My NYC trip...

[DrPhil]

Well back to work since the start of the week and thoroughly depressed. Night shift tonight so I thought I'd bore you all with my trip in pictures!

First night we arrived, I suggested we catch a few hours sleep before heading out. We got to our hotel about half 5 in the evening but of course the missus was too excited so we went straight to Times Square.

We stayed for 9 nights, the first 8 were at the Park Central on 57th street and 7th Avenue. Only 2 blocks from central park and about 10 from Times Square. Very nice hotel and subway entrance literally on your doorstep.

View from the room;

A light breakfast in the morning!

In fairness 2 of the 3 trays were mine!


First thing in the morning we took the subway to Brooklyn. (7 day unlimited subway pass is $29 each and a bargain). Then we walked the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan.

After the walk we headed for Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan to get the boat out to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

New York skyline from Liberty Island;

 

[DrPhil]

Leaving Liberty;

The halls at Ellis Island. Many hundreds of thousands of immigrants filed through here in the hopes of finding a new life. About 2% were turned back! Might sound dull but the audio tour here was extremely interesting and well put together including audio clips with stories from immigrants, some very moving.

Farewell to the islands and back to the city;

The wife wanted to stop back at the Brooklyn Bridge for a night viewing, I was too bloody cold and tired so we just walked half way up.

The Christmas tree at nearby Pier 17

Sunday morning was cool, a trip to Times Square Church. First time I've had to queue up for a seat in church!

Next up was a helicopter trip. There are a few chopper tours operating from the south of Manhattan, but they tend to only offer 12-15 minute tours. We got the train out to Linden Airport in Jersey and got a 1 hour tour for the same price as the 15 minute one in the city. Obviously the travel time from Jersey to NYC adds to it, but you still get a much better flight for the same money IMO.

The Verrazano Bridge

 

[DrPhil]

The famous Staten Island amusement park;

Liberty from the air;

1 World Trade Centre, soon to be the tallest building in America and built beside the site of the twin towers.

The Empire State Building

With Madison Square Garden in the foreground;

The Intrepid

Manhattan skyline

Yankee Stadium, (currently being used for American Football as it's baseball off season;

Skating rink in Central Park

Chrysler Building

 

[DrPhil]

The city again;

Heading back towards Jersey, Newark Airport;

Anyone need a taxi?

Back on the ground, and off to Grand Central Station, where you get told off and reminded that it's not a station but a terminal!

Across the street from the station is the Chrysler Building, looming spookily in the night sky;

Next day we took a few of the sightseeing bus tours. These were also more interesting than I expected, although it depends on how entertaining your tour guide is!

The Guggenheim Museum

Empire State from ground level

The Flatiron Building (where Peter Parker worked!)

United Nations

 

[DrPhil]

A wander around the city the next day, including the New York Stock Exchange and the statue opposite, (can't remember what it's called)

Then to the 9/11 memorial and Ground Zero. I wouldn't say it's depressing, but certainly sad. There's something very eerie about standing on the ground on and above which so many died.

One of the Reflecting Pools, built on the sites of the actual towers;

Some of the names of the victims;

And the new tower;

Onwards to the courthouse, well known from the likes of Law & Order and similar shows;

We also passed the famous Rockefeller Centre and it's Christmas tree. More from the "Rock" later.

The 2 scariest places to be in NYC for any man...

 

[DrPhil]

Correction, 3 scariest places. This one the worst of all!

The Empire State building disappearing into the fog;

Went to the American Museum of Natural History the next morning. Wish I hadn't bothered. It may be a famous venue but it just reminded me of school trips to museums and bored the pants off me. If you like museums you'll love it. For us it was the only thing we did in New York that we wished we'd skipped.

Next stop was Central Park

This squirrel is a legend. We were watching the squirrels chasing around the park and up the trees, when this little daredevil decided to show off. He ran up the tree at one side of a road that goes through the park, ran out to the thinnest branch overhanging the road and then launched himself a good 3 feet over traffic and grabbed a branch on the other side. There was about 5 seconds of scrabbling onto the branch when we thought he might fall but he made it. I salute you Stunt-Squirrel.

New York Public Library, well known for the scene in The Day After Tomorrow where the tsunami flows through NYC and the stars of the film race up the steps into the library.

Although some would say the film was a load of balls...

The famous Radio City Music Hall

Top of the Rock! Most would say that this is the best place to view NYC, even though the Empire State is taller. I would agree. From the Empire State, the Rockefeller kinda blocks your view of Central Park, while at the Top of the Rock you still have a great view of downtown Manhattan including the Empire State. Do the "sunrise/sunset" ticket, so you can see the city during day and night.

 

[DrPhil]

Top of the Rock at sunset into night, very impressive.

That night we headed to Madison Square Garden. I had planned to go to a basketball game but the NBA was on strike so we settled for NHL Ice Hockey. It was a great experience, New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay Lightning. Rangers took the lead twice, only for the Lightning to equalise and then steal the win on a shootout. There was also of course the obligatory punch up!

Packed house too!

 

[DrPhil]

Nearly there now...

For our last night we stayed in the Sherry Netherland Hotel on the corner of Central Park. Far too expensive a place to spend the full stay but nice for a night of luxury before heading home. The funniest thing was that on the night we arrived, we got changed and headed out for dinner, (at Hooters of all places). We were going down in the elevator and on the floor below us another couple got in. He was in a tux, she had an evening dress and a full length fur coat. Both looked like their faces were well and truely plucked and tucked and they just reeked of wealth! And there we were, jeans and t-shirts, runners, and off to Hooters to eat BBQ wings and watch a fight!

The wife was mortified at scrubbers like us looking so out of place in such a posh place but I laughed all the way to the bar.

Anyway I digress... The view from "the Sherry";

And of course the fight we were off to see, as advertised on a massive billboard in Times Square

That was the Saturday evening, Sunday morning we had a well deserved lie in. Then for the last day we caught up on what we had missed, starting with the ice rink at the Rockefeller (didn't have time to go on though, and I suck anyway).

Back to Macys (just for window shopping)

And finished off the trip with the Empire State view. Well worth paying the extra few quid for an express ticket here, and also for the 102nd floor deck not just the standard 86th. Top of the Rock is still better though, and much more spacious.

All in all a fantastic trip and the wife would gladly move to New York in the morning. We packed plenty into the trip and could still see a lot more the next time.

PS, for those interested (or whose wives are) in shopping, take the bus to Woodbury Common. It's about an hour north of the city and has 200 retail outlets with all the big designer names. I have never seen better bargains. I got a big winter coat from GAP, which going by their UK website would cost about £90-£100 here. I paid $30. My wife got *** boots for $150 that she priced at home for £235. (*why is that brand of boots blocked by the swear filter? You know the one anyway, rhymes with pug!)

It's $40 each for the bus, but you'll recover that expense in the first shop.

 

[dc8900]

Some brilliant photos mate, the picture of your wife and that food does make me miss American portion servings

Btw, the building opposite the stock exchange is Federal Hall and stands on the site of the original Federal Hall (torn down in 19th century) where George Washington took the oath of office as the 1st U.S. President

 

[DrPhil]

Btw, the building opposite the stock exchange is Federal Hall

That's the one. I remember it being on the list of things to do but i was too tired last night to bother looking it up!

The food was great. Only problem was being understood. That pic was from a loupe diner just beside the hotel and all the staff were Mexican (I think). They're mire used to New Yorkers who are familiar with the system and rattle off an order and understand the staff.

Unlike us who stood gazing at the menu for 5 minutes and then ordered. The guy asked me something back about the order and I ha to get him to repeat himself 3 times!

Great stuff though and so cheap. 2 big portions of eggs, "home fries" and bacon, pancakes with strawberries and 2 cartons of orange juice for just over $20.

 

[dc8900]

The food was great. Only problem was being understood. That pic was from a loupe diner just beside the hotel and all the staff were Mexican (I think). They're mire used to New Yorkers who are familiar with the system and rattle off an order and understand the staff.

haha, I had that problem also! my only solution was to adopt a really bad stereotypical NYC accent when ordering food, yes I sounded like a fool but hey at least they understood me first time round!

 

[hyperfish]

I love the Chrysler building, probably my favorite on the planet. You captured it beautifully.

 

[DrPhil]

I love the Chrysler building, probably my favorite on the planet. You captured it beautifully.

I took over 1000 pictures in 10 days so snapped the Chrysler from the sky, the Top of the Rock, the Hudson river and the street!

I like the one from the Empire State though, the sunset reflecting off the building is cool.

 

[signs]

Some great photos there mate , you should enter this months photo comp

 

[Member 79251]

I really did love New York its just amazing. Really nice pictures makes me want to go back.

 

[DrPhil]

Some great photos there mate , you should enter this months photo comp

Which photo is best? I'd have to touch them up a bit for that standard!

 

[hyperfish]

Night shot looking up at the Chrysler FTW.

 

[DrPhil]

Night shot looking up at the Chrysler FTW.

Night sky looks a bit grainy though.

 

[hyperfish]

Night sky looks a bit grainy though.

A feature rather than a flaw IMHO.

 

[dc8900]

My vote goes to the picture of the top of the Empire building disappearing into the fog, brilliant pic mate

 

[imightbewrong]

Good photos - I like the Empire State Building in the fog too.

The Guggenheim museum features quite prominently in the film The International - it was the first film to be filmed inside it I think - quite cool.

 

[domtheone]

I like the one from the Empire State though, the sunset reflecting off the building is cool.

Lovely Pic.

Almost looks like it's made of gold at the top.

My Only visit to Manhattan was back when I had a film camera. Got them all developed and the pics were all messed up and ruined for some reason.

Good enough reason for me to go back and take them again me thinks

 

[mikeycubed]

Sorry for the bump of your thread Phil but I'd just like to say thanks for the photos and great tips. We fly out on Saturday morning for 6 nights in Manhattan and can't wait! It's our 1st time visiting New York after talking about going for the past 10 years, we're very excited but a little nervous as well as it will be the longest trip we've been on. My OH isn't a great flyer but hopefully it won't be too bad.

Got the NY pass for 3 days and booked up for near front row seats for Phantom of the Opera for the last night plus planning all the usual touristy things so should be a busy few days.

 

[DrPhil]

Sorry for the bump of your thread Phil but I'd just like to say thanks for the photos and great tips.

Not a problem, hope you have a blast!

 

[Lancia34]

Sorry for the bump of your thread Phil but I'd just like to say thanks for the photos and great tips. We fly out on Saturday morning for 6 nights in Manhattan and can't wait! It's our 1st time visiting New York after talking about going for the past 10 years, we're very excited but a little nervous as well as it will be the longest trip we've been on. My OH isn't a great flyer but hopefully it won't be too bad.

Got the NY pass for 3 days and booked up for near front row seats for Phantom of the Opera for the last night plus planning all the usual touristy things so should be a busy few days.

Have a great time - went there last August and fell in love with the city

Try and see as much as you can (and eat as much as you can)