Zefiro at Sea: GOOD TIMES IN THE BIG APPLE

Lat: 40 42.8N / Long: 074 01.1W

We arrived after a pleasant three day sail from Bermuda to New York City (NYC). We found our way to the North Cove Marina and were quite impressed how it was nicely tucked in between the tall buildings of the World Financial Center and Battery Park City.

This area has immensely changed after the 9/11 disaster and bears a very pleasant atmosphere. Only 300m apart from ground zero, we could actually see from our berth in the marina the building process of the Freedom Tower, the replacement for the former Twin Towers. The whole new setup there is going to be very impressive.

On our way to NYC ‘the Lady’ is there to greet us.

North Cove Marina under The Freedom Tower (2^nd building from the right). It is planned to be 1776 ft high; in memory of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence in the year 1776.

“The Sphere” originally stood in front of the World Trade Center. Although damaged during the tragic events of 9/11, it endures as an icon of hope. The sculpture was placed in Battery Park as a memorial to all who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks.

View from Rockefeller Center over Central Park

During our stay in the Big Apple we had decided to focus on the museums – the traditional ones as well as the newer ones. And it was fascinating. Every day we visited a different collection. Although it is known that private sponsorship is much more common in the US than in Europe, we were again truly impressed by the sheer volume of it. Our recommendations: The Frick Collection in the former mansion of industry tycoon Henry Clay Frick as well as the “Neue Galerie” which opened in 2001 and specializes in Austrian and German Art of the turn of the 19^th/20^th century. Those who want to be challenged by contemporary art of the more extreme should visit the “New Museum” in the Bowery.

Museums we visited

The MoMA-beast

The Guggenheim- an all time classic

After the museums we treated ourselves to a lovely lunch in one of the in-restaurants. Our recommendation: The “Mark-Restaurant” by Jean Georges Vongerichten in the Mark Hotel on Madison and 77^th. Superb cuisine and all the NY socialite ladies nibbling on their lunch, discussing their holidays or social events and possibly their latest face lifts.

In the evenings we just walked around, discovering lower Manhattan. This whole area has become quite interesting to stay. Years ago it was run down and even dangerous. Now lots of new restaurants and bars, shops and galleries as well as recreational areas made it great fun to see and experience. We observed that the people in New York seem to have no time at all; they work hard and then they go out running at every time of the day or night.

This time, no shopping involved! As the summer sales were on, it wasn’t fun to stay in the crowded shops. Although we did set foot into the holy halls of Stuart Weitzmann and Barnes & Noble and did of course leave with some prey …

On our last day we rented a car and drove out to the Hamptons. Indeed we understand why people like to spend their time there. The houses we saw were exquisite as well as the long white beaches. Real estate prices are immense, it starts at a few million and goes up to 30 million US$ and more - the sky is the limit.

With German horse-power to the Hamptons

Montauk Beach

Affordable house in the Hamptons

We left North Cove Marina after nine days and headed for Newport, Rhode Island - the most renowned sailing area of all USA. Like an American Porto Cervo. Regine could have stayed in NYC forever, but Gerhard was happy to be at sea again.