Where in the World? Greenwich Village, NYC, USA

In early 2008, my friend and I spent four days in New York City. We both had high hopes for our visit to one of the most famous cities in the world but unfortunately we were both a little underwhelmed. Perhaps our expectations were too high. Perhaps we’d both seen too many superior cities in our lifetime. Perhaps we didn’t like shopping enough (which seems to be what most people love about NYC).

Having said that, one of the areas I quite liked the feel of was Greenwich Village (sometimes known simply as the ‘The Village’). In the late 19th to mid 20th centuries Greenwich Village was very much the bohemian capital and although gentrification has taken place in recent years, it still has a good vibe.

Greenwich Village was once a rural hamlet, so its street layout is more haphazard than the grid pattern of the newer parts of town. Many of the neighborhood’s streets are narrow and some curve at odd angles.

Most parts of Greenwich Village comprise mid-rise apartments, 19th-century row houses and the occasional one-family walk-up, a sharp contrast to the hi-rise landscape in Mid and Downtown Manhattan.

We were in town not long after the economic crash of ’08, and signs of the times were visible all over town.

There were lots of cats and dogs on the streets, and being an avid pet photographer, I couldn’t help snapping some shots to add to my collection.

I love old architecture. I think most new buildings are missing a soul, so of course wandering around ‘The Village’ was a real treat after a couple of days trapped among skyscrapers.

The skyscraper <.> is the human stable, stalls filled with the herd, all to be milked by the system that keeps the animals docile by such fodder that as it puts in the manger and such warmth as the crowd instills in the crowd. ~ Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s Tomorrow 1932.

New York City seemed very dog friendly. So many people were out walking their dogs at all times of the day and night. As in the rest of the USA, take out coffee is also popular.

Plenty of interesting ‘wall art’ to be seen. The ATM looks a little out-of-place here.

Just like in the movies: Basketball courts can be found on street corners, where locals gather for a friendly game.

Check out more photos from my travels

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