The first three days of this week were spent traveling back and forth to New York City, from Providence, Rhode Island.
[en route to NYC, on the Acela]
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, we were up before dawn then home around eleven pm the same day. We left on the Acela from Providence’s Amtrak train station, returned by Peter Pan Bus the first two nights and by train the third. Made ham sandwiches to avoid junk food snacking either along the way or in the city. It actually worked!
There were two remarkable features of the trip that I’d like to share.
The first was the taxi drivers. We engaged six taxis and EACH ONE was from a different culture and country!
The first was Russian, a rheumy-eyed old man who seemed to know where we wanted to go even before we asked.
The second was a man with great round eyes and black skin so shiny that it looked polished – he did not speak to us and I could not guess where he was from.
The third guy was an East European who asked for the address to be typed into his phone because that was his only means of communicating.
The fourth was a young man from Eritrea – I guessed Somali but he corrected me – all sparkly good humour, with his up-curled eye-lashes and Cinerama smile.
The fifth was a big turbaned grey-beard Sardar, who immediately began hollering over his shoulder delightedly, in Punjabi. Because we greeted him with “Sat sri Akal”! He told us that his entire family from the Punjab had come over, though he was the first. He was a Trumpist, but grudgingly conceded that Mamdani might be a good fellow.
The final one was from Bangladesh. He was on the phone all the way to the station, because of a family crisis. He apologised profusely when the call was over, saying that his brother was suddenly in hospital with “a heart” and all the lady family members were screaming and crying (which we could hear!).
The second thrill was Central Park Zoo. Total joy! Here are some pictures – NEVER ENOUGH. Grr.
[I forgot to write down this person’s name! SO annoying. Possibly some type of Tamarin. If anyone can identify him/her, I will gladly edit this caption]
[this was identified as a Jungle Babbler but it’s so fancy I desperately wanted to rename it]
[Victoria Crowned Pigeon – beyond amazing to see such a spectacular bird just flying free within the spacious Tropical Birds Enclosure – see below as well]
This bird and all the others in this enclosure were entirely cage-free. They were flitting about around the visitors, or calling raucously or making nests. No bars or chicken-wire separating them from us. Dreamlike.
Many of the trees were still displaying their autumn finery. This was just one of a dozen primadonnas.
A wreath in the waiting area at the Moynihan Train Hall.
There were so very many passengers dressed in all manner of extreme garb that it felt like being in just another type of zoo – no cages around this one either – except the more subtle traps of time and social commitments.
As to WHY we were in NYC? Ah … the usual: chasing a visa.
Got it, to my amazement. Miracles DO happen.
To all the forces of chance and fate that smiled upon us this time, I can only bow my head and fold my hands in grateful thanks.
Colorful drivers and drones. 😜
So happy about the visa news! The little fellow at the top seems like he has on a particularly fancy coat--with red fur on the inside and something that looks like golden sparkles on the outside. Dressed up fancy for the holidays! Beautiful photos--thanks for sharing!