Reflections from my days in New York last week…

• There is no other country in the world where I dread entering a public toilet more than in the US. Sure enough, after a 9 hour flight, I was hoisting my suitcase over a disquieting puddle on an airport restroom floor. Deplorable conditions which I have never experienced in any other country.
• The New York Times crossword puzzle is more difficult in the actual newsprint version than when you print it out at home. I have no logical explanation for this.
• Foods I made a point to eat, in chronological order: roast beef sandwich from Terrace Bagels with a Stewart’s root beer; egg and cheese sandwich, vanilla-hazelnut coffee; one slice (also with root beer); dumplings from Rickshaw (why didn’t anyone tell me they don’t do fried ones anymore??); coffee and pie at a diner; Five Guys burger with fries (and a root beer – apparently I missed root beer a lot); b-r-u-n-c-h: chocolate chip banana pancakes.
• Current price of a bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups miniatures: $6.99
• Never come to New York when the UN is in town. Just don’t do it.
• After complaining that the Pink Lady apple I was buying at a street cart was bruised, the vendor tried to give me a nicer one for free. I was unable to not pay him for the fruit.
• Six varieties of “Law & Order”? Don’t mind if I do.

You may know that in Barcelona, as elsewhere in Europe, the date is written dd/mm instead of mm/dd as we do in the States. You may not know that 9/11 also has a different meaning in Barcelona. It is the national day of Catalonia, celebrated annually on September 11.

The History Channel has produced an excellent interactive video feature about America’s 9/11: http://www.history.com/content/9-11/102-minutes.

Great group of Catalonia’s 11/09 pictures on Flickr:

Link: http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=onze+de+setembre