Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Ferry Service Returns to The Boogie Down!!!
For more than 80 years ferry service has been a forgotten transportation option for residents of the Bronx. Instead many Bronx residents had no alternative way to get to and from the city other than driving, taking the bus, or subways in and out. The commute times made it basically a horribly long commute to get to and from work for many residents who don’t or couldn’t afford to live in Manhattan. Several years ago we mentioned that docks were being built up in the Soundview section of the Bronx a neighborhood I know all to well as myself and my siblings grew up there.
Let me paint the picture for you. Imagine a hybrid area that seems part suburban and part inner city. Private homes on one side and projects just a few blocks away from the private homes. A two fare zone to get to and from this area meant for many of us walking to bus routes like the Bx27 or Bx39 taking a ride to the subway with overcrowded, often late more times than not buses, then transferring to trains, that depending on your station stop were either local or connected to an express 6 train to bring you into the city.
Now if you worked in a place like say Brooklyn that would mean once you exited the subway station stop you had to pay another fare to take the bus to your final destination or if in the city paying another fare on a bus to connect you to wherever in the city you had to go. All this while dealing with the chaos that is the MTA wrought with delay after delay and signal problems while playing the standard BS PA “We’re delayed due to train traffic ahead of us”.
Many a time you would sit there sigh and dream of what it would be like to sit on a ferry like the ones that connect Staten Island to Manhattan. A quick 30 minute ride over the water was just a distant dream. Today August 15, 2018 Mayor De Blasio along with local news marked the opening day of ferry service that connects Soundview to 90th Street, 34th Street, and Wall Street. The ferry ride is huge and not only signals that improved commuter life is here for many Bronx residents but that real estate prices are most certainly going to rise for homeowners in close proximity to the ferry. I imagine a rebirth and revitalization similar to the gentrification we’ve seen going on in places like Williamsburg, Queens, & the South Bronx where new luxury condo buildings are going up just over the 3rd Ave Bridge.
Once this ferry service proves it’s worth we should anticipate expansion of service to be a demand as more and more commuters flee packed 6 trains and local buses for this more scenic and preferable transportation option which currently is the same cost as a bus or subway ride. The only question I have is why the hell did it take so long?
What are your thoughts?
The above was taken at the beach in Manta, Ecuador. Plenty of people were out to soak up the sun and play in the sand.to Manta is probably the best city visited in Ecuador during our stay. The energy is a mixed one with every day people enjoying the beach city environment. While there certainly is more to Manta than the beach. The beach here is probably the first reason to visit Manta.
Green Coconuts for sale and consumption right on the beach where they chop it open and supply a straw. 
La Policia stroll the beach. 
Kids playing in the sand.
Looking out to the beach from inside a restaurant while having a Pilsner Light is what it is right now.
Plenty of public displays of art can be found walking the streets of Manta. Even the trees become part of the mural scene above.
These birds are all around the shore line and beach front. Flying high and swooping in and out down and around and all about making for awesome shots like the one pictured above. 
The sculpt work here is beyond impressive! Last time I was here they did Giant Hippos.
I took this as we approached the Beach. To me looked like a shot worthy of making a classic Black & White.
I like this for the simple phrase think Big.
Driving through the various towns from Manta through Porto Viejo yields some colorful scenes.
Looks like it could be a portal in some version of Mortal Kombat.
Yes they do go to church at night. 
This is the Angel de Porto Viejo.
All over the streets of Santiago and other cities I encountered pretty cool public art displays from murals to graffiti images.
I was surprised to see so much graffiti and art work on the walls along the streets of Santiago. No doubt about it art, graffiti, self expression is universal.
Here’s another cool public display of art I came across in Chile.
As I kid I wished I could draw this well. The detail is sick!!!
See what I mean they just keep on coming.
Here’s another pretty cool looking P.A.D.
What’s that in the distance? Can you see him?
This P.A.D I shot in front of a subway station in the center of Santiago.
This was also near to the other mural at the entrance to the subway.
This lamp was shot inside of one of Santiago’s best restaurants Eladios.
Tiramisu Pizzeria Chile is an absolute instant favorite of mine for their cocktails and pizza alone period end of story.
My second cocktail was my favorite of the day. Tiramisu’s Raspberry Mojito aka The Framboise Mojito
And then there was the Pizza…Absolutely F’ N Bueno!!!
Notice anything striking in this photo? Tell me what you see in this photo and what you don’t see as opposed to NYC’s transit system. There are tons more shots I have from this awesome trip. I hope you enjoyed this little peak at the wonderful experience had in Latin America. Thank you to our hosts in both Ecuador & Chile.
F
THEJNSREPORT
THEJNSREPORT 