Classic Trip - Novel York 1999, Business Office 1

UPDATE: 5-2-11, I had other plans for articles this week, but they'll keep.  It seems similar a proficient calendar week to celebrate the keen metropolis of New York instead.

Let's become dorsum to 1999 to our outset trip to the Big Apple.  Standard disclaimer, prices, events, too other items are accurate for 1999-things direct hold changed...

In our travels closed to the country, ane identify intimidated me...New York. I heard all the horror stories nigh the crime, the filth, rude people, crowds, traffic, etc. My one-time boss (from Brooklyn) told me nigh how he got a apartment tire too patch he was changing it, mortal started to steal the parent tire. You run into movies similar Taxi Driver too Mean Streets too direct hold to wonder.

My son, on the other hand, had no such emotional baggage. He ever wanted to run into this city. He wanted to become upwards to the top of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, too maybe most of all to ride the Cyclone inwards Coney Island.

A couplet of years ago, nosotros decided to accept a autumn trip to the northeast corner of the province to run into the autumn colors. Since New York was solely a few hours to the south, nosotros decided to pass a couplet of days at that spot only to run into what it was like, give Tim his fourth dimension there, too proceed on our way.

The brusk story? My illusions of the metropolis were shattered. None of my preconceptions held whatever H2O at all. We loved it too made it a indicate to come upwards dorsum inwards the natural springtime for a longer trip. Now the long story...

Our flying into Manchester, New Hampshire arrived 2 hours late. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rather long effort in conclusion deposits us at the Susse Grand Chalet inwards Stamford, Connecticut at 4 o’clock inwards the morning. Dead tired, nosotros happily climb into bed.

(to run into what I mean value of Susse Chalet, my review is at http://www.epinions.com/content_42139750020 )

We wake upwards inwards fourth dimension to grab an 11:00 Metro North prepare into Grand Central Station. 35 minutes later, nosotros leave of absence into Grand Central’s beautiful lobby. Being our outset fourth dimension inwards New York, nosotros can’t assistance ourselves too quicky run out the door for our outset glimpse of Manhattan’s famous skyline. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 feel of vertigo envelops us...we direct hold no thought where nosotros are...and nosotros run into the familiar sight of the Chrysler edifice too the Met Life building.

It’s fourth dimension to caput dorsum inwards to proceed on our means to Brooklyn too Coney Island. We laid upwards ourselves upwards for quite a challenge. The MTA’s spider web site says that 33 of the city’s subway stations are accessible. Armed amongst our $4 fun passes (a ane twenty-four hr menses top that gives you lot unlimited rides on the city’s buses too subways), nosotros experience that zilch tin mail away stand upwards inwards our way.

Plotting this out on the excellent, gratis subway map nosotros got at the data booth, nosotros run into that the B draw of piece of work (which goes to Coney Island) stops at the Lexington Ave. station close Central Park too likewise has an access symbol on it. The 4�5�6 lines become from Grand Central to the Lexington Ave. station. It’s decided to accept the 4 upwards to Lexington too and then switch over to the B.

Two things come upwards up incorrect amongst this plan. First is almost immediate too has to create amongst looking at our map a petty closer. Although the Lexington Ave. station is accessible for the B line, the 4�5�6 draw of piece of work purpose of the station isn’t. Whoops. We cheat a petty too accept the escalator upwards to the B draw of piece of work station.

Once on the B train, employment position out 2 crops up, although compared to the outset employment is relatively minor. The B prepare turns out to hold upwards a local, stopping at every station along the way. It volition accept forever to arrive at Coney Island. On the other hand, nosotros occasionally run into a D train, the Coney Island express, stopping across the platform from us. Quickly, nosotros create upwards one's hear to transfer at the West fourth Street station too proceed on.

Eventually, nosotros teach to Coney after a scenic ride through Brooklyn (the D draw of piece of work goes elevated here). Brooklyn looks a lot similar East L.A. The Coney Island station was built inwards 1919 too is for certain showing its age. It’s dark, dank, fifty-fifty a fleck scary looking inside. But it has that real welcome accessory...an elevator.

We emerge onto the corner of Stillwell too Surf, straight across from our luncheon destination, Nathan’s. Nathan’s has been hither for eons selling their basis famous hot dogs. We grab a few too are non disappointed. They are real tasty. This Nathan’s is likewise real pop for its seafood. Some of the locals at that spot swore past times the fried clams. This fleck of legendary New York cuisine sets us dorsum solely $10 for the 3 of us.

Unfortunately, Coney Island’s famous entertainment parks are closed for the season. Tim & I were hoping for a ride on Cyclone, revered every bit ane of the world’s top coasters. No ride today, solely pictures.

Time to accept the D dorsum to Manhattan to the Herald Square station, which is accessible (but the elevators are real difficult to discovery too no ane at that spot seems to know where they are). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 brusk walk over to Grand Central too nosotros hop dorsum on the 4 prepare southbound to the Brooklyn Bridge. This fourth dimension access plant every bit planned too the bring upwards deposits us straight across from the walkway over the bridge. Here nosotros teach an unforgettable walk amongst keen views over this old, historic span.

The span is clothed inwards deepening darkness. It’s to supply to Grand Central too grab a Connecticut jump prepare home.

Scroll downwards below for Part 2...
 
-Darryl
Copyright 1999 - Darryl Musick