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Published: September 22nd 2009
New York, New York, do we ♥ it? Jury’s out. But here’s the first piece of travel advice from us. If you come to Manhattan, don’t take those tour busses that are everywhere. Walk. It’s amazing, it’ll give you neck ache but it’s so worth it (as they say here). When you get tired use the subway, it’s cheap and an experience, especially during rush hour.
Anyway back to the trip, we foolishly decided to drive onto Manhattan. The drive down Long Island was easy but as you travelled through Brooklyn it was a lot busier. What driving did was give us the first spectacular view of the New York skyline, the famous view from Brooklyn is marvelous. Driving through the midtown tunnel the Garmin decided it didn’t want to work underground but blind luck, as we couldn’t remember where our hotel was, held until we fortunately ended up just 1 block from the hotel. Unfortunately a Mexican street parade had closed the exact road we needed to drive down to get there. So a quick reconfiguring and a lot of encouragement from impatient New York taxi drivers and it was off to the Avis office.
It was only
The Empire State Building
The mighty symbol that marked the end of the Great Depression.about a mile back to our home for the next few days but what a great intro to the Skyline. This city might well be called Neck Ache, as you’ll end up with one. We stayed at the Grand Union Hotel, bit old & rundown but what a location. We dumped the bags and decided to start exploring and knowing the Empire State was right by us decided that was a great staring point. Unfortunately, the radar failed and we headed off to the Chrysler Building, then we turned around and said “Oh yeah there it is”. 2 minutes from where we started. We were really lucky and picked a really quiet time, queuing for no more than 5 mins on the way to the top and what a way to start a visit to this city. A few facts, so feel free to switch off, the 1250ft structure was constructed in only 1 year & 45 days. It employed as many as 4,000 men per day, used 60000 tons of steel and cost $41 million. $9 million under budget!! Back to the story, the views are incredible from Central Park in the north to the Financial District at the
Central Park
What a contrast south end of the island, and we were treated to a clear sunny day to enjoy them. Grand Central station has got to be seen to be believed, probably the grandest Tube station anywhere. The evening was finished off with a trip to Greenwich Village for an Italian “just like mama used to make” except, no offence Mrs E, but this was nothing like my mum made.
Day 2 was all about ‘doing’ Manhattan, we got the subway ticket and walked our socks off, taking in the Museum of Natural History and a walk back through Central Park. What an oasis in the middle of the hustle, but far too many fit people for our liking. Then our walking tour really started. We walked down 7th Avenue, past Carnegie Hall (far too busy to practice), and on to the bright lights of Times Sq, The New York everyone sees on NYE. Then off to the Rockefeller Centre, probably the only organized architecture in the whole city. The “I believe” speech by John D Jr says a lot. From here we wandered down 50th St and started to notice a few more police than we were expecting, and a lot
Times Square
We look like locals. NOT!!! of serious looking chaps wearing dark glasses and talking into their lapels. Turns out the UN General Assembly was meeting and the Pres was on his way. All this to protect a few politicians who are supposed to be looking after our needs, sad really when you look back at what Rockefeller had said about Govt.
Onwards though, past the UN building just waiting for the delegates on a summit for climate change, (didn’t notice many of them cycling there!!) and back along 42nd St to the New York Public Library. No we’re not feeling studious, it’s simply the most impressive library building we’ve ever been in. It also has free WiFi so a chance to update Facebook, & email was taken. From the library we decided to ride the subway again and head downtown. It’s here amongst all the stunning glass buildings that a lot of what modern New York is all about. It’s home to Wall St, the Fed & NYSE, once the hub for growth and all things good but more recently it leaves a less savoury taste in the mouth.
After the financial district we headed over to see something that wasn't there. Ground
The UN Building
The Pres is inside but he doesn't get this great view. Zero. Time for a few quiet moments to reflect on a day that changed the world.
We then headed over to end today’s mammoth walk with a stroll through Chinatown and Little Italy. The former is shoving the latter into an ever decreasing area. A subway ride home, a buffet dinner in a Korean diner that we don’t think included dog but you never know. Wow, what a couple of days. And one more to go yet.
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Anna Q
non-member comment
NYC Baby!
One of my favourite places, I'm so pleased you fit it in! Been waiting for this blog ever since you mentioned you were going to NYC and you have not disappointed! Staten Island Ferry...takes an ages if you just want to see the skyline, half an hour there and back, and off then back on the same boat in between...just took too long for me when I was itching to get on with it!! Please do go for a cocktail on a rooftop bar if you get the chance on your whistle stop tour...some of the best sights seen while sat at nights in a rotating building with a champagne cocktail 70 floors up!!!! Anyway, enough of the travel guide, if I'm not mistaken, I'm not the only one ever to have visited..... Carry on having fun and keeping us posted xx