Montag, 30. Juli 2007
Samstag, 28. Juli 2007
Steam, seconds...
Meanwhile, we know what happened that day. It seems it was "just" old infrastructure. No terrorism. People got hurt, the fear about what happened is still there. But life goes on very quickly in this city that never sleeps.
I have been back to the office by now recovering not only my wallet but also my laptop. Friday night, I was eventually able to snug in and was escorted to the office floor to fetch my personal belongings. After having been turned away so many times.
Still many streets are blocked and traffic jamed around that part of midtown. The "frozen zone" 'melts' by the day. My memories will not. Luckily, nothing happened to me. And - considering time and location - we all must be greatful that not much more people got hurt.
This has been an experience that will clearly leave its stamp on 'my year in Manhattan'. I could have easily done without. Having been part of it, will only make it stronger.
To soothe the spirit - some other clouds over Manhattan...
I have been back to the office by now recovering not only my wallet but also my laptop. Friday night, I was eventually able to snug in and was escorted to the office floor to fetch my personal belongings. After having been turned away so many times.
Still many streets are blocked and traffic jamed around that part of midtown. The "frozen zone" 'melts' by the day. My memories will not. Luckily, nothing happened to me. And - considering time and location - we all must be greatful that not much more people got hurt.
This has been an experience that will clearly leave its stamp on 'my year in Manhattan'. I could have easily done without. Having been part of it, will only make it stronger.
To soothe the spirit - some other clouds over Manhattan...
Samstag, 21. Juli 2007
Steam
A date I will not forgot soon: July 18, 2007. I was just talking to our IT folks focusing on some problems with my laptop when we hear a rumble and shortly thereafter see a smoke cloud moving into our view and hear debris flying into the windows - on the 18th floor! What was going on? We let everything go and immediately run to the staircase. There is already people in there, making their way downstairs. The crowd is moving, slowly, too slowly for me, quite frankly. I start to really feel concerned. This is not the moment, not here nor now. I hear people crying. Finally, we reach the first floor and I run as so many others out and away. Sirenes everywhere, continuous flow of police cars, detective cars, ambulances, detective cars, fire fighters, detective cars, detective cars, detective cars. I'm headed south on Park Ave and run a couple blocks. I stop in between, look back. There is fear and there is curiosity. A crazy curiosity. What on earth happened? The smoke continues to wave skyhigh behind Park 101. I stop. As do many. Shall I stay or shall I get the heck out of here? I take out my phone. Who can I call? It's past 6 pm. Back home in Europe, everybody is sleeping. I call a friend in the DC area. Finally, I get a connection. "Hey, something is going on in Manhattan. I don't know what. Have you heard anything? Could you check and let me know?" , I decide to stay. As more detective cars and police pull towards 40th street, I even start walking back a bit. Suddenly I see single individuals covered in dust head to toe. 40th street is already blocked and I'm stopped. I finally meet fellow coworkers. Talking helps. Rumors start spreading, stories are being told. The shock seems to slowly fade. Whatever happened, it seems we were lucky. The buildings seem to stand, and while smoke continues to vapor, a curious calmness bonds everybody on the street.
As I'm standing there and waiting, stunned from what I just experienced and still am, I realize that I have nothing but my keys with me. My wallet with cash, cards, IDs is sitting at my desk. Wow, I hope to get back up there, picking up my wallet and laptop that is still sitting up there running still tonight. As I continue to wait my hopes to gain access to these belongings fade. By now, the whole area is shut down, policemen are blocking the access and I finally make my way home - with 20 bucks borrowed from a colleague from work.
Some updates can be found here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/buildings-evacuated-after-midtown-explosion/
As I'm standing there and waiting, stunned from what I just experienced and still am, I realize that I have nothing but my keys with me. My wallet with cash, cards, IDs is sitting at my desk. Wow, I hope to get back up there, picking up my wallet and laptop that is still sitting up there running still tonight. As I continue to wait my hopes to gain access to these belongings fade. By now, the whole area is shut down, policemen are blocking the access and I finally make my way home - with 20 bucks borrowed from a colleague from work.
Some updates can be found here: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/buildings-evacuated-after-midtown-explosion/
Sonntag, 15. Juli 2007
Off we go...
Summer is long here, the temperatures are high and humidity has settled in the city. Time to leave for a break. Goal: Two weeks of relaxation in the nature; Location: New England. Date: June 29 - July 14.
We started in Boston where we got the chance to catch up with wonderful friends we have not seen in so long. We spend time exploring the town and celebrated a rainy 4th of July with BBQ, hot dogs, and a good beer.
Our road trip brought us to Cape Cod (where we enjoyed the nature shore), Newport RI (what an Ocean Drive), Portland ME, Acadia National Park, White Mountains, and The Berkshire before we headed back to Boston where we both had to take our planes in separate directions. We enjoyed the nature and the outdoors, we enjoyed the hikes in the mountains, we enjoyed the view over the sea, we enjoyed our nights in the tent and in some beautiful, charming B&Bs. And above all, we enjoyed spending time together and relaxing from the day-to-day. We ended our trip by attending one of Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer concerts on the Tanglewood lawn on a Friday 13 and enjoyed not only seeing so many spectators picnicking in style but even more importantly Daniel Mueller-Schott's virtuous Cello playing during Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1. You get the picture, we truly enjoyed it and time past way too quickly.
We started in Boston where we got the chance to catch up with wonderful friends we have not seen in so long. We spend time exploring the town and celebrated a rainy 4th of July with BBQ, hot dogs, and a good beer.
Our road trip brought us to Cape Cod (where we enjoyed the nature shore), Newport RI (what an Ocean Drive), Portland ME, Acadia National Park, White Mountains, and The Berkshire before we headed back to Boston where we both had to take our planes in separate directions. We enjoyed the nature and the outdoors, we enjoyed the hikes in the mountains, we enjoyed the view over the sea, we enjoyed our nights in the tent and in some beautiful, charming B&Bs. And above all, we enjoyed spending time together and relaxing from the day-to-day. We ended our trip by attending one of Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer concerts on the Tanglewood lawn on a Friday 13 and enjoyed not only seeing so many spectators picnicking in style but even more importantly Daniel Mueller-Schott's virtuous Cello playing during Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1. You get the picture, we truly enjoyed it and time past way too quickly.
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