2 Division St, New York, NY 10002
Chatham Square (also known as Kimlau Square)
… more pix on Google: Kong & Lin
Two famous Chinese in New York: Kong Zi 孔子 / Confucius was rected in 1976 @ 2 Division Street, next to the residential building named after him, and Lin Zexu 林则徐 was dedicated in 1997, stands at Chatham Square: “If they call it Lin Zexu Square, they’re the Fujianese. And if they call it Chatham Square, it’s the Parks Department.”
Central Park 中央公园
New York
… more pix n videos on Google, Yelp, TA
Is this the new slogan Central Park is your backyard?
One of the reasons we stayed at Hilton Midtown is its promixity to the Park. I take morning jogg there daily.
The Beer Garden wasn’t available on Sunday, unfortunately.
José Martí (1853-95) statue stands at 59th and 6th Avenue enterance.
36 W 48th St,
New York, NY 10036
… more pix on Google
They were on of the early success story of Chinese restaurants in the city, and authentic. I was always looking forward to climb the steps into the brownstone. I went often, and to their newer branch too. This time I wasn’t too impressed, especially the smoked duck.
We’ve
– Dandan noodle 担担面: bit sweet
– braised tofu 家常豆腐: ok
– smoked duck 樟茶鸭: so so
135-33 40th Rd,
Flushing, NY 11354
… more pix on Google, Insta
上海豫园 is a restaurant I visit often for its Xiao long bao – the juicy buns, because it’s convenient since I usually go to a nearby shop.
I find their food on the sweet side, which is a trademark of Shanghai cuisine.
Seeing them from the beginning, I’m happy that they’re thriving.
The lion’s head and the spare ribs are supper sweet.
135-24 40th Rd,
Flushing, NY 11354
… more pix on Google,
This is my go to eatery for Hong kong style bbq, from pork to pultry. They’re the best.
They used to be at the corner of Main Street and 40th Road.
New style of bags this time around, a sign that they’re doing well -:)
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· A321neo
· 2E, 5F
Transportes Aéreos Portugueses / Air Portugal is the main carrier of Portugal, Lisbon Airport is its hub. It has been a member of Star Alliance since 2005.
This is the first time that I’ll have to take a bus to board a transatlantic flight. And TAP made it worse by disorganizing the process.
They let nearly everyone come downstairs with the “Premium” group waited for the bus. The line became so zigzagged that the later comers ended up boarding the bus first, which wasn’t their fault.
After a long wait, the buses began to circulate the airport, from our Gate 45A back to 45A: WHAT’s the heck?
“The cleaning isn’t done.” They explained.
Then have us wait by the gate. This was the most ridiculous process I’ve encountered.
Our seats were 2 H and K at booking on the A330-900. They changed the aircraft to A321neo, without the K column. We ended up with 2F and 5F in separate rows. The configuration is: Rows 1, 3, and 5 each have 4 seats (2, 2), and rows 2 and 4 each have 2 seats (1 and 1). On this flight, Row 5 is empty except for one of us. No drinks offered before taking off. Wines are ok, wine glasses are awful, food is so so, except the breads and desserts.
Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas,
1700-111 Lisboa, Portugal
… more pix on Google NOT posted, Yelp*, reddit
Humberto Delgado Airport, or Lisbon Airport, is TAP‘s hub. it’s raltively close to the Old Town, 4.7 miles (7.7km) from Palace Ludovice in less than 30 minutes, $10.59 on Uber. It’s an orderly and modern airport.
The rating for this airport is poor, but I got through it in a breeze:
The TAP air is somewhat ridiculous.
1335 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
… more pix on Google, Yelp & TA
On top of being quite old and basic, their charging $5 per item for storage is unusual.
They put us on the 28th floor, very close to the elevators, which is my preference.
Waking up the following morning, just as the sun was rising, I caught a good reflection of it.
Location: 5/5
Check-in: 0
Amenities: –
Lobby: 2
Room: 3
Bed and pillows: 4
Bathroom: 3
Toiletries: Crabtree & Evelyn
Towels: 3
Shower water pressure: 1
Breakfast: Grab & Go, 4
Pros: midtown location; 360-degree TV, and thanks for having the Tennis Channel, which I appreciate; and the silver trim on the pillowcase looks elegant. Two luggage racks in the room.
Cons: Super slow check-in, that we waited in line for 17 minutes at 11pm, and the actual check-in took 10 minutes, including the clerk disappearing while processing us.
Two lines, one for Honors members and one for others: wait times are about the same, with Honors slightly longer.
Elevators are very slow.
One nightstand for the king bed.
The sink water is very slow. Washing hands takes forever.
The $5 storage charge: this must be due to other hotels’ policies—high and low, inside and outside the US—that spoiled us with free storage. Any item is $5, a backpack? $5.
Bottled water must be requested, and someone will deliver it: Is this extra workforce really necessary? New York Times has just reported, N.Y.C. Hotel Housekeepers Will Earn Over $100,000 Under New Contract.
The concierge isn’t very helpful.
No subway nearby.
Late check-out: must be requested on the day. I rarely need it, but this time my flight leaves at 6:45pm. So I requested it, and the clerk granted me an extra 30 minutes. Thanks a lot.
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Doca de Alcantara Norte, Av. Brasília 352,
1350-352 Lisboa, Portugal
… more pix on Google,
An average museum. I found the information I needed, and my lost visor from their security office: thanks.
Exhibits are decent. Low ceiling. The second and third floors are dark.
Two of their exhibits, the blue bidet and the set of twelve zodiac
Japan has the biggest exhibit area: the entire top floor.
It’s the first time that I found at least two similar exhibits in two musseums, in less a mile (1.5 km) apart: zodiac and blue porcelain bidet.
