Trip to New H(e)aven

Heavenly Beaches

Last weekend, we ventured on a trip out of New York City (only the 4th including our visit to Belgium). We drove about one hour upstate and were genuinely amazed about what we found just a one-hour drive from our apartment.

Our first stop (not a really planned stop but we were getting hungry) was West Haven Beaches. On the menu: soft shell crabs... nature's fast food version of crab, no hassle with shells but ready to eat. I had never heard of this kind of crab before but from Wikipedia I learned (if the source is reliable) that soft-shell crabs are actually normal crabs with hard shells but which are cooked at the time they are molting. When crabs grow larger, their shells cannot expand, so they molt the exteriors and have a soft covering for a matter of days. Interesting... and quite yummy! Funny though that the Americans decided to deep-fry it.

After our lunch, we walked along the boardwalk and stumbled upon the following scenery... who says you have to go to the Caribbean for nice beaches?







***to be continued***

4th of July

Fireworks and Bicycles

Yesterday, we celebrated the 4th of July in our new home. We started the day with a bike ride along the East River. To our shame, we must confess that we didn't visit this part of Manhattan yet (when you live in the Upper West Side, you tend to avoid going East since this is quite a hassle: it requires bus rides, multiple subway transfers, etc. ). So finally, we saw what the East side of Manhattan looked like... not bad actually. The river park was filled with New Yorkers enjoying the holiday weekend with a BBQ (note to myself: do not go biking along the East River around lunchtime on an empty stomach).






In the evening, we tried something new: a picnic on a highway. Macy's fireworks took place above the Hudson River and to ensure a good viewing-spot, we decided to go for a picnic along the Hudson River with some friends awaiting the start of the fireworks. We ended up on a highway bridge, quite comfortable. I was really amazed how well-organized the event was: hundreds of policemen and fences to divide the road and ensure people don't get squished. The fireworks... well... no words for it. The movie below is only 3 minutes from a more than 30 minutes wonderful show. Enjoy!

Back in the USA!

We're back in good old New York City and today we celebrate Independence Day...

Most New Yorkers escape the city (be it to go to the Hamptons, the Jersey shore or some exotic destination), but we, as semi-tourists, decided to celebrate this patriotic holiday in New York. With free concerts and other events all over the city, we figured this is the best place to experience the 4th of July.

And the day will end with a bang... thanks to Macy's fireworks above the Hudson River. It's the first time that the fireworks will take place above the Hudson River and not the East River, this to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the river. Some more numbers before I leave you to go out to celebrate in the sun:

- 1776: year of US independence
- 120,000: number of fireworks used in Macy's show
- 27: number of street blocks the fireworks display will cover
- 32: number of previous Macy's fireworks shows
- 2: number of hamburgers Ward and Evelyn will each devour :-D