From my roof, I can see all the way from the George Washington Bridge down to Battery Park. It is a view to take your breath away. You step out onto the roof, and can feel the vistas billowing off to your left. It’s amazing.
If you actually live on the island of Manhattan, the only way to get any perspective on it is to get up really high – skyscrapers, Empire State Building … from there you can see the shape of the island, you can get an idea of where you are in space. (It’s very hard in Manhattan to know where you are. I don’t mean within the city. The city itself is very easy to navigate – if you know how to count, that is – but in terms of Manhattan fitting into the surrounding landscape … I find it very difficult to picture. Even when I look at it on a map, it doesn’t seem right.)
So to live in a spot where I can gain this island-length perspective … I feel truly grateful.
When I was basically BEGGING the woman who lived there that I WAS THE ONE to take over the apartment – she took me up onto the roof, and that was that. I knew I had to live there.
I’ll take some pictures so you all can see. I still never get over it. I never get accustomed to the view.
My street, on the cliffs in Jersey, is directly across from the Empire State Building. It looks so close you feel like you can touch it.
I haven’t been able to go up there all this long and brutal winter. Too windy. Snow drifts, etc.
I’m excited to spend some of my early mornings up there. And sunsets as well.
Nice. A good early morning sopt is invaluable. Normally I avoid the early AM hours like the plague, but for some reason yesterday I was up at 7:45 AM and having nothing better to do, grabbed a coffee and my book to go sit on the seawall.
Oh God, that sounds like heaven.
3 of my favorite things: books, coffee, ocean
It was nice – it was beautiful out and early enough that it wasn’t crowded. I don’t like the beach very much (all that sand!) but I do like the ocean. I like the fact that on certain days I can step out the door and smell the salt on the wind. I could never live in land-locked state.
I hear you, Red. I grew up in north Jersey (the Oranges), and my family made countless trips into the City over the years. The part of the drive I most looked forward to was on the approach to the Lincoln Tunnel, as you round the final turn on the approach just before starting the descent down to the tunnel, and in an instant the vista you descibe opens up. What a rush! Lucky you.
Oh, Sheil- can Betsy and I come back? On my way home from Va yesterday, I got very lonely for NYC. PS Ceileidh has fully embraced the notion of the “To Don’t” List. She got off the jet ski Friday, shaking with fear and angry at her Dad for having driven it WAY TOO FAST and the only words out of her mouth were, “Well, that is DEFINITELY on my “To Don’t” List”. (Said while wiping angry tears from her eyes).
OH, Ceileidh!!
You guys can come back anytime. I think we’re due for another get-together anyway.