July 6, 2013
Today is my departure day from Gotham. I decided to spend the morning in Greenwich Village, at Caffe Reggio. Took the subway down a few stops, used my map function on my phone quite a bit since I took a couple of wrong turns, but eventually wound up on Macdougal Street
Jamie McDonald, on his TV show, recommended this place, so I took a chance. It was early enough in the day where the crowds didn't materialize as of yet, so there was a chance to really experience this place. Walk in, and you'll notice the coffee-brown interior paint, vintage wire chairs and wood furnishings,
and original artwork all around - a remarkable atmosphere, and something
that fits in perfectly with Greenwich Village. You'll also see the vintage espresso machine in the back corner (that thing is HUGE! Jamie's TV Show doesn't do it justice.) In short, this place
fits the definition of an "authentic" espresso house. But it's more -
it offers a full menu with breakfast and lunch offerings. I spent about one hour here, imbibing two Italian sodas, a croissant, and my customary nonfat mocha (my acid test for any mom and pop espresso shop), a concoction which perfectly balanced coffee and chocolate.
Greenwich Village is definitely worth spending at least a full day exploring. Next time...
Got back to the Hotel Pennsylvania, packed, got a bit of rest, then walked across the street to Penn Station (situated right underneath Madison Square Garden) for train #88 to Boston South Station.
This train trip, four hours in duration and at a ticket price of $50, was worth every penny, and taken alone, was worth the trip to the East Coast. I've ridden trains for several years, and have never seen such beautiful scenery - many of the oohing-and-aaahing passengers in my car seemed to agree with me. It was mid-day, a baby-blue sky and temperatures in the 70s-early 80s. To the right of me was the Atlantic Shore - old sailboats mixed with more modern vessels, set in the water against the buoys and the spire-adorned homes, like scenes from a post card. To the left of me was green meadows set inside green forests, and old rivers which cut through the meadows and ran alongside those white-washed East Coast spire homes. The way the colors contrasted as they passed in our windows reminded me of a modernist painting. If you get the chance to take this New York to Boston trip (or going in the opposite direction) - take it, especially considering the recent rumblings in Washington about Amtrak funding (or lack of).
Boston's up next. Stay tuned.
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