San Genaro in Little Italy

The festival of San Genaro has been running for the past few days in Little Italy, the italian hood of New York.

Crowds, smells of sweets and grilled all mixed in the air, lights, and lots and lots of music.

Here's a little rock n' roll:


"Johnny B. Goode," originally by Chuck Berry (1955).

American Gondola

Who's to say that romantic boat rides in a gondola can only be seen in Venice?

I saw one in Central Park. The question is: what can't you find here?

Taxi!?

In Manhattan most cars are yellow. Many are black or gray. Some cars have other colors, but very few. Lincoln, Mercury, Buick, Hyundai and Chevrolet. The yellow ones are all Ford. New York yellow taxi-cabs are here and there, they fill the streets, they fly past avenues and they race each other.

There are over 12, 050 taxis in the city. If you watch from a corner and count the cars that pass by, most likely 8/10, 7/10 and very often 10/10 cars will be yellow cabs. Stopping a cab here is called "hailing," all you have to do is put your arm up as if you were the Statue of Liberty, and they will come to you. They are loved by New Yokers because they are magical, but they are also hated because they cause incredible traffic jams.

(I love them, I just take the subway...)

Roller-dancing

Not roller-skating. Not roller-blading. Not dancing.




Roller-dancing. So it's true: If you can't find it in New York, it doesn't exit!

September Hearts

I walk down Chambers, Centre Street and Church Street on a sunny September morning. Five years ago, these streets had an early snow-fall; They were covered in white ash. Today, they are covered with people who have come to remember.

World Trade Center Site.

Across a fence were hung messages and drawings sent to New York from children around the country. One of them read like this: "Dear New York. I heard about what happened to you. I am sorry, but I know everything will be O.K."

Another boy sent this:

It reads: "Dear God. Tell those in heven that is was okay that they were scared and that avry body on the plane went to heven."

One six-year old tried to teach Mr. Bush a lesson by sending him the following letter: "Dear Mr. President. May you kill because someone else does? The answer is no. My brother is in the Marines. A bomb can kill and hurt many people. We should love one another. Yours truly, Nigel."

Some others remained...

... all American.

But when it comes to grief,

the pain is inside each of us.

For those who will never be whole again, here is a bit of hope by

a little girl:

"If you have a broken heart, here is a new one."

Picnic at Central Park

It would appear that New York is such a jungle itself, that it wouldn't need any green areas to compensate. Central Park, however, lies flat on the middle of Manhattan. Once you enter through one of its walkways your mind erases any trace of the city behind. You can walk for hours and the park will never end. Or you can sit and have some raspberry jelly and bread and some orange juice. It's all you need for a picnic at Central Park; the sunset you'll have to wait for.

Little White Men

In Manhattan traffic lights go red, yellow, and green for cars. Pedestrians, intead, get a hault sign from an orange hand and a go sign from a little white man.

The little white man is made up of tiny white light bulbs, and when some of them break, the little white man can become a decapitated little white man, or perhaps a one-legged little white man.

The little white man always walks to his left, but that's because this is New York, and on the east coast most people are democrats.

The little white man is on every corner of the city. If you walk around Manhattan, though, don't wait for the light to turn green; You'll be waiting forever.

The Flatiron

This is the Fuller Building. It was designed by Daniel Burnham, in a Beaux-Arts style. If you look at it from the front, you'll see that it resembles an iron. That's why in 1902, when it was finished constructing, New Yorkers called it The Flatiron. Today, it is better known for its nickname than for its real name. At first, people made bets on how long it would take the wind to bring it down, but it's been holding straight for over a century. It stands on a triangle, on the crossing of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. If you look at it from the side of either avenue, you'll see what appears on the picture: an apartment building in which the people living there have to walk side-ways to get to the bathroom.

Open to everyone

Now that New York is hosting the US Open Tennis Championship, a widescreen has been set up at Madison Square for all to watch. Andy Roddick's fans sit on the benches and on the floor for hours, while their idol sends the tiny yellow ball back and forth. Anyone who walks by is welcome to stay; Even children gather around holding tennis rackets and playing with their dads. Yesterday, many watched tennis star Andre Agassi say goodbye. In New York City, the US Open is open to everyone.

NYC umbrellas

In the fashion capital of the world, rainy days won't stop anybody from showing off their latest purchase. For only $2 you'll find a modern umbrella with a combination of obtuse and acute angles, that comes in black or any preferred color and in standard size. They are on sale on (absolutely) every corner. Tourists, locals, adults and children all enjoy its service. Throw out your old classic umbrella and wake up to New York City's ultimate model!

The Dream

Having a dream come true is something that takes getting used to. You wake up one morning and walk the streets of Manhattan, and then you make a turn on Third Avenue and see the Chrysler Building. You think wow. And that’s how you know, this is what it’s like.