May 21 ~ Favorite day so far

I have been waiting for this since I got here. Today we got up early (what’s new Gladys would say) and took the bus down to Pier 17. We walked along FDR drive to the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. The weather was remarkable for our foray across state lines. The bridge itself is even more magnificent up close and everybody who told us we couldn’t come to New York and NOT walk the bridge was so right.

The amount of people going into and out of Manhattan Island via the bridge is surprising and the rigid division between pedestrian and bike lane startling. God help you if you step into the bike lane!

Looking back at Manhattan Island from the bridge was a real kick.  Look at those skyscapers!

Here I am with my foot in the Atlantic Ocean for the very first time.  I'm a Pacific ocean gal!

From the park at the base of the bridge on the Brooklyn side of the Hudson river, the view of the city is spectacular.  It's too bad Linda decided to go back to the city on the bus.  Gladys and I are crazy enough to want to walk back!  It must be at least 95 degrees today. Whew!  Starbucks, here we come for iced coffee.

Just look at this tower of strength. 

What a feat of engineering.

http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/

Day two, New York City

It took me the entire day yesterday to get here so for me this is really day one in The City that never sleeps. Our day began with Linda getting up at the crack of dawn (even though we went to bed minutes before the crack appeared) running across the street and getting us coffee, tea and of course bagels for breakfast. What a woman!

We headed directly to Times Square to pickup our hop-on hop-off bus and New York City passes thanks to a great tip given to us by a friend from work. Once Gladys got through interviewing (and I say this with only the most love and respect) the multi-national fellows who sell the passes, we got on our first open top double decker bus and were off!  http://www.allnewyorktours.com/city-tours/hop-on-hop-off-tours

We had agreed to ride the entire tour, listen to the history and info spiel of the guide and then decide where we wanted to hop off on the next round. We didn’t make it very far when we hopped off because some store or other caught our eyes. It took most of the day but we managed to hop back on and finish the tour. Wow, this is some city. We all bought pashmina’s from a street vendor to ward off the chill of the upper deck of the bus. And we learned to duck really fast... the buses just sail under the trees and street lights. Amazing.
Battery Park

Along the way we all madly snapped pictures. This particular building is just one of the structures that makes New York an architectural wonder.

http://www.iacbuilding.com/interactive/content.html

Arrival ~ The Big Apple

This can't be real. That's my first thought after arriving in New York City. Am I really here? I left my rural BC home at 9 am this morning and here I am sitting on glowing red stairs in Times Square. I flew into La Guardia, NJ from Vancouver today. It was the best flight I’ve been on, mostly because the plane was ½ empty and sadly because Sweetie wasn’t sitting beside me saying “do you think that engine sounds funny? ... I really think there’s something wrong”.    Needless to say, he really hates to fly.

So I flew across the continent by myself, rather intrepid I must say! I feel like I have arrived in another world by the time I reach the baggage claim area. I have never heard so many different languages spoken in one small area. What I would later realize is very indicative of New York City.

I met a funny interesting woman named Sandy as we were waiting forever for our luggage. Turns out she was from the Island and had traveled alone but was meeting friends as was I. We decided to travel to our respective hotels together. Best idea of the day! Our cab driver and I use the term loosely was nothing if not NUTS. For some reason he was obsessed with bad 70’s TV shows and the entire trip from New Jersey into Manhattan he was paying more attention to his DVD player than the road.   Hair raising... and oddly... entirely expected.    I was very relieved to be deposited outside my hotel in one piece but felt guilty that Sandy had to travel on.

By the time I got checked in it was midnight but I was still shocked that Gladys was in bed. I must note that she is on day 7 of a whirlwind trip to New York via Pittsburgh. Needless to say I dragged her out of bed; we met up with Linda who had also just checked in.... and off we went to Times Square. I am so glad my first look was at night. It is truly spectacular, pictures just don’t do it justice.   Thank goodness Gladys had the forsight to bring her camera because these two pictures are hers!

The first picture I have taken this trip is the view from our hotel room window.  You might not think much of it, but to me it was beautiful.   I have dreamed of this moment... my dream included a rooftop terrace complete with  billowing curtains, landscaped gardens, wonderful wine and a stereo pumping out Barbra Streisand - that should give you some idea of what year my dream began.  Not exactly the New York from my dreams, it's bigger and grittier and so much more alive than I could ever imagine....

Day one ended with Gladys, Linda and I across the street from our hotel at Smith's Bar laughing, drinking and plotting until almost 4am.   Linda fed us pizza from a nearby vendor, and this set the tone for the entire trip. I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING!