Travel observations and new developments of other cities and countries

[markhollin]

The Vessel at NYC's Hudson Yards is complete.

https://twistedsifter.com/2019/03/giant-public-staircase-hudson-yards-new-york/

 

[Dale]

^ Looks like one of those Escher paintings. Also, does Moscow have the most beautiful pedestrian realm ? 

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=2047505

[BnaBreaker]

5 hours ago, Dale said:

^ Looks like one of those Escher paintings. Also, does Moscow have the most beautiful pedestrian realm ? 

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=2047505

It is certainly in the debate, I think!  They've always had the majestic architecture, but in recent years they have invested a TON of money into making their public spaces much more inviting and livable, and it definitely shows!

[Dale]

10 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

It is certainly in the debate, I think!  They've always had the majestic architecture, but in recent years they have invested a TON of money into making their public spaces much more inviting and livable, and it definitely shows!

$3 Billion on streets alone. 73 new metro stations since 2010. Hundreds of miles of new commuter lines in that time. Active plans to replace every diesel bus with electric buses. STAGGERING change.

[Binbin98]

Views from the shard, the tallest building in London at a little over 1,000 ft. London is truly the city that every city should aspire to be, the urban landscape is astounding, people are generally friendly and helpful, and the infrastructure is really well done for a city of its size. Yes there are issues like everywhere else, but London is one great place to live, take it from me 

Edited May 12, 2019 by Binbin98

[OnePointEast]

London is just a different animal all together, only peer would be NYC. 

[Dale]

My grandmum was born in Ealing Hospital. Don’t know if the original building is even standard. 

IMO, NYC and London are spectacular. But Tokyo is stupefying.

[Neigeville2]

On 5/12/2019 at 4:19 PM, Binbin98 said:

, people are generally friendly and helpful, 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just have to say I did not find this to  be the case, really really did not like the English at all.  not at all.

[SoundScan]

Tokyo is one of my favorite cities on Earth. I'll add some more photos of the urban landscape later, but last time I was there we stumbled upon this lovely honky-tonk on a 4th floor alleyway entrance. It was as awesome as you're imagining.

 

[Dale]

“I shall return ... and take Tokyo for Country Music.”

— General Douglas MacArthur —

[TheRaglander]

In Chicago for 10 days of training and I absolutely love the architecture here.  Amazing.  This one, while still under construction, may be my favorite    

The angles, the tinting of glass are all beautiful.  

Edit: about 1200’ tall 

 

Edited May 19, 2019 by TheRaglander

[donNdonelson2]

On 5/14/2019 at 7:20 PM, Dale said:

“I shall return ... and take Tokyo for Country Music.”

— General Douglas MacArthur —

Charlie Nagatani is a long time advocate of country music in Japan. Now in his eighties, he has made dozens of trips to Nashville for guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, his latest being last night! The photo below is Charlie with two members of the group Riders in the Sky, from their website.

http://countryangeldiva.tripod.com/starcountry/id197.html

[smeagolsfree]

6 hours ago, TheRaglander said:

In Chicago for 10 days of training and I absolutely love the architecture here.  Amazing.  This one, while still under construction, may be my favorite    

The angles, the tinting of glass are all beautiful.  

Edit: about 1200’ tall 

 

I think we were up there about the same time. I have pics but have not posted. The above is around 900'  I think as it is not much taller than Aqua which is right behind it and its not quite 900'. If you are looking straight south down Michigan there is another one that is topped and that is NEMA and is 896' and is about the same height. Actually Now that I look, this one is supposed to be 1191, but itt does not play that much taller than Aqua.

[smeagolsfree]

So I am thinking this tower still has a way to go before top out.

[nashvillwill]

Sorry I don’t have any pictures to share, but I just made my first visit to NYC’s Highline. That thing is magnificent! It’s a very tranquil retreat from the chaos of street level in Manhattan. We walked it from 14th up to Hudson Yards and the Vessel. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. 

[BnaBreaker]

1 hour ago, nashvillwill said:

Sorry I don’t have any pictures to share, but I just made my first visit to NYC’s Highline. That thing is magnificent! It’s a very tranquil retreat from the chaos of street level in Manhattan. We walked it from 14th up to Hudson Yards and the Vessel. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip. 

I totally agree with you... it is a magnificent asset for that city.  My uncle is one of the higher ups at The Standard Hotel, which is built directly over the High Line, so that is where I usually stay when I visit due to discounts, and I just love getting out there and walking the length of it.  It is such a singular NYC experience.  We actually have something similar here in Logan Square/Humboldt Park in Chicago called the 606, and it's great, but being in the middle of Manhattan surrounded on all sides by highrises is just another level.

[jmtunafish]

The original "high line" was in Paris in 1993, some 16 years before the one in NYC.  It's called la coulée verte (green course) and was built on an abandoned railway line in the 12th arrondissement and connects Place de la Bastille with the massive Bois de Vincennes park.  It's essentially a series of linnear parks and gardens.  Even many of the spaces underneath the bridges have been made into shops, restaurants, and offices.

 

[LA_TN]

Rotary Trail in the Magic City (Birmingham, AL)

Opened in 2016 and stretches from 20th to 24th in the "1st Ave cut", of the former Seaboard Air Lines Railroad. This is part of a larger trail system. I was able to get pics without people, but there were a few folks there walking, jogging, and just hanging out

[LA_TN]

Birmingham lost Terminal Station:

But gained Railroad Park:

And the Rainbow Tunnels:

[MLBrumby]

Nice to see B'ham waking up finally. Still very far behind its peers but at least it has a lot of great buildings that can be rehabbed. Kudos for the effort its citizens are now putting into it. 

[nashvylle]

On 5/28/2019 at 10:54 PM, LA_TN said:

Rotary Trail in the Magic City (Birmingham, AL)

Opened in 2016 and stretches from 20th to 24th in the "1st Ave cut", of the former Seaboard Air Lines Railroad. This is part of a larger trail system. I was able to get pics without people, but there were a few folks there walking, jogging, and just hanging out

I like this project a lot, but feels a little unsafe. 

[LA_TN]

Sightseeing in Birmingham, AL

The four tallest towers are 390 - 454 ft

Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark (free)

Electra (atop the Alabama Power HQ)

The Alabama Theater

Breakfast at Tip Top Grill

McWane Science Center

Birmingham Museum of Art (free)

The Heaviest Corner on Earth

1) St. Paul Cathedral
2) Statue of Liberty
3) City Federal
4) Thomas Jefferson Hotel
5) The Iron Man: Vulcan
6) First USA Presbyterian

Night and day

[BnaBreaker]

Thanks for sharing!  Great bones down in the big ham.  

[GreenHillsBoy]

I just returned from Spain, including Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona.  I have too many pictures so will try and get a few of the highlights on here soon.  One of the things the Spanish do well is maintain the unique architecture, they will not allow historical buildings to be torn down, they do allow them the be "reforma" which means they must keep the exterior façade but can basically build an entirely new building behind the façade.  (similar to our one like the Dream Hotel)  They also cover the entire structure in netting with the netting showing exactly how the building will look when completed.  They do not close sidewalks or roads anywhere for construction and all three of these cities, the three largest in Spain, have fantastic subways, busses and bike lanes.  You rarely saw traffic issues.  We also took the train between the three cities and like virtually every other European country, the trains are great, on time, quiet, comfortable, affordable and super fast.  All three are great to visit and Barcelona, in my opinion, compares with the best I have been to in Europe....Paris, Vienna, Rome, London and Stockholm.  

[e-dub]

Love those photos of what's going on in Birmingham, there seem to be a lot of people there that love the city. I'm rooting them on big time!