So today has been my final day in New York. It’s been the sort of day that makes it easier to leave, really. While my stay in general has been excellent, today has been a bit of a low. First of all, my bones were already aching when I left the hotel. The humidity felt even higher than it did on the previous days – my general feeling was just “meh”. So I decided to go to my favourite part of town, Greenwich Village, again. I took a walk down Christopher Street, stopped by in a couple of shops, and then went to my favourite place, the Hudson River Park. It was there that I noticed that I had lost one of the two The Killers button from my jacket :/
Anyways, the park was lovely. I sat down on the grass, read The Village Voice, watched people, the skyline, the river. What a great spot. Unfortunately the joy didn’t last too long, since clouds and storm and rain were rising, so I got up and walked towards Gansevoort Street. I had originally intended to have lunch at the Florent Restaurant, which had been recommended to me. However, I wasn’t really hungry then and was slightly intimidated – there were tons of beautiful people in the restaurant, and I was by myself. Because it was a “Meh”-day, I felt all shy and decided against going there then – I thought I’d go back for dinner when I was really hungry. I figured the intimidation would have vanished by then, or at least be replaced by hunger.
So I drove to the Museum of Modern Art instead. I loved it, but that was sort of predictable. It had lots of industrial design showcases, which I’m hugely into. It also displays two of Hopper’s most famous paintings, “House by the Railroad” and “Gas”. I managed to make a fairly decent macro of the latter and it almost made me cry because the man in the picture reminded me so much of my late grandfather, who used to run a gas station. The special photography exhibition by Friedlander was absolutely amazing and one of the instances that keep reminding me of the fact that I’m basically wasting my life. Again – meh.
Took a walk around the VERY nice museum store but the queues were mad and my feet hurting, so I did not buy anything. Instead, I thought, “Why not check out Bloomingdale’s?” Well, I shouldn’t have bothered. Just like Macy’s, it’s basically a store for the rich and boring. It can’t even touch Selfridges in England, which manages to be a store for the rich and boring, but also for the young and hip – ok, and the rich, too. To me, Selfridges to this very day is the best, interesting store.
So I did not like Bloomingdale’s, and when I left it was raining. I had an umbrella with me, so I thought I could still walk to the next subway station (there is one right outside Bloomingdale’s). Again, bad idea. While it initially was raining, it started pouring, literally. I got soaking wet, and really just wanted to get back to the hotel. Since that was in Queens, it wasn’t really an option. After all, I still needed to get a couple of things and get rid off a bit of cash.
And somehow, when you WANT to do it, it becomes incredibly hard! I bought some underwear at the Gap, and that was pretty much it! Ok, a “I heart NY” T-Shirt for Michael and chocolate from Hershey’s at Time Square for my nerves, but that really was it. Even a short trip to American Eagle at 34th Street remained fruitless. Incredible!
By the time I was back on the 7 subway to Queens, I was so exhausted that I almost fell asleep. I kept myself awake by reading NYLON magazine, which might be the weirdest magazine I personally have ever read. However, I think I might have to buy the new album by Kelly Osbourne. It’s gotten a great review, the intreview was extremely interesting, I’m loving the “One Word” single and video, and it was produced by Linda Perry! I mean, come on!
Now I’m finally back at the hotel, wearing dry clothes, getting really desperate with my hair, which usually is curly but which I straighten every morning (now there is one part of me), and with the humidity, all the products in the world can’t keep my hair from getting curly again. As much as I’m going to miss New York, it will be nice to return to the relatively dry European climate.
I don’t know about other bloggers, but I am mainly doing this so I can look back at entries in a few years and think, “Wow, I’ve always been SO weird.” Therefore, I think I might post my iPod playlists (either on-the-go for my 20GB iPod, or the ones for my iPod shuffle) here on a more or less regular basis. This way, I won’t have to keep all of them in iTunes, as the bar to the left is becoming way too long, especially when I’m making new playlists. I’m a music nerd, so this does actually happen a lot.
This time, seven days ago, I was on the plane back to Germany. I had probably already had a drink or two, and while it may have helped against being scared of being on planes, it did not help against this other feeling I have been having ever since: As pathetic as it may sound, I am a little heartbroken because I had to leave this amazing city behind. I can honestly say that I love New York. Despite the heat, the humidity, the exhaustion, I loved every second I was there, and I absolutely hope that I will get to go again next year. Everything here is so boring in comparison with NY, even the subway I was taking home last night was so grey and old compared to the “7″ I always used to take that it made me really sad for a while.
