As
I sit here on the flight back to Oklahoma after a glorious week in New York and
Boston I have to admit to suffering a little ‘Sunday-itis’! Following a week of
fantastic meals, family time and then a stimulating conference that renewed my
enthusiasm for research, I can’t help but give a little inner sigh at the
prospect of returning to limp produce and the endless screaming neon signs of
the multitude of fast food establishments that populate Stillwater. But, on the
positive side, I ate so much in the past week I will have no need to consume
either fast food or rotting vegetables!
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| The Little Rascal (not Fe...) |
It
is not often you go on a trip and fail to eat a bad meal. Every place we ended
up eating in NY, either through careful research and planning or simple
convenience, was fantastic. The only possible exception was a NY ‘institution’
that may have finally succumbed to the tourist dollar and taken the ‘New York
attitude’ a touch too far. Luckily, you can’t go too far wrong with pizza and
salad.
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| Jacques in Soho |
It
is amazing how much you can achieve in 5 days. Both Mum and Fe were new to NY
so had free reign over choosing the activities. Day one involved Times Square,
a few cathedrals, 5th Ave (numerous famous building sighted), lunch
at the Shake Shack, Staten Is ferry and the green lady, 9/11 memorial and a
great Mediterranean dinner (naturally with champagne). I think poor Mum was
wondering if she should have packed a scooter after all that walking. Each day
was similarly filled with NY wonders and I hope they both felt they have seen a
good chunk of the city. For me it was an opportunity to go back and re-do some
of my favourite things and also have some new experiences. In particular,
looking down into the depths of the 2 large square foundations of the WTC was
definitely a different experience to craning my neck skywards to glimpse the
tops of the buildings 12 years ago. The Met was a firm favourite of ours and
was flanked by the best French toast of all time (not in the museum but on the
upper east side) and Central Park in the rain.
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| View from Brooklyn Heights Esplanade |
From
NY I flew to Boston for an equine endocrinology summit that was in a gorgeous
luxury hotel in the Beacon Hill area of the city. The summit program was fairly packed
but I did get out a few times for a cycle along the river and a couple of walks
through the city and gardens. I think I could definitely live there – an
inviting and easy to negotiate city. Yet more amazing food and wine was
consumed. Poor me!!
Well,
as I wing my way closer to the mid (wild) west I am grateful for the disparate
experiences that this time in the US is giving me. Lots of interesting people
to meet and places to see. And another reason to be excited about heading back
to OK – the summer heat wave (that lasted 4 months!) must be declining and fall
is arriving. Cooler temps and pretty colours will be a seasonal experience
unique to this part of the world. I just have to survive a brief return to
tornado season first.......
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