After five days on the road, we were more than ready to hit New York City and return the car. It already looked like we had been living in it for weeks, so it was best to hand it back before it started to smell. The backseat, especially with the teenagers, resembled the living space of a couple of hoarders.
welcome to New York @NYC
Our plans for New York City were varied, though not fully thought out. At least we had a rough outline, most of which I pieced together during the drive to Camelback Resort. The rest, we figured, would fall into place as we went. We arrived in the city early Friday afternoon, and while my friend returned the car, the rest of us handled the many bags and suitcases, getting everything stored at the Moxy NYC Times Square.
Times Square @NYC
Although we hadn’t expected to end up with an extra person, at least for New York City we were well prepared. In the heart of Manhattan, we had booked a room with two bunk beds for four people—at a glorified price, of course. All our adventures would begin from here, and these were our plans for the next two days:
1. Walking The High Line: My preparation for the entire USA trip had been minimal at best, but luckily I have friends who travel just as much. One of them mentioned the High Line, and I instantly knew I had to see it. It’s like a park suspended in the sky, complete with art installations and the occasional coffee stall. If you walk it to the very end, you’ll find yourself at Pier 54 and Little Island.
start of The High Line for us @NYC
2. Cruising on the Circle Line: To see Manhattan from all sides, the best option is to hop on the Circle Line and get ferried around the entire island. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side, resulting in grey on grey photos. Still, the tour was thoroughly enjoyable. Our guide had a wealth of stories to share, from 9/11 and the evacuation of Lower Manhattan to the emergency landing on the Hudson River. All in all, it was well worth spending two and a half hours sitting in a light, persistent drizzle.
Circle Line station @NYC
3. Taking in a Broadway Show: We briefly considered trying for last minute tickets to Hamilton, but when we saw how quickly they were disappearing, we bit the bullet and splurged a small fortune, restricted view included. It didn’t matter though once we were seated in the Richard Rodgers Theatre. We had the best time. If I ever feel the urge to see another show, I will make sure to buy tickets well in advance.
Hamilton on Broadway @NYC
4. Going to the Empire State Building at night: We sent the teenagers up on their own while we stayed back and relaxed in the room. This was on our second evening, and the building was just around the corner. Ticket prices are exorbitant, and I was not in the mood to spend even more money on a nighttime skyline view. If you have seen it once, that is usually enough. Still, it is stunning, so it is worth it for the one time.
New Your City at night @Empire State Building
5. Remembering the World Trade Center at Ground Zero: It was astonishing to realize that this event, which changed so much for the western world, is now just a piece of history for teenagers. They walked through the museum looking at everything the way I look at an art history exhibit. For them, it was a collection of objects and a lot of reading material. For me, it was an emotional roller coaster. If you lived through it, even from far away, you remember exactly where you were when those planes hit.
World Trade Center @9/11 Museum
6. Hitting a rooftop bar and restaurant: One of the advantages of the Moxy Hotel was its rooftop bar Magic Hour, which enforced a strict adults-only policy after hours. While the teenagers watched a movie in the room, we went up to the bar after Hamilton and enjoyed a drink or two. Dancing with a view is the best!
Empire State Building @Moxy Hotel
The rest of the time was left open to give us the chance to explore at our own pace. We wanted to visit a bookstore and pick up something to read while in the city. We also hoped to try an iconic Reuben sandwich at Katz’s Delicatessen. That plan didn’t work out, as we arrived at lunchtime in the rain and were unprepared for the long queue. At least we made it to the Strand Bookstore on a quiet Sunday morning.
The Strand book store @NYC
I feel we barely scratched the surface. Two days in this wonderful city are definitely not enough. It might be some time before I return, as I need to recover financially first. Yours, Pollybert
