Space Travel: NYCanada Trip in review, aye!

May 26th, 2007

Back in Mobile for a week now, I’ve had time to unwind, decompress, and reflect on my experience of New York and Canada. My little sister said something that aptly describes the experience:

“I’m not taking picture because you can’t capture all this in a picture. You just have to tell people to experience it for themselves.”

That’s pretty much how I feel, too. However, I do believe that photos can move people to go and experience the place for themselves.

The first time I went to New York City, I did take mad photos because everything was new to me. This time around, I opted instead to try to form a narrative of my journey with my photos. I’m pretty happy with the result, except that I didn’t get photos of the celebrities people I saw (Nigel Barker and Talib Kweli).

Still I have some gems in the form of photos I’d like to share, and most of them have stories.

At the B&B in Middletown, NY

Middletown, NY – A squirrel in a maple tree.

Crazy gas prices on the road to Canada. What’s more—as I found out from a young man I met from Egypt—gas is about 40 cents/gallon in Cairo (and it’s getting cheaper).

Canadian Customs – I had to turn over my pepper spray, because it’s illegal to carry it in Canada. The Queen of England has it now.

My little sis actually snapped this since I was driving. The camera settings were wrong so I had to salvage it. I like the surreal quality it has.

Our first time at Tim Horton’s.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Brampton, Ontario – Sunday brunch.

Brampton, Ontario – Chantel, age 11.
There’s just something so innocent and sweet about this portrait.

Brampton, Ontario – Alva’s rose.

Brampton, Ontario – I do love my sunsets, wherever they may be, in this instance, in the Canadian suburbs.

On tour at the Watch Tower of Canada branch.

You can see a rainbow, see a rainbow . . .

All comfy with our tour group in the elevator.

Crystal, Ann, and Alva (our hostess).

Watchtower Farms, Walkhill, NY – From the embossing machine. I thought it was pretty.

I love the enormity of this painting. Last year I took a photo of my other sister and a friend standing in front of it.

Dining Hall, Watchtower Farms, Walkhill, NY – Oh, garcon. . .

Middletown, NY – Some nice girls we met.

“Can I take your photo? I think you’re so pretty,” I said.
She was really tickled by that, and let me. So, this is Genevieve. I love her freckles.

On the train to New York City – I think she’s a dancer.

Hostelling International, New York City – This is Shota, the Japanese fellow I mentioned in my previous blog entry. He’s from Tokyo, and was really cool and friendly.

Tavern on the Green, Central Park, NY – We at lunch here.

The grass here was sooooooo comfy.

Gotta love that New York Pizza.

A band that was playing at the Times Square subway terminal. They were really good. I should have bought a CD.

. . .

So, those are the highlights of my trip. I had a great time. Personally, it was very spiritually enlightening. It’s really jarring to get back to the grind of everyday life after being in a completely different world. Ah, mais, c’est la vie, n’est-ce que pas?

Entry Filed under: dining,friends,life,photography,portrait,travel