Peace in the city: A Photographic stroll through Greenwich Village

There is a plethora of ways to describe New York City but peaceful is not always near the top. The busy bustle of the city that never sleeps does have it's quiet moments. In certain spots of the city at particular times you can be the only one walking on the block, nothing but the distant muffled noises of cabs a few blocks over, the empty sidewalk in front of you and the beautiful character embodied in every object around you. On a quiet summer Sunday morning i was able to experience this. It wasn't a perfect weather day, it was hot, humid and hazy. It was a late August Sunday morning and crooked streets of Greenwich Village was a maze of gentility. As i wander through I began to take photos of the area. It wasn't the high rises of the Financial District or glossy images of Time Squares or even the deep money laden landscape of 5th ave and central park, this place had even more character. This little area felt like an perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, a place where you feel at home even when you don't live there. The brownstones were not just building but homes, the streets lost the strict grid system that majority of Manhattan follows and had curves and dead ends. There are small restaurants hidden amongst the brownstones with little advertisement out front. The trees that lined the streets were healthy and shaded the twisting roads. Some of the roads were even cobblestone! An overwhelming feel of history and livability over washed me as I walked the streets, not the same business feeling i get in midtown or the Upper East Side. Below are some of the photos I took that day from Bleeker street to the Hudson River, I wandered the streets of Greenwich Village and fell in love with the city all over again.

The first photo to the above right is one of many bikes in the Village tied to a street sign. I noticed a lot of bikes in the area, it must be the preferred mode of transportation! The photo just shows the simplicity yet also the character of the Village.

The next photo I named 'Yellow Building Comes alive' because I loved how the vegetation and vines were encompassing the building on the sides. The green vegetation against the yellow brick offered great contrast in color and texture. The harmony between nature and urban is beautiful. I also like the design of the building, it being on a corner made it stand out.

As i was walking around i came across this fire hydrant and the brick or cobblestone road next to it. I liked the texture and tones of the shot, I also liked how there is grass and other weeds growing up through the street, something you don't see in midtown Manhattan!

I came across this sign and building on my way to the Hudson Greenway, which runs along the Hudson River. As i walked up to it i was taken by the fact that it was clearly unattended to for a while. It always seems strange when something looks dilapidated in Manhattan especially considering where this property was. The sign reminds me of a horror movie in a way and I'm glad i took the photo at an odd angle.

Finally the photo above is the Statue of Liberty taken from the Hudson River Greenway near West 10th Street. This area is right along the Hudson river and includes grassed docks and walkways out over the water as well as bike paths along the Hudson River. In the photo I am looking southwest in between Lower Manhattan and Jersey City, NJ viewing Lady Liberty herself. The day was so humid and hazy the shot came out interesting plus the sailboat going by made it a little better.