New York City

I was in New York earlier this month, visiting my friend Richard.

Usually I bring someone with me, but his time I went by myself.

My first day there I went to my favorite art museum, The Guggenhiem. The building itself is a piece of art designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, built in the shape of a big spiral. I get so much pleasure from seeing paintings by Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Picasso.....so long after their lives, and graditude for the gifts they created and left behind.
After a couple of hours in the museum I rode a bus down 5th Avenue and spent some time in Central Park, people watching, went into FAO Schwartz toy store, then to Richard's office further down 5th Ave.
We walked crosstown to the Hudson River and along the Chelsea Piers.
We rode the Long Island Railroad back to Queens, to Richard's apartment in Forest Hills, and had a dinner party there that night.

Saturday I rented a car and we drove to Coney Island, Williamsburg, Rockaway...a few places I have never seen before. I had a Nathan's Famous hotdog while at Coney Island...how's that for a classic Brooklyn experience? (The above photo is me at Coney Island)

Sunday we drove to Goodlands, a naturist place in New Jersey. We brought three others with us, and enjoyed an afternoon of sunshine, swimming and conversation.

On my last full day in the city I went to the Museum of Natural History, to finaly get to see dinosaur bones! After several hours there I rode a bus to Times Square, to soak up some of the energy and excitement there, had a beer at the Hard Rock Cafe, then met Richard for dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak house.

I flew home on Tuesday....it was a great vacation!