Flew to LA Guardia and took subway to Brooklyn hosts Jana and Tom Bergdal, my age, former nurse and lawyer who were Peace Corps volunteers in Kasani, Botswana for a few years around 2010. They live in beautiful brownstone house apparently now worth 💲5m (R95m!) I walked around all afternoon and found a full size American Arc de Triomf copy, erected in memory of the fallen in the civil war and cathedral like Brooklyn Public Library where I had a nice chat with children's librarian and was given a souvenir pencil. Found a book for kids at Unnameable Books. Met a bunch of hosts' friends over glass of wine before taking subway back to Manhattan for Metropolitan Opera performance of Tales of Hoffman staring Pretty Yende. Swopped two cheap tickets for one good one and was seated next to tall hunk who turned out to be the star male lead from previous nights modern opera Grounded. Great show and made it home safely on subway at 12.30.
Next day started at Wall Street and 9/11 memorial, including going to top of new One World Trade Centre, followed by New York Public Library with super free tour of some of their treasures, and multi storey Strand Bookshop where time was too short but found a couple of special books for my kids. Friendly hosts cooked Indian food.
Next morning left suitcase at Moynihan Train Hall and walked to Whitney Art Museum along High Line and later back again to view Hudson Yards breathtaking new buildings incl the Vessel by Thomas Heatherwick.
At Whitney enjoyed tour of highlights in main collection and new Alvin Ailey exhibition.
Boarded first leg of Amtrak journey across US. Notable was large number of Amish.
Some of my photos are on other phone so will have to work out how to include.Read more