Its always blue skies over Tatiana's

Coney Island photo from 1940's


It was the beginning of August and I still looked like I had come out of a cave. I needed some sun badly! The day was not promising for swimming in the sea or laying out on a beach but my need to be near the sea and to feel the sand under my feet overwhelmed me and my trepidation about the weather. Cloudy and not very sunny at that,  I decided to go and whatever I find along the way I would be happy with. Having never been on a beach in New York City and feeling a bit squeamish  about the whole image, I took the Q train to Brighton Beach with as much enthusiasm as a kid being told they had to do their home work.

My dear friend Suzy with her endless enthusiasm assured me it would be amazing and as I met her at the end of the line in the bustling streets of the mostly Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach and Coney Island we walked sun glasses in hand and with the hopes for a change in our not so sunny moods. As we walked down to the pier where the historic neighborhood of Coney Island and Brighton Beach is known for, the clouds slowly started to part and the sun ever so slightly started to appear.... Things are looking up! We laid out a lovely pareo that Suzy had purchased 11 years ago in Mykonos (a little cycladic air in our Brooklyn beach experience),  and got into our bikinis for better or worse. Surrounding us were mostly Russian families and children running about near the sea playing with sand castles and trying to grab as much sun as possible.

 Then a miracle happened... in only half an hour after our arrival bright sunny skies appeared, with absolutely no cloud in sight and the beach lit up. Laughter and joy and smiles appeared as couples walked along the boardwalk and people started to feel the warmth of the sun on their skin. We then decided to start our little yoga demonstration gathering crowds who I'm sure had never really seen people doing hand stands on the beach before. So sun kissed and tired we kept going and going till the late afternoon hours.....

Photo taken by Inga R.

Photo taken by Inga R.



And so the day progressed and moved from afternoon to evening and Suzy and our friends gathered at famous Tatiana's restaurant (II) for traditional Russian food, lots of Vodka and much spicy conversation. As the sun set over Brooklyn it seemed like one of those days that you didn't want to end. Thank you New York Summer, you always surprise me. 

Photo taken by Eleana K.

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