Allan Kasof kindly drove us into central Manhattan after peak hour. We left Long Island about 9am but the one and a half hour freeway and central New York journey still seemed pretty busy to us. He navigated superbly to our hotel “Millennium on Broadway” on 46th Street.
The bad news at this stage was that Bas was feeling quite ill, indeed too ill to launch himself on New York. He contacted the house doctor who was nowhere near the house but who would be pleased to see him. We commenced a very long walk and began to understand the street pattern of New York as we crossed and wandered along streets that until then had just been places in movies and books: 42nd Street, Times Square, and 5th Avenue to name a few.
The medical appointment worked swiftly and efficiently with pathology done on the spot and an antibiotic prescription provided. We headed to the drug store where there was no obvious queue but an obvious lethargy. We sat for about half an hour while the prescription was filled; watched a few quintessential New York characters from central casting come and go; and, were open mouthed when we were asked to hand over $180 for 9 tablets. Welcome to the American health system. We had insurance, needed the loot and payed up.
We spent a few fabulous hours at the Museum of Modern Art and then Bas slept. I roamed Times Square and surrounds into the early evening. The vibrancy is really too difficult for this once a year blogger to describe.
Bas was a little better next day and headed off to his appointment with the director at Denise’s Kasof’s access workshop. I took in the wonderful views from “Top of the Roc” (the Rockefeller Centre), passed a talent line up at Radio City and strolled happily through Central Park thinking what a family-friendly and peaceful place it was. I later read the New York crime statistics for the week and learned that Central Park was currently suffering from a spate of violent crime during the day.
As I headed back to our hotel along 5th Avenue- someone (noticing that I was looking like a local already) asked me directions to St Patricks Cathedral. Somehow I knew it was on 5th Avenue so as a local I pointed her ahead and followed. Serendipity surrounded me and I arrived right on noon for the half hour sung liturgy and lots of others joined me. Wonderful.
We navigated the subway to Pearl Paints ( Bas’ equivalent of my saints) mid-afternoon. Pearl is the largest supply shop in America for artists. He had been there when he was in America in the mid-nineties and spoke of it as a printmaker’s paradise. It seemed a bit down on its luck. Its 5 floors could not be serviced by a broken elevator (the stairs tested our resolve) and the supplies on the shelves looked a bit like those at an outback store before the supply truck has come in.
We navigated the subway again to our Barrow Street off Broadway production of “Our Town”. We sat in Washington Square on the way and soaked up its buskers, its shade and its atmosphere. The production of “Our Town” was simply outstanding for its intimacy and ensemble acting.
It was a fast and furious visit and we barely scratched the skin of the big apple, however, it was wonderful. Early next day we were back at JFK to head to Athens and thence to while away week one on Skopelos.
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