On the water in New York City – The famous downtown skyline

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As mentioned in an earlier post I lived on Stated Island for a few years during the 1970s and took the Staten Island Ferry twice a day commuting to work in Manhattan. The skyline was always magical, particularly at night when all the lights in the buildings came on. It was quite a shock to see it again after all these years – without the iconic twin towers of the old World Trade Center, missing since that dreadful day on 9/11/2001.

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Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 55-200mm f3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

On the water in New York City – On the ferry waiting for departure

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On the ferry looking towards Brooklyn. I’ve only rarely been to Brooklyn. It’s always had some very ‘tony’ areas, but in the 1970s it was perceived by non Brooklynites as a place to be avoided: too much poverty, too much crime etc. Nowadays it’s gone upscale, especially the areas near the water. It’s much more heavily developed than it used to be. I keep meaning to go and explore, particularly since I have a few friends there. One of these days…

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XF 55-200mm f3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

On the water in New York City – Staten Island Ferry Terminal

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After lunch with a friend from Switzerland I decided to go down to the Southernmost tip (The Battery) of Manhattan and take the Staten Island ferry. Back in the 1970s I used to live on Staten Island. The easiest way for me to get to work was to take the ferry. I don’t think I’ve been back there since about 1978 and it’s certainly changed a lot: much more lively and seemingly catering to tourists much more. I shouldn’t be surprised since the Staten Island Ferry must be the best bargain in New York. It doesn’t cost anything and you get a nice boat ride across the harbor with great views of the Statue of Liberty and the downtown Manhattan skyline.

Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II

That’s the way you grind a lot of coffee

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Awesome machine at the Black Cow coffee shop in Croton-on-Hudson. According to their website:

Michael and Peggy Grant opened the black cow on a wing and a prayer in 1995. they had two young children at the time, Peggy was working as a nurse and Michael as a contractor, and there were more than a few people who thought they were a little crazy to believe they could make a living selling cups of coffee. But they were able to do that and so much more. Since opening, the black cow has become the heart of our community in croton, and has expanded to build more community in Pleasantville and at Phelps Hospital. After twenty five years, Michael and Peggy have retired to Vermont to live out their other dream of doing nothing in a bucolic setting, and they are passing the torch on to close family and dear friends. in croton, Zoë (their youngest child) has returned to carry on the tradition of early morning cups and warm conversations. in Pleasantville, Michele (long time manager and face of the store) is nurturing the family of customers there as she has been doing for the past few years. and at Phelps hospital, Amanda (Michael’s niece and forever friendly face at all the stores) is carrying on with the tight knit community she has built among the hospital staff. No matter the faces behind the counter, our goal will continue to be, as it has always been, to take care of and nourish these communities that we love so much.

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Taken with a Fuji X-E3 and Fuji XC 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 OSS II