November in New York
Last
summer in Maine Paula and I ran into Nancy, an adventuresome friend, who lived
in Maine for a while. We've kept intermittent contact as she's lived in Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Switzerland and now Manhattan. Her invitation to come visit her
sounded wonderful and we booked a direct flight to Newark from nearby Myrtle
Beach. At the Newark Airport we climbed on a big comfortable 
bus for the short
ride to Penn Station. Though it was Saturday about one p.m. we hit a traffic jam
at the Holland Tunnel and worked our way through neighborhoods to the Lincoln
Tunnel. When we finally got to Manhattan we needed some food and were too hungry
to be fussy. So we jumped into the crowd at 
Rosa's pizza. Despite a
non-residents' fears of being in crowds in New York City we had not a problem as
we got some welcome food. Knowing we didn't have exact change for a bus we took
the C train to 4th Street and made our way over to Washington Square. As we cut
through the park we passed spirited handball and basketball games and tables
full of chess players. After
catching up with Nancy and meeting
her cats including Ms. Fluff, we walked up 5th Avenue to Broadway and on to
Times Square where Paula took a
picture of me on the spot where a web cam peers 24 hours a day. We walked around
to a Chinese restaurant behind the square which was squeezed into a tiny
storefront with tables on a mezzanine. The food was okay and the chairs felt
wonderful after the long time we had spent on our feet. From there we hiked to
the Empire State building and stood in a line for about 20 minutes to buy $9
tickets. Thirty thousand people a day ride the amazingly rapid elevators to the eightieth
floor and take another set six more floors to the observation deck. That view
was worth the wait, the nine dollars and the entire trip. Tourist attractions
sometimes disappoint but this was spectacular. A cold wind, evident in Paula's 
hair, pushed most of the people to the east side of the deck. The next
morning I ran along the Hudson
River while dozens of busses of marathon runners passed me. Later we hiked along
the river to Battery Park City with its grand hall and inviting garden. From
there we passed by the twin towers of the World Trade Center and made
our way through the financial district and over to city hall.
Police had closed off the area in front for the arrival of someone important but
not anyone we could identify. We spotted the recently remodeled Woolworth
building across the street and the Brooklyn Bridge beckoned. We first ducked
into a Blimpies sub shop squeezed into a small storefront. After rest and
refreshment we moved on by the subway
entrance and over the bridge. I found the bridge a great attractive with it mammoth
size and famous name. Happily a walkway,
split between bikes and pedestrians, passed along the middle. Historic markers
told about the construction 
of
the bridge and showed pictures of the process. From the walkway we had wonderful
views of the financial district, mid-town, Brooklyn and ship
traffic on the East River. From there we had to push on so that we could
make it to a party we had been invited to. On the way back to Nancy's apartment
in Greenwich Village we passed through the fascinating bustle of China town and
traveled up Canal Street. We got back in time to go to a marathon party as
guests of a friend of the host. The internationally famous New York City
marathon finishes in Central Park and our host's home looks over that area.
Thus, he has a party
every year and somehow we got invited. We loved the grand view of Central Park
not seen by most tourists, with runners finishing below.
The next day we hiked through Chinatown, along
the East River and over to the South Street Seaport. There, sheltered from the
wind, we sat in short sleeves having coffee at an outdoor restaurant. Our
peregrinations took us by the fish market, the financial district and to Battery
Park where we caught the Staten Island Ferry. This boat, for 
pedestrians only,
offers a great view of Manhattan and and does not charge for the ride. Today,
April 16, 2002 this picture brings me deep sadness at the loss the nation and
world suffered. On the other hand, it makes me glad that I had the chance to
visit that wonderful place before it was damaged. Good in the world progresses
but evil makes its mark from time to time.
bus for the short
ride to Penn Station. Though it was Saturday about one p.m. we hit a traffic jam
at the Holland Tunnel and worked our way through neighborhoods to the Lincoln
Tunnel. When we finally got to Manhattan we needed some food and were too hungry
to be fussy. So we jumped into the crowd at 
Rosa's pizza. Despite a
non-residents' fears of being in crowds in New York City we had not a problem as
we got some welcome food. Knowing we didn't have exact change for a bus we took
the C train to 4th Street and made our way over to Washington Square. As we cut
through the park we passed spirited handball and basketball games and tables
full of chess players. After
catching up with Nancy and meeting
her cats including Ms. Fluff, we walked up 5th Avenue to Broadway and on to
Times Square where Paula took a
picture of me on the spot where a web cam peers 24 hours a day. We walked around
to a Chinese restaurant behind the square which was squeezed into a tiny
storefront with tables on a mezzanine. The food was okay and the chairs felt
wonderful after the long time we had spent on our feet. From there we hiked to
the Empire State building and stood in a line for about 20 minutes to buy $9
tickets. Thirty thousand people a day ride the amazingly rapid elevators to the eightieth
floor and take another set six more floors to the observation deck. That view
was worth the wait, the nine dollars and the entire trip. Tourist attractions
sometimes disappoint but this was spectacular. A cold wind, evident in Paula's 
hair, pushed most of the people to the east side of the deck. The next
morning I ran along the Hudson
River while dozens of busses of marathon runners passed me. Later we hiked along
the river to Battery Park City with its grand hall and inviting garden. From
there we passed by the twin towers of the World Trade Center and made
our way through the financial district and over to city hall.
Police had closed off the area in front for the arrival of someone important but
not anyone we could identify. We spotted the recently remodeled Woolworth
building across the street and the Brooklyn Bridge beckoned. We first ducked
into a Blimpies sub shop squeezed into a small storefront. After rest and
refreshment we moved on by the subway
entrance and over the bridge. I found the bridge a great attractive with it mammoth
size and famous name. Happily a walkway,
split between bikes and pedestrians, passed along the middle. Historic markers
told about the construction 
of
the bridge and showed pictures of the process. From the walkway we had wonderful
views of the financial district, mid-town, Brooklyn and ship
traffic on the East River. From there we had to push on so that we could
make it to a party we had been invited to. On the way back to Nancy's apartment
in Greenwich Village we passed through the fascinating bustle of China town and
traveled up Canal Street. We got back in time to go to a marathon party as
guests of a friend of the host. The internationally famous New York City
marathon finishes in Central Park and our host's home looks over that area.
Thus, he has a party
every year and somehow we got invited. We loved the grand view of Central Park
not seen by most tourists, with runners finishing below. 
