EXT, Coney Island, NYC, Day - New York City III

I saw a picture in the New York Times of a parachute jump thing out in Coney Island, so I took the D train out there for the day. This most legendary place is also famous for its more than hundred years old wooden roller coaster, nathan's hot dogs and very strange people on the beach.

It did not take me long to figure out that the red eiffeil tower structure has not spit a parachute for more than 30 years, the picture I saw was merely an ad of the Coney Island museum. The wooden roller coaster still works but yet closed for the day. Ample hot dogs at Nathan's, yet i missed the world hog dog eating contest in June, where a skinny japanese guy wins every time, his technique was to eat the dog and the bun separately and dipped in water, even the bun.

Sun was out, with a ocean breeze from the atlantic, on the beach, i was in high spirit.

A muscular man on a mountain bike stopped in front of me, who later introduced himself to be Michael, the electrician, next best thing to a plumber. It had to be a very seductive scene right out of a Martin Scorsese film. He insisted to take a picture of me with my own camera, because I was beautiful as he said and I believed him so. I now have a picture of me with the Conely Island city housing projects in the background.

Cut to, Nathan's hot dog stand at board walk. Sweet Michael bought me a original beef hotdog and started telling me the history of the island with the thickest brooklyn accent that you can imagine. I hate hotdogs, but had to let the story continue, I took the hot dog with no toppings no sauces as I insisted and he thought i was strange girl.

I wonder if Martin Scorses will arrange to have the two character fall in love right then. I put on a very sweet smile while wiping away the grise of the hog dog on my mouth, yet, love, did not happen. I then said that I would go further west on the beach to see some fishermen. Michael said with authority, 'if you really want to go, i will not stop you, but Just be careful and don't talk to any black guys'

There i said goodbye to the reasonably good looking and warm hearted white guy and ventured into the part of the Coney Island beach filled with negros and danger...

I saw the president -New York City II

After visiting the new apple store on 59th street, I saw myself slowing making my way down Fifth Avenue, guiltily, towards SAKS Fifth Avenue. Very original indeed! Staying at MOMA for a very cultural afternoon, or Metropolitan museum for some real art, I chose SAKS. As I was about to cross 49th street, I got blocked, security, police, FBI everywhere. It turned out that Bush was about to go through to attend some UN meeting. I could even smell various perfumes coming out of the first floor cosmetic department. I was dying to try them yet I was blocked right there. New Yorkers were even less patient than me, screaming on their cell phones, F-word in every sentence, “who voted for him anyways!” “he just creates so much peace in this world”…

Two minutes later, a bunch of black cars and police cars went through and there is a rolls Royce, he was sitting right there on the left side, waving at the crowd as he was passing through. I saw him very clearly with a figure smaller than I imagined him to be. The way he waved his hands felt as if he believed the people really gathered there to see him, but in fact they just had no other way of going up or down town, and half of them were just making fun of him or complaining how he cut their shopping time.

He really should avoid appearances in places like New York City, Florida or Texas might be safer places to be.

Upper East Side - New York City I

3rd day in the city, I am already eating my fifth bagel. Served by some Joshua with one of those little black hats, this sesame seeds bagel must be the most authentic one. It has been almost four years since I last came to New York City, this time I am staying with friends on the upper east side, not exactly the Woody Allen Park Ave upper east side, but 84th street and 2nd avenue upper east side. The upper east side where you find a manicure and spa place on every single block, which makes you thinking that women in NYC must have beautiful nails, check it out next time you are in NYC. This is the upper east side which is dominated by Jewish people, all meat you can find is koshered and all bread you can find is hollow. Taxis stop as soon as you raise your hand, people talk very loudly on their cell phones and you never have to worry that pastas are overcooked. I tend to believe that those Italians stay in Brooklyn or Bronx, but they made sure that people on the upper east side learned cook pasta correctly, how responsible people they are! Africains, either security guys at shoe stores or shop keeper in grocery places just love me, because I speak French to them. I tried to enjoy the sunny afternoons at central park and eventually cross over to the upper west side, supposedly the more happening part of up-down, however after a few twists and turns, I came out of the park, still on the east side, just 10 blocks towards downtown.

I might just have to stay on the upper east side all week!