A funny tale about the kindness of strangers...
So an Australian lady (moi) walks into an antique store on Ninth Avenue.
Inside are a group of older gentlemen laughing and chatting. I am somehow drawn in.
They say "we meet here to talk. None of this iPhone, Internet, texting thing. It's all about conversation and debate".
Next thing you know, they've gone and bought a magnum of Estrelia wine for Kate the Australian. Pop goes the wine and out come the plastic cups. We're sitting in the antique store having a "convention of the mind" if you will - a fab time talking politics, religion, travelling, the media, families, movies, sharks, you name it...
Two hours later, after many laughs and excellent conversation, we head our different ways and as I leave the owner of the store says "Kate you are welcome back anytime. You are one of us now".
Oh New York. Way to make a lady feel welcome .
PS: random addition. It turns out the fabulous old gentleman in the first pic, James, has followed in his mother's footsteps, featuring as an extra in many movies and film clips. He showed me one Cool and the Gang clip where his mother, then in her late 50's, concluded the video by dancing on a table in a milk maid outfit at a cafe.
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On a side note, here's a link to the reason I was in New York - to document the inaugural voyage of Royal Caribbean's first "smart ship"; Quantum of the Seas.
LINK: http://yhoo.it/1f3FLO4