One of the wonderful things about traveling to visit friends/family is the chance to get a glimpse of a new place through the eyes of a local. Walk a short while in their shoes. You have the benefit of all their knowledge and experience of a place when arriving somewhere for the first time: The tips they have picked up along their journey, the favoured spots to see, or cafes to sip your tea.
It is in this way, over the past week and a bit, that J and I have had short but sweet glimpses of life along the Jersey coast, right by the Atlantic ocean (yes, I was watching for unlikely glimpses of the land on the other side), life as a NYC “Glamour” magazine diva living in the bustle of Manhattan, and life in small town Chatham Ontario, surrounded by the flattest and most beautiful expanses of cornfields I’ve ever seen. Thanks so much to our wonderful hosts and “tourguides”, Olivia, Jordan and Trudy. There will be a bed awaiting you in ‘Casa Smyth-Gardner’ in Italy, when such a place exists…
New York City is crazier than I ever imagined. The overload of the senses. Constant movement, people streaming back and forth on the side walk, like a giant colony of ants, and the streets alive with flashes of yellow. The homeless lady dancing in the water fountain, being ignored, while her breasts show through her white cotton top. She’s ill they say. Hairstyles and fashions statements of every extreme. Car horns, cell phones, people talking and yelling, music blaring from shop fronts, road workers drilling…And the smells; heat on the sidewalk, every kind of food you could ever desire, trash piles at the end of the day…I think I can feel my brain melting.
And I loved it all.
Initially I was struck by the anonymity of it all. The feeling that I could do anything and no-one would blink an eye, which is both a liberating and extraordinarily lonely thought. Whatever you do, don’t catch someone’s eye, especially not in the subway. It doesn’t seem to be the done thing. J reminds me- “stop staring”. I’m like a child who doesn’t know the rules. and I think -”how do people live like this”. However, this is where the benefits of living with a local comes in. Speaking with her and her friend, and watching other locals around town I realise that even in the bustle of NYC people find their niche and make a nest. I start to notice people greeting in cafes and around Central park. Is it possible that you could bump into someone you know in such a large and busy city. Apparently so. Routine makes supposed “chance” encounters likely. After realising this the city becomes a less fearsome beast…
NYC for us, was a wonderful and exciting place to visit. For others it is home. When all is said and done, I’m happy to leave it that way.
We are now coming to the end of a few lovely days in Chatham with my Aunt and Godmother, Trudy. She has spoiled me all my life, and has kept up this trend over the past few days. She reminds me of how little I know about my extended family. Hopefully in the early days in Italy when I am still without work I can start to gather and record some of the family stories. Dad, let this be 6 months notice for you.
Tags: Atlantic, Chatham, Niagara falls, NYC, Trudy
Fantastic photos guys, glad to hear Trudy’s been spoiling you!