The TWA Hotel at JFK

It was quite an experience, a return to circa 1962, to stay at this amazing property, based on the design of Eero Saarinen, the brilliant Finnish American architect who designed it as the TWA Flight Center Terminal at what was then called Idlewild Airport.

Description

https://www.twahotel.com/

Saarinen supposedly came up with the bulging roof design after fiddling with a grapefuit one morning at breakfast. "Eero was eating breakfast one morning and using the rind of his grapefruit to describe the terminal shell. He pushed down the centre to mimic the depression that he desired, and the grapefruit bulged. This was the seed for the bulges in the shell."

This is a remarkably similar story to that of the Sydney Opera House architect who envisioned that famous roof while cutting an orange into segments. Should we call it the citrus inspiration effect?

Our room...

Our phone...

Connie...

Dinner at the Paris Cafe...

A tasty sushi with crunchy rice inside...

A quiet flight home on Alaska Airlines #7 JFK-SEA and an Avis rental to whisk ourselves home...

It’s good to be home. We’re going to hunker down for awhile.

The One World Trade Center

It totaled a hefty $40 each, even with a senior discount, but the views were worth it. The view from 1234 feet on the 100th floor, the 7th-highest building in the world.

https://www.oneworldobservatory.com/en-US/experience

Lady Liberty in the distance...














Memorial pool from above...

After descending, we walked through the Oculus, the striking new transportation hub and shopping mall.

Walking the Highline

“The Best Walk You’ll Take in New York City”York City

And so it is... Starting from Edge, the "Staircase to Nowhere.”

We took subways to one end, and wended our way eventually back to our hotel, well over five leisurely miles of walking today.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another overwhelming museum. We spent several hours here, and would love to spend several days.

We concentrated our viewing on European and American art. 

One of our first stops was at The Harvesters, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, one of the first renowned works in which common people are doing common things, a humanistic revolution.

So much to see everywhere we looked. In the American gallery we spot that famous portrait of George Washington. His head still looks small to us, even in person.

We’d never realized that Washington Crossing the Delaware was painted by a German in Germany.

Remington...

Fabergé Eggs up close...

Self-portraits by Van Gogh and 

We only scratched the surface of the surface and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

On the New York Subway

Somewhat confusing but we manage to get where we want to go...

Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan Financial District

Fabulous location, friendly employees, small but functional rooms, and excellent Huevos Ramcheros among the varied breakfast offerings. What’s not to like?