New York City - 11 March 2012

"What time should I wake up tomorrow?" I asked Karen before going to bed.

"Nine should be good!" I nodded and we bid each other goodnight.

My alarm went off at nine, and I immediately texted Karen to see if she was up. She was, but refused to get out of bed. After an hour, she finally got out of bed and we began discussing the previous day before a delicious breakfast of some sort of Polish salad thing, bread, Polish ham, Prosciutto, and Polish tea.

It wasn't long until Karen's aunt, uncle, cousin, and their dog came over for lunch. I chatted with Karen, her sister, their uncle, and their cousin before I finally realized that this uncle was Karen's infamous Russian Jewish Uncle Boris - the one she had been telling me about for a year. He was hilarious, and kinda awesome.

We all had some delicious Polish lunch, and the second we finished, Karen's cousins made a surprise visit. After they left, Karen drove me to the Summit train station and I headed back into New York City.

There was only one place I wanted to go in New York: Stonewall Inn, so I maneuvered my way through the NYC Subway to Christopher Street in West Village. For those of you who don't know Stonewall, you should. This bar was the site of a riot in 1969 in which New York City's gay population fought back against the police who were arresting and brutalizing their community for years. A year later, on the anniversary of the riots, New York held the world's first gay pride parade. The Stonewall Riots were the start of the gay rights movement, and remains sadly mostly unknown.

After a Cosmo at Stonewall, I went next door to the Duplex and had another Cosmo and an Appletini. I sat in the well lit bar, listening to a sassy black man playing the piano while joking with the bartender. Sufficiently tipsy, I headed out for thirty minutes of exploration and tipsy photography before having to rush to my Megabus. I wandered around, turning wherever I wanted, searching for churches to photograph. I first came across a Lutheran Church, having a jazz party for Jesus. Second, I found Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church, and stumbled in for a few minutes of Mass. The Mass was hands down the most boring religious service I have ever experienced. It felt like a hospice bed-side chat for Jesus. I should've stayed with the Lutherans.

After having enough of Church, I found the Subway again (surprisingly) and made it to my Megabus.

I can't wait to get back to New York and do more splorin'.

New York City - 10 March 2012

It's been a few years - maybe 6 or 7 - since I was last in New York City to not access one of its airports or train stations. For me, NYC has been a means to get to so many ends over the years, but I've finally decided it was worth being an end for once.

I drove up with my family to Brooklyn for what was, unbeknownst to me, a baby shower for my cousin. I had thought it was the family going to visit my cousins' new home, but I was surprised to be greeted by a bunch of happy young couples and screaming children as we arrived. 

The soon to be new parents: my cousin Dennis and his wife, Issy

When my travel buddy and New Jerseyian friend, Karen, finally contacted me, I headed out to Canal and Broadway for a food and photography expedition. Unsurprisingly, Karen was late, and I spent my time waiting in an alleyway taking photographs of all the incredibly textured walls, graffite, and trash that line NYC's streets.

Karen called me from across the street, dressed to the nines, looking like a supermodel, wearing heels, and making me look like an underdressed (short) putz. We walked around Chinatown, Little Italy, and SoHo. In Chinatown, we purchased some roasted cashews and dragon fruit - an odd looking watered down white kiwi-esque fruit from Vietnam. In Little Italy, we were heckled by faux-Italians from Jersey to come eat at their restaurants. Ha!, we thought. As if shitty, overpriced Italian food could compare to our planned dinner. As we approached SoHo, Karen described it as an area where young douche bags congregate, an astute observation that I immediately deemed all too accurate within seconds. On the way back to Chinatown, I noticed a Russian Orthodox chapel dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, which I decided to check out considering my love of Eastern Orthodox art and an odd interest in St. Michael. Karen refused to enter, thinking she would catch fire as she touched the door knob. Somehow, the gay Jew made it in and out in one piece.

After that, we checked out a hipster bookstore that Karen fell in love with, and then made our way to our dinner destination. Big Wing Wong was a discreet little Cantonese establishment with all Chinese patrons and not a peep of English to be heard. Karen and I inhaled some honey pork and congee, duck, dumpling and noodle soup, tea, and Tsingtao. We sat there, transported back to China, with belt-busting bellies and smiles just as big.

After dinner, we waddled over to the Subway (which, as a DC resident, I kept calling the Metro) and got off near Time Square (ew) to take the NJ Transit (surprisingly nice) to Summit, New Jersey (ew). En route, we snacked on some cannoli that we had picked up on the way to the Subway. Needless to say, Karen got powdered sugar all up on her.

Karen's wonderful mother, Marta, picked us up at the station and drove us back to their brand new home (after a pit stop at CVS to get Karen's film roll developed). We all sat around drinking some wine that I brought because its name is my nickname for Karen: Bitch. Despite wanting to pass out, we headed downstairs for a viewing of Boondock Saints, a bizarre film that was strangely enjoyable.

Thanks to the Knauff's for hosting me, and a special thanks to Johnny Knauff for allowing me to borrow his bed while he was at his dad's.

Where in the World is Captain America: The Galilee

Captain America overlooking the Sea of Galilee, he'll make you Killers of Men.

Where in the World is Captain America: The Dead Sea

Captain America in search of something to kill at the Dead Sea.

Where in the World is Captain America: Masada

Captain America awaiting the Romans atop Masada.

Where in the World is Captain America: The Western Wall

Captain America waiting to put his prayer in the Western Wall. He's asking God for more power.

Where in the World is Captain America: Judean Desert

Captain America avoiding Israeli fighter jets in the cliffs of the Judean Desert.

Where in the World is Captain America: Jaffa

Captain America in Jaffa, overlooking Tel Aviv, keeping an eye open for Zohan.

Israel - 12 January 2012

Our last day was met with rain, and started with a visit to the mystical city of Tsfat - known as the home of Kabala. I quite liked Tsfat in the rain - empty, quiet streets covered in fog.

We went to a candle shop and then a Kabala study place/restaurant by a guy who looks like Osama bin Laden's Jewish twin. The bs he talked about was interesting but so clearly bs - oh well, it was in the effort of improving the way people act so I didn't complain.

Penguin candles! 

After he finished talking, I got some of his food - cheeses, arugala, onion, tomato, zatar, and spicy sauce in a crepe. Holy shit. I had two.



I then did some shopping and saw some absolutely stunning artwork.

We skipped seeing Lebanon from afar because a) it was foggy and we wouldn't be able to see it and b) we saw Lebanon from the Golan Heights. Instead we spent more time in Tsfat, stopped for more wine tastings, and went to Tel Aviv. In Tel Aviv, we got our birthright shirts and had a final dinner, where we each exchanged one moment that hit us hard.

After dinner we went to the airport, where the soldiers came to say their goodbyes.

So long Israel! I cannot wait to revisit on my own.