A picture is worth a thousand words

Coney Island Polar Bear Club

2017-01-01T22:51:00.001-05:00

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States, whose members regularly take polar bear plunges in the winters. The club was founded by famed health advocate Bernarr McFadden in 1903. The club began using the event to raise funds for Special Olympics starting in 2005, and Camp Sunshine in 2007. Members swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island, New York, United States every Sunday from November through April. Every New Year's Day, the Club is joined by participants from around the country, who partake in an annual swim. The Chief Polar Bear blows a conch shell to gather the swimmers before they run into the water. [Wiki]

Super Moon 2016

2016-12-28T23:25:00.000-05:00

On Nov 14, 2016 moon is the closest that it has ever been to the earth this year. With that in mind, I ventured to capture this event in all it's beauty. Following photos were taken in Brooklyn, on November 13, when the moon is not the closest, yet close enough.

Nov 14, 2014 was the day when the moon would be the fullest and closest. A view from Hoboken NJ was suppose to be spectacular as moon would be rising close to the Empire State building. What a disappointment - clouds that covered the entire sky have hidden that celestial event. I was only able to catch the moon peaking from behind the buildings before it went into the clouds and not to be seen until next morning :(

Spider

2012-08-10T09:53:00.001-04:00

This, not-so-little, spider comes every evening and starts a job of putting a web.
He and the web are all completely gone by the morning. In the evening he is back - weaving the web again. Usually, after the spider has left, the web remains, but not in this case. I guess this spider went green and is recycling.

From Rome to London, part 1

2011-09-17T22:06:00.000-04:00

JFK ● Rome, Italy ● Vatican
This summer, my wife, my son, and I took a Globus HFFT tour - from the Coliseum to the Eiffel Tower with London Extension. It's a family oriented tour, hence the locations that we visited and tour activities were geared toward families with children. Children's age varied from 6 to 18. Half of the group was this one big family: grandma, aunts and uncles, sister and brothers with the spouses and their kids. What a way to travel.

We have departed JFK, with a two hour delay, to Rome Italy. The delay was due to broken lavatory, an captain did not feel comfortable flying over Atlantic with lavatory out of service. Who knows if there is an emergency.

This is not really our plane on a photo, since ours was parked far from a terminal and we were taken by the busses.

The airplane was full

Each of us had personal entertainment system, with video on demand, games, etc. Unfortunately it had to be rebooted couple of times until it started to work properly. It was powered by Linux.

Almost nine hours later, we have arrived to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport.

Here we disembark our plane in Italy. Airbus A330

In Rome we were staying in Starhotel Michelangelo. We were given this huge key that had to be returned to front desk every time you leave the hotel and then to ask for it when you come back.

Hotel was a few blocks away from Vatican Basilica di San Pietro that was visible from outside of the hotel.

Everywhere in Rome, one can find those free water fountain/spouts with drinking water.

We have departed New York on Saturday and arrived to Rome on Sunday. On Sunday most of the places were closed and we basically had this day for ourselves, to walk around and relax and get adjusted to the local time.

The next morning (Monday) we had a wakeup call at 6am so we could have breakfast and leave on a tour. This way we would be first in line for Vatican museum, otherwise the lines are very long and to stand under the Italy's hot sun is unpleasant.

Even though we went early, we were the second group in line, which wasn't too bad. After administrivia procedures, we all got our tikets and radio receivers, wee went in.

Our first stop was the court-yard, with spherical sculpture in the middle.

A stone face was poking out from between the columns.

Here is our group is ascending the stairs to go into the Vatican museum.

Various sculptures, with leafs covering the intimate parts could be seen on a right and on a left as we were walking along the long corridor.

Ceiling decoration

Various painting on a ceiling

and on a sides of the walls

Sculpture of a man

This is an amazing paining on a ceiling that looks like as if tiles or ornament was there.

After the museum, we went inside of St. Peter's Basilica. It's truly big, and an amazing place, and photos do not convey enough of the sheer size and beauty that surrounding lay down on you.

Famous Pietà by Michelangelo - St. Peter's Basilica

Swiss guard on duty to protect His Holiness, the Pope

We then went outside, to Piazza San Pietro

After a brief break for snacks and drinks (mind you, it was very hot day and a bottle of water was €3 for a small bottle. Later on that day I went to the supermarket and bought seltzer water for 20 ¢ for a 2 Litre bottle). Enough of that :)

In the afternoon we went to see the Coliseum. Near the Arco di Constantino we had an opportunity to take a picture with a local "gladiators". No photos here, since my son was not keen of taking photos with them. Oh well. Not a big deal.

A side of the Flavian Amphitheater, Coliseum

The day tour have ended here. We went back to our rooms to refresh. A neighboring building had a toilet and a bidet on a balcony. I guess they have not had enough room for those two inside.

In the evening we had a guided tour. We drove in our tour bus, passing the Vatican, the coliseum, and just around the little streets of Rome.
We got off the bus and went for a walk.

Bikes of all kinds are parked on the street

Piazza Mignanelli

Spanish steps

Gucci, Armani, Boss and other fashion designer stores are on this street leading to Spanish Steps

And this is how you drink water: use your thumb to close the faucet an the water will conveniently emerge through the hole in the middle.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Small coffee shops are here and there

A local feline checking out the crowd

The Column of Marcus Aurelius

A small restaurant with nice ham on a table

Wall decoration at that hotel

A trio of street performers

The Fountain of the Four Rivers

Basilica di San Pietro at night

After a long day walking and admiring Rome, we have returned to our hotel tired but satisfied. We had a nice pasta infused dinner with people from our group and then we went to bed.

The next morning, we started to drive north, to Pisa. We have passed many fields with sunflowers

Going north...

This was a long post. I will now let you rest, and hope to see you later as we continue to North of Italy, then Switzerland, Paris and London

Puerto Rico Viking

2011-06-04T17:36:00.001-04:00

On the road

2011-05-30T22:56:00.000-04:00

Use George Washington bridge (GWB) to cross from Manhattan to New Jersey.
Drive on Palisades Parkway north and take the first scenic stop.

A breathtaking view.

Bronx

Hudson River and GWB

When arriving at final destination, enjoy the memories.

Brighton Beach

2011-05-30T22:42:00.000-04:00

The Last Day of Pompeii

2011-05-21T21:01:00.001-04:00

"Pompeii was an ancient Roman city (near modern day Naples) that was buried in AD 79 by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The people of Pompeii had plenty of warning that something was going to happen. For at least six weeks before the major eruption there were earth tremors and the water level sank extremely low. The intelligent ones left. The skeptical ones stayed."

After weeks of pouring rain, the weather has finally recovered. It was a warm, sunny day.
Since today was suppose to be yet another Judgement Day/End of the World, we sought on taking a walk and enjoy the "last" day.

We went to Manhattan Beach, a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Each house is unique in its design and starting price is million dollars and more.

Fancy gate

Flowers in front of the house

There is a public beach nearby. The swimming season has not began yet, hence no one in the water.

Enjoying the sunny day

Playing giant Frisbee

With today's gas prices, a bike is the preferred method of transportation

Little crab

Overlooking Coney Island

Shiny rock. Quartz reflecting sun and making stone shine.

Fisherman

Red maple

Emmons Ave

Poopadron

Brooklyn - Brighton Beach

2011-05-17T14:37:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn - Coney Island

2011-04-30T21:32:00.001-04:00

People exercising on boardwalk or just enjoying last day of April

Brooklyn Cyclones

Brooklyn Brewery - owl watch

Coney Island - Stillwell Ave subway station. Home for D,F,N and Q trains.

Painted mural on wall of the Brooklyn Aquarium.
Me and my wife as part of Goldman Sachs volunteering program at Aquarium, have painted some parts of this wall.

Clouds

I'm walking

A man rides a bicycle that looks like a chopper bike

Lunch time in NYC

2011-04-26T23:58:00.004-04:00

It was a beautify day today.80°F, sunny. Nice and warm.

Mustard?

This is how you put mustard on a hot dog

Did you get my message? What should we have for lunch?

Back Pain Dr.

Enjoying the sun

On the edge

A friend

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Spring day

2011-04-25T02:54:00.002-04:00

Sunday has been finally a warm day, around 70°F.
Many people got out for a walk or run.
And the best place for that is near the water, overlooking the Verrazano bridge, Manhattan and New Jersey.

Tulips

2011-04-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

Congressman Peter King

2011-04-19T09:48:00.000-04:00

Congressman Peter King spotted in front of 100 Broadway (near Borders) in downtown Manhattan.

Spring

2011-04-17T23:01:00.000-04:00

An apple a day

2011-04-14T23:42:00.000-04:00

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Tulips

2011-04-14T23:40:00.000-04:00

Tulips at Bowling Green in Manhattan

Is it Love?

2011-04-05T12:11:00.000-04:00

Joie de Vivre by Mark di Suvero

2011-03-30T23:34:00.000-04:00

Color vs B&W

2011-03-30T23:32:00.002-04:00

New York

2011-03-30T23:31:00.000-04:00

Rebbe

2011-03-30T23:29:00.000-04:00

Spring

2011-03-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

Wall Street cats and dogs

2011-02-25T10:18:00.002-05:00

Wall Street at night

2011-02-25T10:14:00.000-05:00