Un dia como hoy, 27 de julio del 1983, llegue a Brooklyn para construir un nuevo futuro. Tras 43 años, y a pesar de no tener fecha de retorno todavia, este capitulo esta llegando a su fin.
Forty three years ago, on a day like today, July 27, 1983, I landed in Brooklyn to create a new future. Despite not having a return date yet, this chapter is coming to an end.
Picture taken at the Empire State Building Observation Deck.
En los muchos años que vivi en Brooklyn, siempre detestaba manejar la motora en Manhattan, por eso preferia viajar en el subway. Todos los años la cifra de accidentes y muertes de transito en la Gran Manzana era una cosa fuera de lo normal.
No se como es ahora, pero en aquellos tiempos los choferes de los iconicos taxis amarillos (Yellow Cabs) se peleaban los pasajeros. Manejaban muy negligentemente, haciendo maniobras agresivas y cortes de pastelillos sin importarles si causaban accidentes, especialmente si el otro vehiculo era una motora.
Manejar en la ciudad de New York es comunmente conocido como "manejar en una jungla de cemento". Para poder sobrevivir guiando en la Gran Manzana, hay que ser agresivo como ellos y estar constantemente pendiente del trafico y los peatones impredecibles.
A pesar que las estadisticas de muertes por accidente de transito se redujeron en New York al nivel mas bajo en la historia por primera vez en el 2025, nadie debe perder la vida caminando, manejando carro o motora, ni corriendo bicicleta en la ciudad.
Living in Brooklyn during the 1980's, I was fortunate to being closer to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where American Honda training facilities were located. I received my American Honda Technician Certification in less than 2 years while working for a motorcycle Honda dealership in New York. In addition, every year dealerships were mandated to send their best technicians to attend specialized training to stay updated on the new models, technology, and repair procedures.
Graduating from Phoenix, AZ, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1986 was a milestone in my life, and represented the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, and personal growth regarding my future in the motorcycle industry.
In 1988, Honda introduced the Gold Wing GL1500 model with a flat-six-cylinder engine. Being selected to attend a week-long specialized training at the American Honda training facilities on the new Gold Wing GL1500, was one of the most memorable moments in my motorcycle technician career.
Being selected for this training proved that my hard work and experience had been recognized, validating my skills and expertise and differentiating me from my peers. At that moment in time, I felt I had reached the pinnacle of my career. Even though my motorcycle technician life has been over since 1994, I am very proud of the things I was able to accomplish.
What initially began as a beat up half-dead 1975 Kawasaki Z1-900 platform, ended up as a KZ-1015cc to be exact. And I bet you cannot tell the bike was spray-painted in my living room using spray cans paint. Those were the good old days.
My sister visited me in 1987 and took a picture with my pride and joy.
Que yo recuerde, esta es la unica foto que tengo con mami y las motoras. Ella y mi hermana vinieron a visitarme a Brooklyn, a compartir unas semanas en el año 1984. En aquel tiempo yo trabajaba en el distribuidor de motoras Honda en Paragon Honda en Northern Boulevard de Queens, Nueva York.
La camara que ven encima de la mesa es la primera camara profesional que compre en mi vida. Es una Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 35mm SLR film camera que compre en el 1988. Algo interesante que note en la foto es que en el 1989 todavia no necesitaba espejuelos, y el pelo de la barba y el bigote todavia mantenian el color negro. En el 1989 apenas tenia 33 años.
Me encanta mirar fotos del pasado, me producen nostalgia y refuerzan mis vinculos emocionales con el presente. Lo cierto es que Bad Bunny esta en lo correcto; con tantas buenas experiencias que vivi en Brooklyn, debi tirar mas fotos.
There is no coincidence that getting into photography, and visiting the Brooklyn Pier area had something to do with the other. I have visited the area dozens of times since then, always chasing the perfect postcard picture.
The Brooklyn Pier area is my favorite photo shoot location, especially during sunset. I find the views of downtown Manhattan from Brooklyn to be iconic and truly breathtaking, particularly from DUMBO and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The Manhattan skyline view at night, is one of the best I have seen of all the cities I have visited.
The other day I was thinking that it's been a year or two since my last visit to Brooklyn Bridge Park. It is time to start planning another photo shoot trip.
Without getting into an argument about Trump with him, after all we are friends and respect each other political differences, I responded to his question. The conversation then switched into two of my favorite subjects, motorcycles and photography.
I learned that he went from drag-racing motorcycles to now riding cruiser motorcycles traveling cross country and also photographing races at the racetrack. He posted a picture of his current Honda Goldwing, which is the type of bike I hope to be riding when I get older.
I was suddenly transported back in time to 1989, when I was the assistant service manager at a motorcycle Honda dealership in Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY. Back then I was given the task to install a sidecar to a brand new 1989 Honda Goldwing.
Our conversation reminded me that a picture was taken the day the customer arrived to the dealership to pick up his motorcycle, so I began digging for it. It took me at least one hour to find the picture hidden in an old flash drive.
This old picture of my days working as a grease monkey at the motorcycle dealership brought back lots of memories. The unfortunate part is that some of my old friends in the picture are no longer with us. It always amazes me the memories and emotions a picture can evoke on a person.
All it took to complete this restoration was a very accommodating and understanding spouse; lots of research to find the parts needed (no internet available at the time) and hands on experience to create something worthwhile.
Six months later, the bike was completed. It was rebuilt from the ground up literally in the middle of my living room. From the engine nuts and bolts, to the process of painting the body of the entire bike, including the basecoat to the finishing touches inside my living room.
In six months, the vintage motorcycle was completed and in excellent running condition.
The next to last picture is of my sister sitting on the bike in front of our house in Brooklyn. The last picture was the day I was ready to go on my way to Phoenix Arizona, riding cross-country from Brooklyn, NY. It only took me six days to ride this Kawasaki Z1-900 from Brooklyn, NY to Phoenix, AZ.
Enjoy!
Ha llovido mucho y han ocurrido muchas experiencias, buenas y malas. A pesar de todos los obstaculos, he logrado muchas metas y conocido tremendos seres humanos que me han ayudado a crecer como persona.
Le doy gracias a Dios, a mi familia y amigos por todo su apoyo. Veremos a ver que me depara el destino en el futuro.
La foto fue tomada en el 1983, en la sala de mi primer apartamento en Brooklyn, NY.
After they settle into their rooms, we spent some time catching up. Afterwards, we had lunch at Dinosaur B-B-Q in Brooklyn, excellent cuisine with excellent prices. Highly recommended.
We have a full schedule ahead of us, so for now I am going to leave you with a couple of pics. Enjoy!
