Manhattan, Central park, Times Square, 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue…nice people everywhere!
When I work flights other than those in and out of New York City and tell the passengers that I usually fly the NYC route, I get one response more than others, “…those New Yorkers…”. They’re rude, they’re in too big of a hurry, they’re this or that. Are you kidding me? These are some of the nicest people that I have ever met!
My past trip had over 30 hours in the Big Apple so the family tagged along and we went into Manhattan. This was what I considered my first full time adventure into Manhattan because the other times were at night and I really didn’t have the time or the courage to get around too much. This time, I purchased day passes for transportation for the three of us so that we could get onto the metro or buses any time we wanted all day long. I had a map, a plan and a preconceived understanding that if we didn’t make it to the things on the list of “like to see”, oh well! There will definitely be a next time.
Experience #1: The gal at the front desk told me to take the Q48 all the way to Flushing and then catch the 7 train to 42nd street. While discussing this plan with my husband on the bus, a gentleman there showed us that we didn’t have to go all the way to Flushing and could hop on the train at 111th Street. He even made sure that we got off at the right stop and pointed to where to catch the train.
This worked out beautifully and we had the chance to see Grand Central Station and some of the other lovely buildings around the city. Grand Central Station was as awesome as I expected if not even better. Beautiful painted ceilings with various adornments around every corner. Grand staircases and people of all walks buzzing about on foot and bicycle. The whole area is more than just the one you see on television and in movies. Different areas weave through the building like a honeycomb offering different train departures and many ethnicities and levels of dining options. Need groceries before you head home on the train? Just pop into the Grand Central Market before you get onboard. Just don’t buy any more than you can carry! I think that I could possibly designate a whole day to just this glorious 1913 beauty.
From there, we walked for a while before hailing a taxi to check out the 
Manhattan Toys R Us with the Ferris Wheel inside that I heard so much about and wanted to show my son. It’s located by Times Square which also is more impressive in person than on TV.
Image via Wikipedia
Three floors of fun with areas for every age, a giant T-Rex that roars (and M is convinced is real because “the man said so”) and Superman holding up a semi truck from crashing into the floor. Unfortunately, the boy wanted nothing to do with the ferris wheel that spanned the entire three levels of the store. Oh well, on to the next stop.
Walking is definitely something that is not avoidable unless you really just want to take a taxi every where although walking gives you a great opportunity to check out all of the nooks and crannies that you may not other wise get to see. If you walk against the buildings, it’s a lot cooler from the AC blowing out every time someone opens the door! By this time, we were all pretty much ready for some lunch and although Dim Sum in China Town was originally the plan, my son wanted pizza. We started off looking at one of the street vendors offering Mediterranean food (that I was told was amazing) but the boy would not hear of it. One of the guys in line (experience #2) overheard the cries for pizza and recommended one that was not far away. Unfortunately, the day was so long that I can only remember some details other than the name! It’s on 38th, between Broadway and Fashion and begins with an L. You go upstairs and down a small hallway with a door opening on your right where you are promptly greeted by a nice Italian guy. At least we were. “Have you ever seen a good pizza”?, he asks. “Sure”. “No”, he replies, “Have you ever seen a good pizza from here“? The server turns and leaves, to return with one of the crusts already made with sauce and square pieces of melted cheese. It’s slowly cooked and perfectly thin with out being too thin. You order what you want added to the top and then it’s baked the rest of the way. Fantastico! One whole pizza, two Italian Peronne beers and a lemonade came to $29. Not bad for a restaurant in the area. The server said that a beer around the corner at a local bar sells for $12!
So far, everyone that we came in contact with was more than helpful and joined in to do everything possible to make our
day easier and enjoyable. I was really excited to find out that starting the day we arrived, the artwork of top fashion designers like Issac Mizrahi line Broadway Avenue. Some of the designs are fantastic and some are, well not my taste.
Next, we were headed in the direction of The Empire State Building. What visit to Manhattan is complete without a visit to the top of this world known attraction? I thought that it was a bit farther away than it actually was so we decided to take the metro down a few stops. Standing in front of the train, I wondered if we were going to be going in the correct direction. Enter NYC woman.
Experience #3: While we wondered which was we needed to go, a young woman asked where we were trying to go. I told her the Empire State Building and not only did she tell us that we were only couple of blocks away, she showed us! She was going to get onto the train when she actually took us back through the turnstiles, up the stairs and started walking down the street with us. Who does that? It was amazing that she would take that much time to show a stranger how to get somewhere.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t going to pay over $50 to see something that I see almost all of the time from the aircraft while landing at the La Guardia airport! So, off to Central Park and more walking. Actually, we hopped on the bus this time after walking a few more blocks. I asked the bus driver if that particular bus would be going straight down toward the Park and not making any turns. Yep. Another passenger on the bus (experience #4) asked where in Central Park we wanted to go after correcting me that we were going up. I had no idea. Just wanted to go. I found out that the park runs from 59th street to 110th Street! A great starting point is about 72nd Street, where the park opens up to a museum and a playground filled with nannies and “their kids” enjoying the cool water of the kids fountain and shady play areas. A woman talks on her phone with one hand, pushes a stroller back and forth with the other all while encouraging another young one to enjoy the watery fun.
Walking down just one of the pathways through the park, you’ll find children learning soccer, dogs learning new tricks
and sunbathers unfazed by the hottest day of the year so far. Yards of green dotted with grand trees and sculptures used to delight both the senses and the photographers spirit. The path we chose opened to a pond filled with sailboats at the hand of kids sailing around the water by remote control. Another lovely well dressed woman enjoying a beer in a glass and pretzels (not homeless) while overlooking the fun offered with delight to take our picture. What example does this make? Okay, so I know that people around the country, or the world for that matter, would be willing to take your picture if asked but what about these “rude New Yorkers”? Can’t exactly say that anymore can you?
Since our feet could barely take anymore steps, we decided to take the bus back to the train that would take us back to the hotel. Just enough time to take another notice at how beautiful and serene the park is located in the center of such a loud and bustling city. The best of both worlds all in one place and I know that we didn’t even come close to scratching the surface of the park at all.
On the bus ride back to Grand Central Station, I saw a large net over part of the park.” Ooh, maybe that’s a zoo”, I joke only to find out that it really was a zoo. I thought that was just in the movie Madagascar! You mean to tell me that the park has a Music Museum and a zoo in it? Amazing. I have to wonder if one whole day in the park would even be long enough to see it all?
On the train ride back, another woman sitting next to us told us where we can get off to get something to eat. I had Philippine cuisine for the first time and it was amazing. The service wasn’t very good but the place was filled so I thought the food must be good. glass cases were filled with pastries and desert representative of the Philippine delights. At the bar, I saw some glasses filled with colorful treats that I discovered were avocado milkshakes and one made with honeydew. I ordered chicken cooked in coconut milk with fresh slices of ginger. Fantastic.
Ice cream for the second time that day finished it off perfectly and back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. I cannot wait to go back!
