Hustle and bustle of the big city

Now, after a sunny day, I’m sitting in my shorts and T-shirt in my Amigo and writing my blog post. In the evening there was a soup from our Thermomix (onion, tomatoes, beetroot, carrots and sweet potatoes, vegetable broth and two small broth sausages). We are standing on a campground on Taylors Island in the state of Maryland. Nothing spectacular, mostly anglers and hunters as permanent campers. In the first row we enjoy the view on the water and the low season rest. A few days break do us good.

I first deal with the newly acquired mobile phone, which I was able to receive tax-free in an apple shop in Deleware after coping with an unusual queue for us “Oberhausener”.

In fact, 10 days have passed since my last blog post. At that time we were at the gates of New York. On Sundays we took part in a meditative hike of the Insight Meditation Sociaty in New York. Mindful hiking with guidance from the competent teacher Lin Gordon. Input to the essence of nature and man in nature. Perception with all senses. After five hours we returned a little soaked, full of thoughts and quite satisfied to our Amigo. Meditative hiking, perhaps not so long, could become an offer from us on Texel …

On Sunday evening, as already more frequently, we drive to a large supermarket parking lot to spend the night. And then the next morning: New York! We treat ourselves to the quite high-priced parking lot with 110 $ per night opposite Manhattan. It is simply conveniently located and offers us what we need.

Saradevi takes over the program planning as well as all technical tasks like ticket purchase, route sounding, sightseeing, bookings and interpreting. I enjoy this luxury!

Every now and then we ride our bikes, use the ferry connections and enjoy the impressive skyline of the city a few times. By subway we reach many of our destinations. We wander through different districts, visit the MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) and enjoy the evening view from New York’s highest point, the One World Observatory.

On walks through the city I soak up the atmosphere of this metropolis. We will remember the contrasts between representative prosperity and homelessness as well as noisy bustle and quiet parking in the middle of the city. Cars honking their horns everywhere, construction sites and police or other security people.

The photos on this page probably illustrate these impressions only insufficiently. And I am well aware that my impressions are only arbitrary snapshots of a much wider spectrum. New York is worth one, probably several trips! A fascinating city. I like to visit it again, but live in it? No, thank you!

Our journey then led us towards Philadelphia via Princeton. There we stopped for a few hours and gathered impressions of what is probably the richest university in the world.

At the gates of the city we heard the piece by Mark Knopfler “Sailing To Philadelphia”. (And while I’m writing this down, I hear: Bruce Springsteen, Streets Of Philadelphia).

Philadelphia, the city of Rocky – as we happened to be reminded by a welcome film in the visitor center. Past the Hard Rock Café we visit the market hall and stroll through the old town in the evening. Before going to bed we quickly watch one of the 70s Rocky movies! The next morning we drove by car to Rocky and had a farewell look at the skyline of the big city.

Via Newark in Deleware we went to the end of the world to rest. For four nights we stop at Taylors Island, a campground on the coast in the state of Maryland, which helps to digest the impressions of the last days before we continue to Washington …