We're back and we had a great trip!
Friday, we flew into Queens, headed to our hotel in Middle Manhattan and wandered the area around our hotel: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, 5th Ave, etc... It was great to be out on the streets of NYC. There are so many people around in this area you never felt unsafe and the lights of Times Square were really cool. So much to take in! After wandering aimlessly for a while, we were convinced by a guy named Franko to try some NY style pizza. Loving thick, meaty Saskatchewan-style pizza, we were rather skeptical... but Neil and I were actually really impressed -- we liked it! We also tried some homemade mozzerella and it was divine!
Highlight: the tree in Rockefeller Center
Saturday, we took a Manhattan City Tour. We weren't sure this was a good idea but with limited time, we decided to go forth and take the tour. No regrets. We saw more than we ever would have on our own!! We took in the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, the Financial District (Wall Street), the Empire State Building, Greenich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Central Park and more!! We finished off the day with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum. At the end of it all, we ended up in a pub in Times Square to watch some NFL Football action. A thoroughly pleasing day.
Highlight #1: The pimp we saw in SoHo -- he was complete with furry lime green outfit and studded walking cane. I so wish I had had my camera ready!
Highlight #2: The Temple of Dendur. Apparently the city of NY was awarded an actual Ancient Egyptian Temple after donating a large sum of money to the Egyptian Government to aid in some restoration projects. It was shipped to NY and re-assembled. It was amazing. You were able to walk into it! And walk into it I did! I was video taping the experience and failed to realize that one part of it was roped off -- Neil stopped me and my video recording just in time before I tripped over the rope and took this Ancient Temple down with me!
Sunday, we ventured out for a yummy breakfast and then walked through most of Central Park. Maybe I am biased, and to be fair, it was winter (trees had no leaves) but Stanley Park in Vancouver easily defeats this park in beauty. Still, the view of the tall majestic buildings peeking from over the trees is charming.
We ventured over to the Guggenheim and I was sad to see it had scaffolding around it. Oh well, next trip. We then meandered down 5th Ave and took in the sights!Monday was more of the same -- it was raining so we walked and stopped for coffee, stopped for NY Cheesecake, walked some more and them flew back and was home by around 9. I have to say that I'd definitely go back. I didn't think I'd say that. So much to see and do, great food -- an overall exhilarating experience!
I have uploaded about 30 pictures into a Flickr Slideshow. You can see them here.