In early November, we were fortunate to spend a few days in
NYC. It was our first visit to the city since 9/11. We stayed in the Millennium Hilton, in lower Manhattan
– right across the street from the memorial that is still under construction. If
you have an opportunity, you really should visit the site of the World Trade
Center: so much history, so many memories… The new Tower 1 nears completion,
just a short distance from the footprints of the old towers. I was surprised to learn that seven towers
are planned.
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| New Memorial in World Trade Center |
If you want to see
the World Trade Center, then consider staying at the Millennium Hilton, it’s in
a good location, close to Wall Street, Battery Park, and the subway entrance is
outside the main entrance of the hotel. The hotel was clean and the staff was courteous.
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| One World Trade Center |
The best way to get around lower Manhattan is by walking or taking
the subway. We took the subway to
Central Park. It took a few minutes to understand the intimidating subway map,
but the change attendant give us a few pointers in getting around the subway
system. No problem after our first attempt.
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| Foot Bridge in Central Park |
It was my first visit
to the park and I was impressed. The
trees still had a lot of fall color. I
still regret not taking a ride in a hansom cab around the park.
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| Pond in Central Park |
The weather was seasonal (cold) and the stores were
beginning to prepare for the holidays.
We saw the Christmas tree unloaded in Rockefeller Center. Walked and
shopped along 5th Ave and Times Square – played tourist! Anita fell in love with Macy’s on 34th
Street.
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| Anita in Times Square |
One minor disappointment: the security staff at the Empire State
Building were rude and discourteous on the Saturday evening we visited the top
of the building. In my mind, it reinforced the stereotype of New Yorkers. In
three full days, that was the only bad experience. Unless you count the Saturday night bus ride
thru Times Square...
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| Anita near Brooklyn Bridge |
One surprise: the Wall Street Bull is not on Wall Street! After 9/11, the bull was moved to a small
park off Broadway in lower Manhattan. Someone should put directions to the statue
somewhere along Wall Street.
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| After much looking, we found the Bull! |
This year, our annual convention was aboard the Norwegian
Breakaway, NYC to the Bahamas and back. For
us it was a long way to go to visit Nassau.
However, the visit to the city made it worthwhile. Thanks, New York!
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| Lower Manhattan from the deck of the Norwegian Breakaway |
