The Manhattan Bridge, from the FDR

Photo by myself on the FDR near the East River.

Above, the view of the Manhattan Bridge in the morning, from the FDR.

I was heading north on the FDR Expressway when I took this photo. In the background is the Brooklyn waterfront.
--I had a meeting on Wednesday at 8:30am on the Upper East Side.

A meeting at 8:30am uptown means leaving from Brooklyn at 7:30am at the latest. I wound up finding a yellow cab by sheer luck in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and hailing it.

We raced across the East River, then up the FDR Expressway, up the east side. Then across to 85th and Fifth Avenue. The cost? About $45.

Usually I'd take the subway, but for various reasons, I was cutting it close, hence the cab. There was a small traffic jam on the FDR which gave me heart palpitations and the sweats.

If you're ever trying to get somewhere quickly, it's usually much, much more cost effective and faster to take the subway.

Related posts: From the Edge of DUMBO, The View from the Brooklyn Bridge, and Sunset, from Brooklyn Bridge Beach.

At the Island's Edge, along the East River

Photo by myself along the East River.

The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges in silhouette. Brooklyn lies across the water.

Manhattan is a little strange in that though there are parks located along the water, parts of the island's edge are still not developed. As you can see, there is debris and unpaved areas here.

It is very much an island looking inwards. All the mass transit aims toward the center of Manhattan, for instance. And Fifth Avenue, which is used to navigate everyone, runs up the middle.

Very often you will walk around the city and completely forget that really, you are surrounded by water. Very strange.

Related posts: Another View of the Brooklyn Bridge, The View from Brooklyn Bridge Beach, and The Brooklyn Bridge, in the Balance.

The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, at Sunset

Photo by myself from the East River.

This photo is from the stash, from a boat ride around Manhattan. Above is the Manhattan Bridge around sunset, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

It was a slightly cloudy night, with a storm lurking. The clouds had just parted, showing white highlights in the sky.

If you're ever visiting New York, a boat ride around the island is a worthwhile treat. There are tours available that travel up the Hudson on the West Side, cross over to the west side up near the George Washington Bridge, then travel down the East River toward the Statue of Liberty.

This was taken last summer during our office party, on a private boat.
--Happy July 4th!

We all have the day off today, in celebration of America's independence. Most people spend the day lounging at barbeques and picnics. Since the 4th falls on a Wednesday, a lot of folks are taking half the week off out of sheer laziness.