As some of you know, I’ve recently returned from a family trip to NYC to visit some friends there. This is my first time to the “Big Apple” and obviously, in the true spirit of tourism, I took a plethora of photos.
Now I’m not about to start publishing a photo blog here, but I thought some of you might find it interesting what a southern boy like myself finds interesting enough to shoot in NYC. Sure– I’m a cheesy tourist… So what?
My wife found that JetBlue offered EXTREMELY competitive rates on flights to NYC. JetBlue flies out of New Orleans, which is only about 5 hours or so south of where we live in Louisiana. That kinda gives us a day to have some fun in the “Big Easy”– Home of riverboats, mardi gras, beignets, and street-performers…
We had a great day. The next morning, it’s off to the airport.
Our NYC sister met us at JFK and we took a “memorable” cab ride to Ground Zero
At basement-level of “Ground Zero” is the PATH train (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) that runs under the Hudson between NYC and Jersey City, where our friends live high in the “Liberty Towers” aparments overlooking NYC (an especially nice view of both the Empire State building and the Chrysler building)
Times Square is an incredible testament to capitalism!
Grand Central Station is awe-inspiring. One really must see it to truly appreciate it
And when in NYC, one MUST have dessert at Serendipity. It is SOOOO worth it!
Of course, there are several typical stops any tourist must make that are worth seeing first-hand. These include The Eternal Flame in Battery Park, which is lit directly in front of the bronze sculpture rescued from the wreckage of the Towers– It stood in the mall area on the ground floor. Some more sites include, of course, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park
The Bronx Zoo is awesome. You’ll need the whole day, so get an early start and plan on eating there. They have everything from the butt-ugliest California Condors to the most beautifully majestic Bengal Tigers.
I, of course, was NOT leaving NYC without seeing CBGB’s– Home of Underground Rock and Memorial of Joey Ramone (and yes, I got the t-shirt)
NYC truly is a melting pot. Sights, smells and sounds of every culture can be found all over…
Don’t forget to check out FAO Swartz– It’s worth the visit. Be sure to get there early in the morning to catch them opening. They open the store each day by rolling out the red carpet and sending out a bugler to herald the opening. The first customers are greeted inside by applause from the employees lining the main walkway. Oh yeah– And the big piano is still there, it still works, and they still let you dance on it!
A couple more architectural “must-sees” include St. Patrick’s Cathedral (captured here soon after the Pope’s death with mourning drapery) and the NYC Public Library (even more awesome inside than outside).
I have this strange fear of heights (not a problem if I am “enclosed”) so there was no way I was going up to peak over the edge of the Empire State building, but my wife was kind enough to go up with my daughter and take a couple shots, including the parade route in front of Macy’s (you should be able to see the green section where dancing and acting is always featured) and the Flatiron building.
At week’s end, it was time to take the “A” train back out to JFK where we caught a flight back to New Orleans, then drove back home. It’s funny… No matter how much fun you have on vacation, no matter how exotic the location, no matter what kind of worries and problems are waiting for you at home, it ALWAYS feels great to come home, even if it is a little bittersweet.
NYC is truly a sight to behold. I’m glad I went. I miss my friends, but I will always look forward to visiting them again since taking a small bite of the Big Apple.
