Angela and I just got back from a fun filled week in New York. We stayed very busy, and saw and did lots of amazing things. New York is the most international of cities. Everywhere we went, people were speaking languages I did not recognize. I'm sure many were tourists like us, but certainly many were recent immigrants as well. This is what has always made New York a diverse and exciting place.
Our hotel room was located in the financial district and overlooked the Hudson River. I took this picture the first night, and the rain drops are evident on the window. It was a nice view to wake up to every morning, and I looked out the window every night just before turning in.
Staying in the financial district, we walked past Ground Zero daily. Here are two pictures I took from a bridge over West Street at Vesey.
Among the first full day's activity, we visited Liberty and Ellis Island. Long lines, crowded boats. It did make for some nice photo ops. Here is my better half with the Statue of Liberty.
Here is the entrance to Ellis Island with the previously mentioned crush of people.
After leaving Ellis Island, we walked (and walked) through Chinatown to a museum. After that, it was time for our first New York pizza! We hopped the subway to Brooklyn for a slice at Grimaldi's. The line was huge. After stuffing ourselves, we walked again. This time we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and back across Manhattan to our hotel.
The Brooklyn Bridge was constructed before there were any cars, so this is what the original commute was like. There is a walkway elevated above the street. Many times, we were moving faster on foot than the traffic below. This was often the case throughout the City.
This is the view looking north from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Our second day was highlighted by a trip to Yankee Stadium. From our bleacher seats, construction cranes were clearly visible, heralding the end of this landmark. You could feel the history and ghosts of all the past legends, not to mention the rabid fans. On this night, it was the Yankees against the Red Sox, so we got a real feel for that New York hospitality (not).
The outfield view from our seats, with The Bronx in centerfield.
Yankee for a day.
The Bronx after sunset.
Sadly, this was the best shot I could get of the outside of Yankee Stadium. Everything is packed in so close that you'd have to be on the other side of the highway to get a picture of the whole stadium.
Here's Angela in Central Park. We made several trips to the park.
Strawberry Fields is a two acre section of Central Park dedicated to John Lennon. He spent the last years of his life living in a building located just outside this area of the park, and he strolled through the park quite regularly.
This is The Dakota where John Lennon lived.
The Dakota was built over 4 years in the late 1800s, and was so named because it was considered so remote at the time. This was taken right outside a subway stop, which we took. From here, we went to Rockefeller Center for the best views of Manhattan.
The top of Rockefeller Center has 3 floors that serve as an observation deck. The views are stunning.
This is the Empire State Building.
Behind the Met Life building, you can see the Chrysler Building. At the time of construction, the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building were in competition to be the tallest building in New York. The Empire State Building won when a communications tower was added.
And of course, Central Park.
This is Broadway. This picture shows the theatres where Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, and Spamalot are currently playing. Walk to the next intersection of this street, and you're in Times Square.
This is Times Square. I'm not real certain what the draw is. Flashy lights and chain restaurants. I snapped a few pictures and we were on our way.
This is the Shubert Theatre, where we saw Spamalot.
Wednesday's highlight, and probably the whole trip's highlight, was being in the audience for David Letterman. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed inside the theatre, so this is as good as it gets. It was definitely an experience I'll never forget.
Here's where Rupert sells sandwiches and T-shirts.
After Letterman, we walked over to Fifth Avenue so I could see the Apple Store. You can get your mac on 24/7/365 here. When you walk into the plexiglass, you descend into the store that's below street level.
This is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It seems neverending. We spent several hours here looking at European painting, and we didn't even see a fraction of what there is to see. We'll have to pay another visit.
Angela enjoys the artwork in one of the hundreds of galleries. Almost all of the galleries were much more crowded.
Here's the lobby of the Met.
On our last full day in New York, we spent time in Central Park, pretending we were locals. Angela went for a run, and I sat on a park bench and watched people go by, always interesting in NYC. This picture was taken as we walked around The Jackie Kennedy Onassis reservoir.
This blog wouldn't be complete without one of our trademark goofball self portraits, so here it goes...
