The Tenement Museum in New York City is a unique historical museum dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the immigrants who lived in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is located in two tenement buildings at 97 and 103 Orchard Street, constructed in the 1860s and served as homes to thousands of immigrants from various countries. A tenement is legally defined in New York by the Tenement House Act of 1867 as “any house, building, or portion thereof, which is rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied or is…
Category: Lessons Learned
New York Public Library Walk
The Library Walk in NYC refers to a public art installation consisting of a series of 96 bronze plaques embedded into the sidewalk on both sides of 41st Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue. It is best viewed by walking from Park Avenue up toward the Public Library. The plaques feature quotes from famous authors and thinkers, and the installation is designed to celebrate the literary heritage of New York City. The quotes on the plaques are carefully curated and represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, from classic authors like Shakespeare and Jane Austen to modern-day writers…
Magnificent Visit to the United Nations
Yesterday the weather was absolutely fabulous after a very bitter cold couple of days upon arriving. Today was a little bit chillier, so I decided it would be perfect for me to walk the few blocks over the United Nations and take the tour. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and they run most of the day in various languages. Only six were on our specific tour, so it felt a little more intimate. The shallow U-shape of the Assembly Building is dominated by the Assembly Hall, the biggest room in the Palais, which can seat about 2,000 people. It…
We have settled in Manhattan – Swoon
Well, we have settled in Manhattan. We are so fortunate. No, I realize that this won’t be as relaxing for Louise, and she has to work weekdays. New York City is in OverDrive, and so there’s a lot of stress and pressure on her. For me, it is pure joy. Our two-bedroom apartment is in Lower Midtown, and it’s a little bit bigger, in fact than our Montreal condo. Let’s say it’s remarkable being on the 20th floor. The view is outstanding. I am so spoiled. Can you imagine that I get to live for four months in midtown? We…
Manhattan, New York City, Here We Come
We are off for four months to Manhattan in a week. It has been ten months since we last visited for a week and stayed at the Henn na Hotel, listed as one of The Best Cheap Hotels in New York City for 2023 We have learned a lot from our world trip on packing, but we will have two pieces of luggage each this time. We have also purchased a new small Nespresso machine to take with us. As you may know, I am a bit obsessed with travel books, especially DK Eyewitness books, so we have all of…
Best Accessory Apparel for Travelling – Head to Toe
UPDATED 03/23 Living in New Zealand, I discovered several products that I fell in love with. Getting apparel made with merino wool at a reasonable price was just a bonus. The good news is that most of the products I love now have a more extensive distribution worldwide. Shoe suggestions for a round-the-world trip Let’s start with the best shoes in the world made by Allbirds. I own at least six pairs. I have taken three of them with me to New York. I even ordered two more pairs while I was here. I only had two pairs on our…
Older travellers, travelling in your 70s and beyond is worthwhile
The interest in new experiences doesn’t cease with age. Older travellers remain curious and semi-adventurous. Wanting to discover more about the world doesn’t stop when you get older. It just means you may need to travel differently. While many aspects of flying remain the same regardless of age, older adults may face additional challenges and considerations when travelling by air. Planning, communicating with airline personnel, and seeking out accommodations and resources as needed can help make flying a more comfortable and enjoyable experience for travellers of all ages. Overall, it’s essential for older adults to carefully consider their unique needs…
US National Park Pass – An Outstanding Deal
The US National Park Pass is one of the most fantastic values for travellers in the United States. An annual pass for anyone over 65 is $80. If you are a senior and a US resident, you can get a lifetime pass for two for $80. The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day-use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at…
The Hidden Dangers of Underground Parking – A Comedy of Errors
You are bound to be forced to use underground parking on your travels. It may be because of the hotel, shopping malls, or a crowded city centre. They can be nerve-racking at the best of times, but the first time is always the most challenging. For this reason, I prefer to rent a smaller car than a bigger one in Europe. Let this story be a lesson to us all! Let me preface my comments by saying that Place des Arts is a wonderful venue, and I have been many times. If you have an event there, it is in…
Day 7 – Disaster Almost Hits Near Needles Overlook
Today we had two choices . . . One, to drive four hours into the Needles National Park or two, à two-hour round trip to see the Needles Overlook. Needless to say, we chose the latter. After viewing the Needles Overlook, we decided to continue on the 15-mile dirt road to see another overlook. Disaster Almost Hits Near Needles Overlook Just before arriving at the second overlook, we were scared that our bad luck would continue. There was a washout in the road we didn’t see, and we hit a pothole hard. There was some scraping and clunking, and we…