Notebook #9: New York, New York

What I did on my holidays, in words and pictures

Me having dinner at the Chelsea Hotel on West 23rd Street, New York

I think I may have chanced on a genius idea to get the most out of a city break: stay in two different hotels in two different neighbourhoods.

I’ve just done this in New York.

First we stayed in a hotel in Brooklyn and spent a few days strolling around the neighbourhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Cobble Hill.

South Williamsburg

Then we switched to a skyscraper hotel in midtown Manhattan for a more high-pace, high-rise experience.

Empire State Building from our 34th-floor hotel room

This arrangement was the result of an administrative error in my holiday planning. But I intend to follow the same pattern elsewhere in future. It’s like having two holidays in one. Every city has contrasts. Why not make the most of them?

I was excited to be in the States in the heat of a presidential election campaign, but if I expected an existential tussle for the soul of America to be played out in the streets I was to be disappointed. There was minimal visible evidence of the contest. I suppose I should have realised that all the action is in the swing states, not true-blue New York, but still.

Will the USA take a one-way trip down Orange Street on November 5?

The only evidence of the campaign was a few T-shirts in souvenir shops on Fifth Avenue, with Trump merch much more in evidence than Harris paraphernalia. Perhaps the touts have not yet caught up with the switch of Democratic Party candidate.

I couldn’t resist a wander into Trump Tower to see if my old friend Donald - I interviewed him once in St Andrews a couple of decades ago - was at home. Seems he was busy, but the shop in the lobby was well stocked, albeit devoid of customers.

I’ve been to New York quite a few times now for work and pleasure, but there is always something new to see. If you’re planning a trip sometime soon, here are a few of my personal recommendations: