Arrival in Port-au-prince

From the air the destruction was total. Shanty town and palaces all layed in waste. Port-au-Prince is a montain of debris and broken cement.  Badly contructed shanties fell first but after more then 40 after shocks the well built followed next.  When looking at this photograph keep in mind that all this has been abandoned by there owners.   90% of the homes have fallen.  Those whose homes have not fallen are two scared to go in or sleep inside.   Most if not all of the population now sleeps on the street in makeshift tents or by placing a sheet on the concrete.  The side walks empty because people are afraid of falling concrete.  Everone sleep literaly on the streets.   As the helicopter decented on Port-au-Prince we could not fathom how this is going to be cleaned up.  A cleanup will not only be possible.  We kept looking at each other and asking how but no one could propose an even probable plan. 

We landed on the helipad of the Dominican embasy where my sister had been waiting since 10:00 that morning and proceeded to decend to Delma slowly enough so that the camera man could get his fill. 

Arrival in Jimani

This is how it went.
Day 1: arrived in DR after 4:00 PM we at aleast a 3 hour trip to Haiti and we still had not processed our press passes. We had gotten taken on by a news grew going to Haiti. We got passes and my wife and I provided anchor and I translator and technical liaison. I called my sister from DR and found she was OK but all banks were close she had no money no gas and little food. I promised to be there in the morning she promised to be waiting.

Day 2: Woke at 5:00 AM and I held the back pack with our clothing a very heavy box filled with over $1200 of water filters and iodine tablets, $500 of antibiotics purchased in DR on arrival, and a 8 person tent donated by a friend. We got in to the car with press passes around our neck, we headed for Jimani on the Haitian border. Little pass 9:00 we arrived at the military Hospital, swallowed a bunch of pills handed to us and got to waiting. By 3:00 PM we were still grounded and started to get desperate. We called the head of the network and was able to secure a military transport from Jimani to Port-au-Prince.

An after shock greater then 5.2 had held up our transport that morning and a 4.5 at 3:00 PM was keeping us grounded. We got a promise of a quick drop off but after that we were on our own. The helicopter would not even stay long enough to wave us off. I called my sister and made sure she was still in place and we were off, box in hand.

Atlantic avenue fair

Last Sundays street fair on Atlantic Ave. So many people, so much food. This fair really showcased the diversity of Brooklyn businesses and people. From Flatbush to the river the street was so packed you could hardly walk in a straight line.

When did street sweeper come back

These two street sweeper were spotted making life better for everyone that walks down Bedford Street. I don’t remember seeing them before. Is this a new development or am I late again.

Wildlife safary at the pond

The Mute Swans

These three mute swans were attacked by a dominant mute swan male at the pond near the Propect Park boat house.  The white male in the picture received a smack down that left feathers scattered  all over the lawn.  The swan fan in the picture is really perturbed about the attacks and have taken to mediating the interactions between the warring factions.  Come by around 8:00 AM and see the fights or a possible love fest.

What crazy times for a dog run

I understand that not everyone likes dogs and dog owners may get a little out of hand.  But the official dog run times in Prospect Park are 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM.  That is to say before sunrise and after sunset you can go to the dog run.  That is so sad that we have not come to terms with the animals we live with.  We really need Dog runs in the city so that our animals are not closed in apartments alone all day getting neurotic like their owners.  In front of the Dyker Beach Golf Course there is an all the time dog run.  On 86th St and 10th Ave there is an all day dog run that is almost a city block wide.  It’s paradise for a dog walker with a van, but for the disfavored pedestrian it’s a little far.   Unless you are a Dyker Beach resident, then you feel special.

The Sauna at Prospect Park

Across from the beautiful tree lined entrance of Prospect Park, just west of Grand Army Plaza, the glass and concrete wreck officially know as The Richard Meier’s On Prospect Park stands. There is a great article about this building on The Gowanus Lounge. I have asked myself what is this building doing here, and who the hell thought this was a good fit for Brownstone Brooklyn. This building needs to pick itself up and move to the Meat Packing district where it will feel more at home.  In the summer, the sun beats the glass mercilessly.  Only an unhealthy amount of AC could remedy that situation.  Like most new buildings the windows don’t open, so you are sealed in.  I pity the fools that spend the 2 Mills for an apartment here, when same 2 Mills gets you a four story brownstone across the street in The Slopes.  After more then 2 years apartments are still empty, you wonder why, not me.

Roof tops at Franklin Ave

Rooftops at Franklin Ave and Lefferts Pl.  Gentrification got a few block away and the economy did what hours and hours of organized community protest could not, slow down if not halt gentrification.  A few blocks north and you can sit in an outdoor cafe.

The windows at Franklin Ave

The S train in Shuttles passengers between Prospect Park and Franklin Ave.  At the Franklin Ave subway overpass I saw one of the most attractive subway windows.  These are cathedral like stain glass windows at this beautifully restores above ground stations.  New York is full of these surprising and wonderful locations.

It’s not all that

Trader Joe’s it’s not all that.  After you get over the initial shock of finding a Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn and you’ve put down about a child’s weight in Tamary flavored nuts, you come to the realization that you need to stop shopping there and get to a Keyfood.

I’m sorry but a diet of overpriced nuts and Hummus, tasty as they made be, really are not what your diet or your pocket book needs. Let’s all get over Trader Joe’s and go to the supermarket and get some food tonight. Can I get an amen!