The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

Day 1

I almost didn’t go on this little trip. Two weeks ago, Ricardo asked me if I wanted to go to New York with him for a few days. I said yes at first but then last night I felt so exhausted from the last several days I was gonna say no. But when I awoke today I felt better.

I met Ricardo and Mike down at the 30th Street train station. The SEPTA subway was running a little behind so we missed the first train. But after switching our tickets we were away in no time.

It’s sad passing through North Philadelphia. It’s so blasted. The train ride was enjoyable though, as Ricardo and I had another opportunity to chat. I am able to talk with him more this time around due to the fact that I can speak Spanish fluently now.

We arrived at Penn Station and caught a cab to the Quality Suites Hotel on Time Square (47th & 7th). Unable to get a room with a second bed we dropped our stuff off at our “room”. I say “room” since it’s more like a janitor’s closthet. And all for the low, low price of $150.00/day. The hotel also happens to have the smallest elevators I’ve ever seen.

We had lunch in Manhattan, a few blocks away from the hotel. Afterwards, we headed up around 34th & 5th to talk to a guy who would give Ricardo a good deal on a little portable DVD player. The guy, Sergio I think his name was, was from Argentina as well. So while they went inside and bartered I sat outside, in front of the store, people watching. It was funny - people thought I was the owner. They were asking me about the prices of this and that and whether they could take their bags inside. I told them yes but to make sure they talked to the guys at the counter! It was amusing.

We walked back to the hotel and chilled out for a bit. Ricardo made some sketches and we watched some of my brother’s DVD. Around 6 o’clock I wandered out to see if I could find this one masjid (mosque) that was supposed to be around the corner but it looks as if that whole block was knocked down and under construction.

I wandered back and took Ricardo out to get a backpack and some coffee. We ate at the Olive Garden right on Time Square. Real adventurous! But it was quick and light. Tomorrow we go to try and find the Mac store in SOHO. I’d like to visit the big masjid on 96th and 3rd.

Day Two

It’s a trip being up early in a big city. Especially one as big as New York. To see it at its high point of activity and then its low point at 4:30am, when there’s hardly a soul on the street. You wonder, where do all the people go? Small side note: my iPod seems to have taken a dirt nap (died). Or at least it won’t hold a charge any longer. That really blows. I will have to check to see if it’s still under warranty. I definitely like to have my music.

The bed last night sucked. It had no spine - way too soft. And there was no way to turn the A/C off or down. Needless to say it wasn’t a very good night’s sleep.

But for every negative there is a positive. And this morning that just happened to be two egg and cheese biscuits and a large O.J. from McDonald’s. I abhor fast food. It’s greasy and really bad for you, let alone the environment, but it’s the only choice I had at that point in this part of Time Square. I also hate the way it leaves you feeling after you’ve eaten it (you feel great eating it though - isn’t that evil?).

This is my frist trip to New York post 9/11. It’s strange not seeing the Twin Towers. It gives you a hint of what many New Yorkers must sense or feel. But I won’t dwell on that.

Instead, I’ll dwell on how much I don’t care for Time Square. I love cities. Anyone who knows me knows this to be true. But this is some sort of Hellhole, tourist attraction cum massive advertisement salvo. When it comes to a city, it’s the people and the sights and sounds that go along with it that I like but I get none of that here in Time Square. It’s obnoxious, in a word. I definitely prefer other parts of New York.

But aside from that, one the things I do admire most here is the way in which the people move and carry themselves with such purpose. And though I prefer San Francisco I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of people move about in their daily activities with such zeal. It’s inspiring.

I returned to the hotel after my early morning jaunt around Time Square and took a small nap. We both woke and cleaned up and headed out to run some errands. First, we headed to see if Ricardo could meet with Neal Adams (yes, the Neal Adams) to have him sign a sketchbook for a friend of Ricardo’s back in Argentina. While not the most warm and friendly man I’ve ever met it was interesting meeting him. We (Neal and myself) talked about the comic book business, how things have changed and what he was doing lately. I’ve been a huge Neal Adams fan since a child. He’s a very gifted artist and has drawn many books including Batman, Superman and many others. It was a real treat to meet him (I’m sure he’d agree).

From there we headed to SOHO, to the Apple store. Ricardo needed to pick up a few items for Natalia, his daughter, back in Argentina. It was good we went because I found out my iPod is only under warrantly for about 10 more days! I’ll have to take it up to the King of Prussia store when I get back and have them service it.

SOHO’s an “interesting place.” The people are very fake and immature. Many are walking around a month or two’s salary on their backs. Very pretentious, sorta like the L.A. of New York. The pretension doesn’t stop at their mode of dress. We made the dubious mistake of trying to eat in SOHO (I think it was called Hanamura An). It was outlandishly expensive and really, kinda crappy at the same time. We thought Japanese would insure a sense of quality but we were sorely wrong. It was a $50 lunch and it was horrible. Boy, do I miss Miyake-san’s cooking at Yamato, in Ann Arbor. Oh, well. As Ricardo says, “Could be worse.”

The weather has had a dramatic shift for the better in the last several days so we decided to walk back to the hotel from SOHO (Prince & Green to 47th and 7th). New York’s a great a city to walk in. You really get to sense and feel what each part of the city’s like. Block by block, the neighborhood changes - the people change. I’d really like to come back at some point and go photographing, neighborhood-to-neighborhood, with my 4×5.

It took us a good hour and 15 minutes to get back to Time Square. We got in right at rush hour so it was crazy. I wanted to visit the masjid up on 96th and 3rd so I went up by myself. As another small side note, getting a cab in New York at rush hour is no easy task. There’s a sea of yellow cabs but they’re all occupied. But leave it to Wonder Boy to hail a cab at 5:30 on 52nd and Madison Ave! You’d think I live here or something. Na’eem. Eat your heart out!

Again, the feel of the neighborhood changed as we went up hill. The tourist attractions dropped away to be replaced by a real neighborhood with small bodegas, cafés and restaurants. The people who walk-about here live here. They don’t meander to-and-fro with their camcorders and I-Love-NYC t-shirts. These were locals going about their business. I liked it up here (around 60th & 70th Streets and 3rd ave.). The mosque on 96th Street is beautiful. A large building, something to behold with the large minaret out front. I prayed my two afternoon prayers, as I am musaafir (a traveler) and walked back down to the hotel. The light was coming down, giving off that nice warm glow. Mixed with a nice breeze it made for a gentle send-off. I will miss Ricardo. We didn’t have time for long good-byes as I had to head off to the train station. He’s a good man with a good heart. I knew him as a boy and now I know him as a man. Thanks, Ricardo for everything. I promise to visit you and Natalia in Argentina as soon as I can. Adios, pachuco. Ten cuidate. Ciao. And ciao to New York City. See you next time.
Marqas…