New York - April 2014

Is it possible to hit NYC and not see the standard tourist attractions? Perhaps unlikely, but one can always try. Wiggling past people in Times Square and fighting  your way up to see the skaters in Rockefeller Plaza has kind of lost its charm. But there is by far so much more to see and photograph. 

 We started our epic hike from Jersey City - which seems like another up and coming place. If you don't mind the stigma of being a "bridge and tunnel" person (which seriously doesn't seem that bad) this is actually a really cute area with a neighborhood feel.

My sister has a cozy little basement apartment near the old historical center of Jersey City. Its a stone's throw to the high-rises that line the banks of the Hudson.

 In any case, we took the subway (go tunnel!) and got off near the end of the west village near 11th street and began walking along the high line. I don't have a pic posted here, but it is a genius stroke of urban development to create an elevated public walkway from an abandoned rail line.

There are some outstanding pieces of art along this path. We got off the high line on 33rd and made our way up to Grand Central Station. Ok, so this is a bit touristy, but it is also beautiful and I have never been here before. Michi, showed me the the station's grocery section as well - quite a selection for being in a train station.

It was raining heavily over the course of the week. As a result, NYC was throwing off the yoke of winter and flowers were in bloom.