Tales of Home [9]

Bluebottle wrote:
I have had experiences of other major cities that interested me far more. An interesting city in my mind is Barcelona, which is so many things at the same time. Gorgeously situated yet polluted, cosmopolitan yet surounded by small neighborhoods that function like their own microcosmos, historic yet in part touristic to rival Venice.

If you know where to go off the tourist trail, Barcelona is probably one of the most vibrant and interesting cities in the world. If you follow the tourist trail, you'll see gorgeous architectoral areas, but not a real city, and probably as many germans as catalans.

have you got any hotel recommendations for Barcelona, I am thinking of going for a weekend as its not that far.

Bluebottle wrote:I only visited once, and it didn't sit that well with me. I assume certain aspects of New York are different by the way you experience it, but I found it somewhat cold, (admittedly it was February) standoffish, offputting, and alienating. I admit that you might have a different experience if you have a sense comfort both with where you are and what to do there that I perhaps lacked at the time. Perhaps there is something under the surface I didn't get too.

Everybody makes the same mistake of visiting New York in the winter.  It's bleak and ugly in the winter.  And you need to stay off the tourist route.  New York's energy is about the bustling streets; all you get in the winter are a bunch of pissed off tourists.  

Come in late spring or fall (not high summer, another mistake.  Europeans tend to come in August just because that's when they are on vacation, the sweltering dumbasses) and plan your time around the parks.  Battery Park, City Hall Park, Highline Park, Madison Square park,  Central Park, Fort Tryon Park, Teardrop Park (try finding those last two in any tourist guide).  Use the bike share program to get around, and subway.  If you take a cab even once in New York, you are doing it ALL wrong (again, this is the biggest mistake people make).  Take pictures in the parks until you want a bite to eat or drink, then explore nearby. (harder to do with Central Park)

I'll allow you to do one Broadway show, but you really want to do the Jazz clubs instead (which are alas a dying breed).  Not the one's you've heard of.  Go uptown, where people will talk to you.  Or look for more offbeat stuff, like Blue Man Group.

For the most part it's not a beautiful city - that's why you stick to the parks.  And you'll find people quite voluable but only if you are in neighborhood bars.  Otherwise they're all trying to get somewhere because something is always happening.  You have to dig around and find what's happening.  I seem to do a better job than most at keeping my eyes open.

With all that being said, I totally understand where you are coming from.  It's not like the cities of Spain where nearly ever corner is a new vista, and where you just happen upon great things like flamenco dancing happening.  You need to bring a laptop and put in some effort each day searching out what you are interested in.  The good things is you'll nearly always find what you are looking for; the bad thing is you have to work at it a bit.

{{ Well that's probably summer over! Back to normal }}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:{{ Well that's probably summer over! Back to normal  }}

I assume you were crabbit about summer being there too?

halfwise wrote:

Bluebottle wrote:I only visited once, and it didn't sit that well with me. I assume certain aspects of New York are different by the way you experience it, but I found it somewhat cold, (admittedly it was February) standoffish, offputting, and alienating. I admit that you might have a different experience if you have a sense comfort both with where you are and what to do there that I perhaps lacked at the time. Perhaps there is something under the surface I didn't get too.

Everybody makes the same mistake of visiting New York in the winter.  It's bleak and ugly in the winter.  And you need to stay off the tourist route.  New York's energy is about the bustling streets; all you get in the winter are a bunch of pissed off tourists.  

Come in late spring or fall (not high summer, another mistake.  Europeans tend to come in August just because that's when they are on vacation, the sweltering dumbasses) and plan your time around the parks.  Battery Park, City Hall Park, Highline Park, Madison Square park,  Central Park, Fort Tryon Park, Teardrop Park (try finding those last two in any tourist guide).  Use the bike share program to get around, and subway.  If you take a cab even once in New York, you are doing it ALL wrong (again, this is the biggest mistake people make).  Take pictures in the parks until you want a bite to eat or drink, then explore nearby. (harder to do with Central Park)

I'll allow you to do one Broadway show, but you really want to do the Jazz clubs instead (which are alas a dying breed).  Not the one's you've heard of.  Go uptown, where people will talk to you.  Or look for more offbeat stuff, like Blue Man Group.

For the most part it's not a beautiful city - that's why you stick to the parks.  And you'll find people quite voluable but only if you are in neighborhood bars.  Otherwise they're all trying to get somewhere because something is always happening.  You have to dig around and find what's happening.  I seem to do a better job than most at keeping my eyes open.

With all that being said, I totally understand where you are coming from.  It's not like the cities of Spain where nearly ever corner is a new vista, and where you just happen upon great things like flamenco dancing happening.  You need to bring a laptop and put in some effort each day searching out what you are interested in.  The good things is you'll nearly always find what you are looking for; the bad thing is you have to work at it a bit.

To me, NYC has always come across like a less appealing version of London, which I also dont like a huge amount. The only thing it seems (to me and in my limited experience) to have extra is the skyline.

I am not sure if I will visit again for personal travel as there are so many other places to visit, but I may do for work so might be asking for a tour!

I'm happy to serve as tour guide for any forumshirelings!

I assume you were crabbit about summer being there too?- Lance

{{ Suns too bright all the marks and suspicious moulds show up on my kilt the Thing in my fridge gets agitated, and if you pass out mid-buckie it evaporates or bloody wasps drink it!! }}

{{Weather might have got crapper again but the sunrises are still good. What amazes me is the variety you get in the lighting within the space of an hour or so.















Cruise ship heading up the Clyde, get a nice sense of the size of the buggers when you see it beside the buildings





and because it's spring. }}

Ooooh ! I so love Bluebells ! cracking pictures Gromit

Those are the Texas state flower. Not supposed to be running rampant over distant shores!

Typical...

I tried my own translation, but failed. Not enough data.

So I did google: "[What] it was. What the hell."

Not bad. Gotta use the å. Vår = spring. Var=was

(I like the Swedish version of this meme best. Not sure why.)

... And now we're thawing again.

{{ Well as if my life didn't seem surreal enough as is, I am currently at work in a hotel crammed to the rafters with Christian nudists! I kid you not. }}

Well, I suppose they are more spiritual than your normal run of Christians.  

From what I've seen nudists don't seem too focussed on the concept of beautiful bodies.  Overweight and undergroomed as a rule.  More about freedom than the slavery of workouts and the razor.   For your sake I'm hoping Christian nudists are more in the line of viewing the body as a temple?

For your sake I'm hoping Christian nudists are more in the line of viewing the body as a temple?- Halfy

{{No More an open display of saggy flesh, droopy boobs, hanging bottoms, flabby stomachs, waggling willies and an unpleasant all permeating body odour undercurrent }}

Ah. Still nudists then. My sympathies.

{{At least the weather has taken a turn for the better again, so they wont be cold! And midgies arent out in force yet so they should be spared that- midgies and nudity do not match!













and more Brexit distractions!!



plus the lighting produced a really cool lilac flecked sea, which you don't get very often.}}

Pettytyrant101 wrote:For your sake I'm hoping Christian nudists are more in the line of viewing the body as a temple?- Halfy

{{No  More an open display of saggy flesh, droopy boobs, hanging bottoms, flabby stomachs, waggling willies and an unpleasant all permeating body odour undercurrent  }}

But all that winking and I don't mean that kind of winking.

{{{ Winking is what I try, with both eyes at same time and then not opening them again till they go away

Trip across the Clyde yesterday, not much time for taking pictures but got some of a nice building-







Its got a lot of statues...





..including what I suspect are some rather, um racially stereotypical ones and a horny guy!





Nabbed a few pictures on the way back too. }}

Bloody heck, is that a rather large erection on the African-looking fellow, or are my eyes being slutty and deceitful?

{{ Um, maybe it counts as a positive racial stereotype! Or he's the star of the 1800's version of Blacked!

But yeah theres more than one morally dubious old statue carved into that building. Though in fairness to the architect and artists I am not sure there is not meant to be a knowing irony in these figures seeming to have to literally bear the building up on their shoulders, given it was built off their backs and labour. }}

{{ Seems anytime I happen to be passing along the sea front there is something on the move, been that way for about a month now }}

The warships are out taking pictures too, I see.

Dat building is one giant willy.