Long Ride With a Longer Recovery

It's beyond me how this used to be the main form of transportation just a bit over 100 years ago. For anybody wondering what its like to ride cross country on the train, It's very unique! My laziness seems to have overtaken everything else. I need to do a write up on the whole train experience. The only thing you need to remember is to take stuff to do, because the train is very boring.

These were all shot in the barrens of New Mexico. Unfortunately, most of them have reflections I couldn't see at the time, but I seemed to have unconsciously used them to my advantage. Also, they were all taken while the train was in motion.

I must say, New Mexico has to be one of the ugliest states I've ever been in. I got enough of that on the short drive on I-10 in the south, but this was just the icing on the cake. It really looks like there is a permanent orange filter over your eyes, but I guess they use red rocks in the asphalt. My recommendation is hell no, I wont go! Have a nice day.

One last thought, I thought I might have had some nerve damage, but my left ass cheek has finally recovered from this train ride.

A Short Stay in the Windy City

Now when I say my visit was short, I mean it! The train pulled into the Union Station around 3:30 PM. and I left at 9:30 on a different train.

Late last year, I saw this incredible time travel movie called Source Code. The main characters were on a Chicago bound train that had a bomb on it. Well, at the very end, it showed the main characters visiting a giant metal structure that had an incredible view reflecting off of it. So I started up the Google search and finally found the structure which looks like a giant metal bean sitting in the middle of a post modern designed city park called Millennium Park.

I did a hell of a lot of research on where to go on my 6 hour stay (probably more research than I did for New York), but I still managed to not have enough time to see everything I wanted. Another killer place to check out is Buckingham Fountain, which was seen on the into to Married With Children. the water shoots up in the air damn near into space! Well, maybe not that high, but its still amazing. And watch out if you walk near the Hilton on Michigan Ave. There was some pointless protest going on that blocked off every street in the area, and apparently, they happen ALL the time over there.

Jay Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park

View down Monroe St

A reflection off of the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, AKA The bean

Three monuments in front of Buckingham Fountain. The one in the middle really looks like the Headless Horseman until you get up close to it.

The skyline just north of Millennium Park

I always look for an opportunity for a self portrait.

If you go check out Cloud Gate, You'll get a view similar to this. I think you can see yourself about 543 times (not that many) from the odd concave shape underneath.

The Greatest City in the World Part 2

Here's Part 2 from my five day trip to New York. These are all mixed up from different days and don't really follow a specific order.

Times Square, Broadway and 6th Ave

Central Park, Near 5th Ave and 59th St

Central Park

Washington Sq Park, 5th Avenue and Washington Sq North

Enjoying a nice Sarachi Ace at the Brooklyn Brewery. The circles are tokens to get more beer.

Rockefeller Center

Skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge. That Freedom Tower looks more bad ass when you're standing next to it.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Brooklyn Bridge

The Greatest City in the World Part 1

I came back about a week ago from probably the best vacation I've ever taken. I went out to what still seems to be the hub of America, New York City. Over the next few posts, I'll bring to you some of my best vistas from my eight day trip, including my train ride to this magnificent city and my short visit in Chicago.

One of my biggest goals for this trip was to hit some of the views and locations that were less tourist trap and  played better to my imagination and my extreme eagerness. I do have several shots of well known landmarks, but they are more of an accidental nature. So, Sit back, relax and have a nice trip to the Big Apple.

Tom

The Chrystler Building, seen from near United Nations.

Third Story look inside The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

The 911 Memorial (South Tower)

the Statue of Liberty, seen from the Staten Island Ferry

A tour helicopter just after takeoff, Near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Battery Park

A guy fishing from just below the Brooklyn Bridge

A small police substation in Times Square

New York State Pavilion Observation Towers 

Central Park Near 5th Ave and 59th St

Red Bull Soccer Stadium, Harrison, NJ