NYC & Boston 2023

NYC & Boston 2023

Our annual pilgrimage to NYC this time around was a little longer than our usual flybys. Joe had wanted to spend more time with his parents, but ended up only seeing them once. The extra days allowed us to see NYC through the eyes of a tourist.

Our first night was at the Andaz on 5th Ave using a Hyatt Cat 1-7 FNC. Being in midtown really helped us blend in with all the out of towners. Grabbed a gyro from a cart, hopped on the 7 train to Flushing for dinner, briefly got lost in the craziness of Times Square at night, witnessed our first Polish Pulaski Day Parade, and had my phone camera fixed at the Apple Store in the cavernous Grand Central. Being in the midst of everything was energizing, but the noise of the city has now become unbearable. Sirens, car horns, the constant rumblings of the subway, and the incessant human hubbub were all too much for sensitive ears that have grown accustomed to the calming susurration of nature.

For the rest of our time in NYC, we stayed with friends in the Brooklyn Navy Yard area between DUMBO and Williamsburg. This gave us a chance to explore the vicinity.

We encountered tourist crowds here thanks to this view. Those in the know will recognize the Empire State Building framed by the bridge piers.
Walking across Manhattan Bridge offered an expansive view of the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge, designed and built by a fellow RPI alumnus, with the Seaport and Financial District in the background. However, the constant thundering from the BDQN trains alongside us was absolute torture. Tip – wear noise cancellation headphones.

Flyby trips have never been conducive for visiting the many museums in the city, so we made sure we at least hit one this time around.

A juxtaposition of two Parisienne artists born 2 years apart was on temporary exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Another juxtaposition, this time between life and death, in Cecily Brown’s works.
The permanent Egyptian wing houses the Temple of Dendur, which was gifted to the US by the Egyptian government, has always been my favorite.
Beautiful Scarabs
Burial jewelry
The mummy of Nephthys inside a coffin. CT scan revealed remains of an adult woman with both arms extended on her sides and hands resting on her thighs.
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A painting that looks oddly similar to the one hung in our second bathroom, except, as Joe pointed out, mine is in the bathroom and not in a museum.

I took a day out to fly to Boston to have lunch with Vicky. Lobster roll and clam chowder at Neptune Oyster are highly recommended. Not having the Boston Marathon hanging over my head while in Boston allowed me to appreciate Boston more.

Took a tour of the Massachusetts State House. This gold dome is the center of Boston. All mile marks to Boston are measured in reference to the dome. The State House also showcases one of the few portraits of a standing Abraham Lincoln, who was self conscious of his towering 6’4 height and only allowed seated portraits when he was alive. The standing portrait was done 40 years after his passing.

After 5 days, we were finally tapped out and spent our last day in NYC vegging out, AKA laundry day.

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