Whew, it’s been hot, hot, hot here in the Big Apple. Intent on escaping the heat yesterday, I walked along 46th Street to Pier 86 on the Hudson River. I stood at the end of the pier waiting for a cool breeze to appear – it never did – but while I was there, I spotted a few lovely sights that, for a fleeting moment, took my mind off the heat.
Circle Line cruise ship coming in to dock spills light onto the surrounding waters
The headlamp of a lone stand up paddle boarder lights up the dark waters of Hudson River
Escaping the heat of the big city with a little night fishing by the Intrepid aircraft carrier
Here’s a really useful travel tip for staying cool during a New York summer – if you feel the heat getting to you, look around for the nearest Duane Reade pharmacy. These guys keep their stores icy cold, so pop inside and browse through the aisles until you feel you can face the heat of the streets again. Thanks to a very sweet newspaper kiosk guy on the Upper West Side for letting me in on that New York secret!
Where's my backpack? 
Well, I’m sitting here with my back to the gas fire but shivering anyway. Perhaps it’s because I’m eating ice cream which I bought after reading your recent post about it.
Haha, excellent, glad to hear my ice cream post has been of inspiration to you, Trish 😉
Cool post Ailsa 🙂 Love that first shot. And thanks for the tip, Very unlikely I will be needing it coming as I am from Chennai!
LOL somehow I think you could handle the summers in New York no problem 😉
Wow that stand up boarder sure is brave
I thought so too, especially with the number of boats zipping up and down the river.
This is very nice! My photo contribution this week is also about New York City! 🙂
I saw it, Myra, very nice. I love the Simone de Beauvoir quote “There is something in the New York air that makes sleep useless.”
I do that too … just yesterday I was about for 45 minutes in a pharmacy fearing to go back into the street 😀
Haha, once it hits 90 I start planning my route via the Duane Reades in the city 🙂
Oh Duana Reades, I used to walk into one after a really bad metro ride to work.. the amount of makeup I bought because of it it quite serious, I’m still using some and I haven’t been living in NY for a while now..
Haha, too funny, Emma – I know what you mean, DR is worse than IKEA for buying stuff you don’t really need!
Even though I’ve been doing what I do for 30 years, and the heat doesn’t really bother me that much, I’ve been known to take a little bit of a longer road test in a customers car so I can enjoy the A/C on those really oppressive days. 😛
I don’t mind the heat at all if I’m out in the jungle looking for howler monkeys or ancient ruins, but somehow, the depths of the concrete jungle make it no fun at all!
And dodging poison arrows from the natives, don’t forget that. 😀
Left a nasty scar, I can tell you! 😉
City heat is the worst! I’ve been in NY in July and Paris during a heat wave…both equally oppressive! Great photos though…
Thanks Sue, I agree, cities make the heat that much more unbearable.
Texas is roasted and no break. Your beautiful pics cool me down… Thanks!
It’s quite a relief to have the river so close by – listening to the water lapping against the dock makes you feel cooler (even if, in reality, you’re not). 🙂 Good luck keeping cool in Texas!
Great work 🙂
Thanks Jake 🙂 xxx
When we were in New York one of the things we did not see were pharmacies. Then we realized we were looking for familiar hometown name stores. What a wonderful tip. Next time we visit we will remember it.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
It took me a while to recognise the pharmacies here too, Francine. I’d never heard of Duane Reade before I came to New York. 🙂
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Great picture of the river with the paddle board!
Thanks Robert, I wish it had come out a little sharper, and was a teeny bit brighter, but he was paddling away furiously and in the low light he got a bit blurry. Still, I love the image so much I had to include it. 🙂
Ailsa, you crack me up about Duane Reade!
And the photo of the Circle Line with the colors reflected in the water — sensational.
Trust a non-New Yorker to penetrate through to the beating heart of NYC.
High praise indeed, Touch, you just made me burst out in laughter. Now that I’ve touched the beating heart of NYC I feel my job is done. 😉
Great photos… I like.. 🙂
Thanks Bams, I really enjoyed your shots of Clarke Quay!
nice shots. refreshed my memories of evening walks besides hudson river
Thanks Amar, I’ve spent some lovely evenings walking along the banks of the Hudson, there’s always something interesting to see. 🙂
great images Ailsa…I love that last one
Thanks Jo, I loved how he was happily fishing away in the middle of the big city, and the shadows really captured my imagination. 🙂
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Huge storm last night. Lost power and gave some electricians a call. Waited IN THE HEAT all day. Nothing. It’s 10:18 pm and Duane Reed is nowhere to be found. Neither is an electrician. I didn’t know I could be so entertaining. Had a good (hot) day. :-D. Love your pix. The water looks cool.
Oh boy, that does not sound like fun, Gemma. We had a huge storm too, the thunder was so loud it rattled the windows, but thankfully the power stayed on. Good luck staying cool – nope that electrician shows up soon! xxx
Theses guys are way too independent 😦 nothing yet and I’m sweltering! Did you get a major light show with that thunder? I have NEVER seen anything like it! The upside of this is maybe I’lll sweat off few pounds! Ok. Too much info. 😀
Poor you, hope they get there soon. Yes, there was great sheets of lightning in NY too, lit up the whole city, it was really beautiful.
Great pics. My son tells me that the temps there are brutal at the moment. Stay cool, Ailsa.
I’m trying 🙂
These are fabulous night time shots Ailsa! That first one is spectacular… I love the Hudson River. 😉
Thanks Elizabeth, I love the river too. It’s so easy for people to forget Manhattan is actually surrounded by water when they’re stuck in the hustle and bustle of Times Square. 🙂
But not us lot… 😉 I take the train home from Grand Central Station, and the Hudson River is the gift I get for living in the Hudson Valley region. Love it! 🙂
Good tip! especially as i wasnt even aware new york was that hot! nice pics 🙂
Before I came here I had no idea it got this hot either, but it hovers in the 90s for an eternity during the summer, and it’s not a dry heat either, which is somehow easier to handle.
Eurrrgh! i guess all the buildings keep the heat in and stop all the breezes that would otherwise be there, anyways i still wish i was there! have fun 🙂
Beautiful pictures of the Hudson. I agree that NY is extremely hot this weekend. I was out this morning in the city and hopped on to a MTA bus – always cool and inviting. I usually walk that distance but today the bus ride was worth it.
I agree, Shaanthz, there are some days when it’s just too hot to move 🙂
You chose a great place to be cool and take some very cool photos!
Thanks, Annie, I love it down by the banks of the Hudson, there’s always something to see 🙂
I was on a boat cruise this weekend in London, so much fun to see such a city and yet be peaceful! Was hard coming back to the noisy shores!
You get to see a whole different side of London from the Thames, don’t you, James? My favourite thing to do when I was in London was take the river bus down to Greenwich for the day – it’s so much cheaper than boat cruises and just as fun http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1131.aspx Always used to bring my friends who were visiting on it. 🙂
Thanks for the tip! I used to live in London but now I am away from it I actually enjoy visiting it. Now as a tourist though!
A cool and adventurous way to escape the sizzling Summer heat.Beautiful images!!!
Thanks, Mr B 🙂
It’s heating up in Tokyo too! You have me wondering now which stores are the coolest here?! I’ll investigate and get back to you at the end of the summer! And will remember the pharmacy tip next time we are in NYC! Great post and hope you are having a great day 🙂
Thanks, Jessica – let me know what you discover about the cool places to escape the heat in Tokyo! 🙂
Lovely river views – especially the cruise ship – and I love the cooling down tip, too!
I was very happy to discover that little secret – it’s kept me cool all summer 🙂
Great post! Stay cool!
Thanks guys! 😉
Cool post! OMG it’s so hot in New York, I hear ya! If you haven’t already you should go kayaking on the hudson. It’s free from 5-7 every day on Pier 96 (on 56th street) and on weekends from 9am-6pm. It’s lovely :D. I was there a couple of days ago! Looking forward to your future posts!!
I’ll have to give it a shot when I’m back in town – thanks for the tip, sounds like a great way to cool down! xxx
You have a brilliant idea @Ailsa …. amazing !
I really like the first picture! 42nd & 8th is my favorite Duane Reade to cool off, warm up and stay dry in! 😉