12/3/13 – J.P Morgan Magic/Eataly and Jazz

We met Hans and Sue on the corner of Madison and 36th and popped in to see J.P. Morgan's famous library. This collection has been described as JP's attempt to chronicle man’s communications throughout history. It was also a wonderful way for a rich man to bring the great literary treasures of the world to the US as at the time there was no import tax on books. And what books did he bring together. 

His study decorated in Florentine silks, contained a sealed room which held safe his favourite books. His library in the ajoining room is dominated by a huge Flemish tapestry depicting greed. The selection of this work was a deliberate attempt to remind JP and all those who entered of life's virtues rather than its vices! This room had on display three Gutenberg bibles, a Mozart manuscript, a Puccini opera, Wagner's Ring Cycle score, letters from Virginia Woolf, Shelley, Machiavelli, Michelangelo's father, Steinbeck, Tolkien and several illuminated manuscripts. Another room had cuneiform tablets and seals.

We left JP's home full on art and history and decided to complete the cycle by having lunch at Eataly (the greatest deli of Italian produce one can imagine) We saw and tasted cheese, meat, fish, pasta, bread, olive oils and for lunch had a hot roast beef roll and a Mediterranean tasting plate of olives, meats, roasted capsicums, brussels sprouts with pepper and grated pecorino cheese, root vegetable like parsnip in balsamic vinegar, bread and olive oil cakes oh and a coffee and cake to finish!

So full and yet so much still to do....dinner at Blue Note Jazz Club with wonderful music from the Afro-Cuban all stars. Reputedly two of the band are originals from the Buena Vista Social Club movie by Ry Cooder. Awesome music - can't wait for Cuba!