Arise with trepidation - tooth has almost self healed - what will I say to the dentist? - off I head - get adventurous - take a different route - New York hot but not humid - bloody hell !- northern hemisphere again - where is north? - that's right the sun is in the southern sky - shadows point to the north west in mid morning - panic a little - running late - compose myself - back in familiar territory - on my way.
No need to panic - dentist yet to arrive - listen to nurses describe office politics to one another - 9:10 dentist arrives - 9:20 he greets me - really pleasant individual - young fellow - specialist - does nothing but root canals.
I explain Australian travel insurance - he understands insurance companies - if tooth is live then he can do a temporary fix - if it is dead then its either root canal or nothing.
He tests and tests and x-rays again - inconclusive - X-ray looks fine.
Loads me up with scripts for penicillin and pain relievers - only use them if the tooth blows up!
Out to see the receptionist credit card in hand - "we'll send you a bill" - are you sure? - "yep - we'll send you a bill'' - all in all a very trusting, cheerful and friendly bunch these New Yorkers.
Wander home past Union Square - Saturday farmers market underway - great produce - cheeses, fruits, vegetables, juices ... a great variety.
Visit the bagel shop - overwhelmed by the choice - what did Simon say to ask for? - can not remember - slink back home - check the email - that's right - order a "toasted everything bagel with tofu cream cheese". What on earth does that mean - resort to Wikipedia - ah - "everything" is the seasoning on top of the bagel - now I get it! - back to the shop with a renewed spring in my step!
Wash down the bagel with latte - I can see what Simon was getting at - very tasty!
OK so now you don't have to worry about the tooth what are you going to do for the day? - resort to the Kahn book - resolve to visit the Empire State Building after dark and Washington Square during the early afternoon.
Washington Square - no more that three minutes away - arrive, wander, sit, wonder, wander, sit, wonder, wander, sit and wonder some more - observe families, children, grandparents, loners, misfits(many of them), people who are coping and those that are not, tourists (only a few of them), chess players, dealers and people on the lookout for dealers.
Sit, listen, wander - sit, listen, wander and sit and listen some more - enthralling - jazz groups, blues singers, a gospel group, violinists.
Washington Square -part of the Village! I would recommend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at Washington Square to anyone!
1 comment:
Hi Mike
Dropped into Albury to see you Fri...but only found Bernie busily packing...
I was telling her how much we all enjoyed the Europe blog and Bernie said I should comment on the NY one so you know you have readers out here.
Can't offer any advice on the tooth problem, but NY is one of my favourite places we have visited.
I went to a mate's wedding therego after we saw you in Baltimore (9 years ago?), my top 3 NY things to do are:
- eat breakfast at one of those 'hole in the wall' Diners;
- go to whatever is on at Maddison Square garden..we went back five times on the same day before I got last minute tickets to a Hockey game;
- go ice shating at Central Park...we always regret just going there, but not skating.
Say congratulations to Simon from Chrisy & I, and we hope teh wedding goes well.
BTW - your link to the Day 4 photos has an error in the URL...let me know if you need a good IT consultant :)
cheers
peter adams
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