 where Oprah said: This sounds like political, Presidential talk to me... A 42-year young Donald J. Trump

{Madison Square Park and 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower in New York City}

In my previous post about the Steel Framed Flatiron Building in New York City, I wrote that I will take you just across the street to see what is there...

Beautiful Madison Square Park and also the tall 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower!

Considering that those tall buildings are over a Century old, it is even more incredible.
This tall tower and building is located on Madison Ave and 24th Street.
The Flatiron Building is not visible but it is to the right of it...

Using the New York Public Library Digital Collection (see link below post) we can see the Flatiron Building (to the right of the center bare tree) and also the Madison Square Park with its Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower in the 1911 photo at the top. 

In the 2015 photo below, you can see the Flatiron all the way to the right but the tower is being partly blocked out by the sun...

Another Library of Congress photo below, shows the entire building.

Metropolitan Life InsuranceBuilding, Madison Square, New York, N.Y. when it was the world's tallest building!

Madison Square Park is on the corner of Fifth Ave and E 26th Street.

Here a beautiful Oakleaf Hydrangea or Hydrangea Quercifolia. These flowers do turn from white into pink as they age.

New York City is full of beautiful parks; the lungs of the city!

Related link:

Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink and than on Take me to 1911! and go 10 clicks to the south for finding the Flatiron image. Now click on cross the street to see image from above... via NYPL Digital Collections

{Steel Framed Flatiron Building New York City}

On August 28 of 2015, we also did view the Flatiron Building with its Steel Frame, on Fifth Avenue and West 25th Street in New York City.

Here it is! Constructed in 1902.
When the traffic light was red, I dared to stand in the middle of the road, for taking this photo.
Love that type of architecture and for sure I'm not the only Blogger who does.
Marianne from Biebkriebels did mention it in her post about Buildings and she's also seen the real Flatiron in NYC.
Don't know if the triangular building from Amsterdam she is showing in her first photo is also made with a Steel Frame.
Janey from Thick and Thin (air) did mention the Flatiron in her post Architecture where she also shows a triangular building in Fort Worth, Texas only 5 years later in 1907.
In Sevilla, Spain we can admire another triangular building Edificio La Adriática o Filella which you can see by clicking on hyperlink. Click on the photo again for seeing it larger.



Just taking you back in time with the New York Public Library Digital Collection where you can see the entire Fifth Avenue and its buildings on photos from 1911 and 2015.
Too bad that the Flatiron is left out in the 1911 capture... Not visible in this photo.
But the building across the street you can clearly see.
Next time I will take you just across the street to see what is there!

Related link:

Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink and than on Take me to 1911! and go 10 clicks to the south for finding the Flatiron image from above... via NYPL Digital Collections

{Our 2015 Fifth Ave New York City walk and how it was in1911}

Just yesterday, on January 6 of 2016, the New York Public Library uploaded nearly 200,000 images that anyone can use for free! 

One very interesting page was about Fifth Ave New York City in 1911 and 2015

Guessing that many of you have ever visited NYC and now you can actually go back in time!
Below this post I will leave you the link for doing so...

This is at 10:50 AM on August 29, 2015 on the corner of Fifth Ave and West 38th St in New York City.

To the left, where the American Flags are hanging, you see the Flagship Store of Lord & Taylor.

Yes, we had absolutely lovely weather on our walk!

Now, courtesy to the New York City Public Library, we can actually see how that looked in 1911!

As seen in the top photo and below is another photo showing 2015.

How neat is that?

To the right you see the beautiful architecture of Tiffany & Co

Again, this is on Fifth Ave in New York City!

To the right behind this BIG BUS NEW YORK, you also can see the architecture of Tiffany & Co

Now, way back in time, top photo is from 1911, showing Tiffany & Co

Bottom photo is from 2015...

The site also lets you cross the street, to have a different angle view.

We both did not ride this BIG BUS...

Hope you enjoyed our Fifth Ave walk and being taken back to 1911, NYC!

 Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink.

{Hummer Limousine in New York City}

On August 28, 2015 we did spot a Hummer Limousine on Broadway, near Wall Street in New York City.

With its full 10.5 meters of length, not an easy vehicle for inner city traffic I guess.

{Interlocking Plastic Water Filled Barriers in NYC}

Can't believe that almost 3 days of 2016 have passed by and I'm not really yet 'part' of it...

Slept most of the day today and yesterday I was thinking it is getting better. Wrong!

It made me think of the Interlocking Plastic Water Filled Barriers we saw on August 29, 2015 while walking alongside 5th Ave on the corner of 34th St.

Neat system!

Well, I too feel very heavily grounded and I do drink lots of water and eat lots of fresh fruits also.

On New Year's Day I managed to be up for cooking us a good meal in the oven with sole filets and brown rice in the rice cooker. 

But I'm not yet back to normal...

Another, not so pretty sight on the 5th Ave in NYC, on the corner of 32nd St.

We were shocked to see that much trash, also while riding the taxi from the airport into Manhattan.

Sorry for not being able yet to focus enough on reading your blogs...

Wishing you well!

{Strawberry Fields Forever}

On August 28, when we went on the sight seeing tour with OnBoard Tours in New York City, the very first stop was at Strawberry Fields in Central Park!

Beautiful black-and-white Mosaic was created by Italian craftsmen and given as a gift by the city of Naples.
Based on a Greco-Roman design, it bears the word of another of Lennon's songs: Imagine. 

It was a warm and sunny day as you can see from the shade.

Here husband Pieter walks to the left of the sign Strawberry Fields...

Both of us were so impressed with the sight, size and cleanliness of Central Park and would have loved to walk there and bike...

Very touching...

Yes John Lennon from The Beatles is being remembered in a beautiful area and his widow, Yoko Ono still lives across from Strawberry Fields in the Dakota apartment.

Our dear Dublin Friend Griffin Lovett turned 64 and instead of celebrating big at age 65; his kids organized a big party at age 64. 

Him being such a Beatle fan, this was perfect!

The Food Buffet was all done according to Beatle song titles...

Lots of work and very well chosen!

Strawberry Fields Forever!

Strawberry Fields Forever

'Strawberry Fields Forever' was originally intended to appear on the band's seminal Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, but was instead released the same year (1967) as a double-A side with Paul McCartney's 'Penny Lane'. Both songs are named after sites in Liverpool and are steeped in childhood and English nostalgia.

It was a lovely evening on Friday, October 24 and the ending of a perfectly sunny day with 29°C or 84°F
Here you see only a section of their back yard with pool and part of the back porch.
They live in a majestic Gone With the Wind style home where they easily can host a a large group of friends inside and outside.

It is pure bliss for living here in the South!
Also we treasure this long friendship of 32+ years...

Related links:

{Our Visit to September 11 Memorial in New York City} | previous post by me

{Friends' son, Ben Lovett, is Madrid International Film Festival Winner} | previous post by me

{Our Visit to September 11 Memorial in New York City}

Of course, when we got on our New York See It All Tour,  with OnBoard Tours, we also did visit the September 11 Memorial. 

This is at the South Pool, where one of the Twin Towers used to be.

Not exactly the same size, as it is about 31% smaller than the towers' actual footprints. 

Memorial Pools Will Not Quite Fill Twin Footprints

Just click the above link...

But still, it is an impressive sight with their 176 square foot presence! Or 16.35 square meters.

Here you see the 4 World Trade Center, right behind the South Pool.

Husband Pieter stands at the North Pool...

It is so impressive and so overwhelming when one thinks about all those souls that lost their life on 9/11 and before... and so many rescue workers, who lost their lives.

It makes it into a kind of a sacred ground!

9/11 by the Numbers... you can click this link for the statistics.

All those names are inscribed in bronze on parapets surrounding the twin Memorial pools.
Learn How the Names are Arranged just click the link.
Two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools with more than 400 trees surrounding them.

Here Pieter stands near the Callery Pear Tree, that is called The Survivor Tree as a  living reminder of resilience, survival and rebirth.

It got severely damaged and burned but after its recovery and rehabilitation, it got planted back in 2010. Click the above link for the full story.

One can only admire the strength of any living creation on this planet!

We both loved to wear our caps on this very sunny short vacation in NYC.

With its branches stretched out and wounds healed, it seems to look quite happy here!

We did not have time for visiting the Memorial Museum as the bus went on after this stop.

But we both appreciate very much for having been here in person!

May God bless the many souls that lost their lives and also protect us from anything like this.

Related link:

Official 9/11 Memorial Museum Tribute In Time-Lapse 2004-2014 - 2.5 minute YouTube video
Clydesdale Horses showing us respect in a Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial - Done for the 10th Anniversary and we can all learn from them!

{We Stayed for 4 Nights in Manhattan, our Trip to NYC}

Sorry for having been a bit absent lately but soon I will visit you again!

We did indeed make our first 'real' trip to New York City and spent 4 nights at the Hyatt Place New York/Midtown-South which is right in Manhattan.

Manhattan was taken on September 8th, 1664.

Just click the above link...

For us, being from The Netherlands, it had even more historical meaning to us as the Dutch were the first that colonized the USA!

It was called New Netherland with New Amsterdam as their natural harbor, which now is called New York City.

No, New Amsterdam was NOT the capital, neither is New York City.

The capital of the State of New York is Albany.

Yes, in 1609 the story began... and it ended on September 8th, 1664 when Manhattan was taken by the British.

We were on the 18th floor, out of 26... In Manhattan almost all buildings are high rise!

On August 29, it was 32 years ago since we left The Netherlands; on my youngest brother's birthday...

As this is my very first post written from my new Mac, I just wanted to air this in time for its historic birthday on September 8th.

Related link:

{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | previous post by me

11 Bird's-Eye Views That Show How NYC Has Grown Over 350 Years - Very Informative photos!