Photos by Maria Ngo
Today I'm going to brave the subway. I'd watched myriads of YouTube videos on how to navigate the subway and read about the different fare types as well as railway lines. But there's nothing like personal experience to put all that theory into practice! So, today was the day to put that into practice.
I am glad that the ticket machine accepts credit cards. I purchase one that will last me for 7 days (you have the daily and monthly options as well). I was feeling quite pleased with myself for getting on the line I wanted (or so I thought) until I realise that the last couple of station names don't look like the ones I should have been passing. So I get off at the next stop and decide to walk the short distance to a bus stop to complete the rest of my journey by bus. One comment about the trains and buses in New York - I am quite surprised at how basic they were.
I am on the clock today, as I have a lot to fit in - the MET Breuer, the MET and Solomon Guggenheim Museum. From what I had read, it would take a lifetime to see all that was at the MET let alone a few hours. These museums were in the general vicinity of each other. I had chosen this day to tackle the museums because the Guggenheim is open until 8 pm on Tuesday nights.
The MET Bruer is only a small museum by comparison and houses contemporary pieces. I didn't spend much time there.
I walk to the MET next and I am just awed by its immense size, history and extraordinary collection of treasures!
There is not enough time to do the place justice. As an example, I would often spend 2 hours whenever a major exhibition came to Melbourne. And what we call a major exhibition would be just a fraction of what each section at the MET housed. To get a taste of it, I join a Highlights tour and a Fashion in Art tour. It was but a sample, a taster. Ah, to have more time in New York ...
There were paintings, sculptures, armours, sphinxes, canopic jars, historical artifacts and exquisite stained glass pieces from all eras, dynasties and around the globe. There were things made from wood, porcelain, stone, paint, glass and more.
I think the Egyptian section held a special fascination for me because of being a Stargate fan (!).
I learnt something interesting from the Fashion in Arts tour - this very costly style of dress popularised by Marie Antoinette (not the lady in the picture) brought about the French Revolution - it was a very very delicate and extremely expensive dress requiring the very finest cotton that came from India. It caused the demise of the silk industry that led to starvation of the masses. After Napoleon came into power, he told Josephine to wear silk, lots of silk, and change four times a day if necessary. It did revive the silk industry as silk became fashionable again.
Felix Valloton happened to be on exhibition there too.
After staying as long as I could, I decide to head over to the Guggenheim to indulge in more art. I was having a fabulous day. Exiting the MET I see that the street vendors have moved on and there is now this neat row of yellow taxis in front of the museum. If I had known earlier that there would be street vendors there, I think I would have saved myself the effort and time of packing myself lunch on the go that morning. Next time perhaps.
The Guggenheim's circular structure stands out in contrast to the vertical straight lines of the tall buildings around it. It is not as large as I had expected it to be.
There is a spiral ramp that takes you to the different 'levels' in the building and the paintings are hung on the walls. Because of the building's curved structure, the toilets are rather awkwardly shaped (LOL). Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, early Modern, and contemporary art fill the specially designed space.
A museum staff obliges some visitors by helping to take their photo. I could not resist including him in my ‘arts collection’ as he adopted such interesting postures with the most appropriate black and white backdrops in this section.
The Guggenheim will be closing soon so I make my way toward the closest bus stop following Big G's Maps advice. This part of the city has a slightly deserted feel at that time of night but I get to my destination without a hitch. From south of Times Square (W45th Street and 7th Avenue) you begin to get a lot more police presence and the crowds build up again. For comparison, the Guggenheim is located near E89th Street and Madison Avenue.
On the way back to my accommodation I discover the night life at Bryant Park with its night stalls and ice skating rink.
New York is a city that doesn't sleep. The noise and clamour, large bright screens, police and ambulance sirens and the adrenalin.
On the way back to my accommodation, I pick up a Gray's Papaya hotdog from one of their all-night no-frills stall. I'm so pumped with adrenalin being on high alert that I have no appetite for anything heavier. I have been snacking on carrots, muesli bars, sandwiches and cashews all day - I had not wanted to waste time stopping for extended lunches as I wanted to pack in as much as I could into my day.
Before I drift off to dreamland that evening I double check my route for tomorrow and then set my alarm for another day of sightseeing - I was going to join a Wall Street Tour, visit the 9/11 Memorial and if I could fit it in, make the most of my Three Day Pass and sneak in the Empire State Building later that night.
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