Random NYC photos

On the way home from Uncle Eddies memorial service we hit some major traffic in Jersey and John decided that the quickest way home would be to cut thru NYC to get from New Jersey to Long Island. Normally I opt for going up and over via the George Washington bridge (thru the bronx) or even settle for cutting thru Staten Island but heavy traffic on a Saturday evening made him think NYC would be the quickest of the 3 routes. Needless to say I was a little apprehensive. Although John works in NYC and drives there daily, I myself can count on one hand the amount of times I have driven in the city. Add to my nerves the fact that I was driving my very large (and powerful 8.1 liter V8 -insert manly grunting) but not very responsive or known for its handling Chevy Avalanche in a place where aggression, speedy lane changes and quick braking is the expected driving technique. My big black behemoth was amusingly out of place amongst the two doors coups, taxi cabs, bike delivery boys and infesting pedestrian population.

Fortunately sometimes MIGHT makes RIGHT and I managed to muscle my way in after much tailgating, some quick lane changing, and lots and lots of avoiding double parked cars (All you people in NYC, just so you know double parking is illegal!) we manage to get to 34th (or something around that number) street and have to cut across to get to the mid town tunnel or at least that is what John was telling me we did. Due to all the jaywalkers, backed up traffic and double parkers I had some time to snap a few photos of our 1.5 mile Jaunt from NJ to the midtown tunnel.

Its really not possible to feel the immensity of NYC in any photo. In person its much much bigger, busier and chaotic than a still photo can possibly capture.

broadway and 34th street

Empire state building reaching way way way up into the clouds.

(my favorite photo)

church photos

John's Uncle Eddie passed away unexpectedly before Christmas. He and his wife lived in Florida and after his passing the family decided to bring his ashes up here to be buried near his son in New Jersey. The service was last weekend in John's cousins church. The church was lovely and I managed to snap off a few photos before the service.

I wish you could see how nice this looked in person,

the arches and stain glass windows were beautiful.

The entire inside of the church has incredibly archways and domed architecture

and all of the arches are hand painted. This photo was taken where I was sitting

The statue up near the ceiling is larger than it looks here.

I'm not quite sure these marble columns are real. They have a clear coat on them that

doesn't look like what you would seal real marble with. I wonder if these are incredibly

well painted faux marble or poorly sealed real marble.

From far away they were really quite handsome.

After the church service we went to the funeral. Uncle Eddie's ashes were laid to rest

in a vast and tremendous cemetery with more crypts than I have ever seen in any other cemetary. There were hundreds of them. They were everywhere. I happened notice that a good amount of those crypts were of substantial size and engraved with Italian last names. I didn't recognize any of the names on the crypts we passed as possible crime family names but I watched the Sopranos so I know there are lots of them in New York and New Jersey. I would have taken photos but the rainy graveside service started right away.

After the services we went back to John's cousins house for what turned out to be an

"Irish" funeral. (I was designated driver and refrained from the spirits)

Johns cousin's house is quaint. Although he is a bachelor

John's cousin has a talent for mixing interesting historical and vintage pieces, sports and guy memorabilia, hand painted furniture and feminine botanicals for what has got to be one of the most eclectic yet comfortable houses I have ever been in. Its part museum and part English cottage. Its a cosy little old house filled with interesting artifacts that makes you feel like you can kick off your shoes, settle in on one of the many mismatched chairs and enjoy time spent with family and friends.