I went to NYC in December and got to see the city at Christmas! I left knowing I HAD to return and experience the city during a warmer season as well. My good friends, Ted and Daniel, were gracious enough to let me sleep on their couch again. They were wonderful hosts and we had a great time!
When I arrived Thursday late afternoon I had reserved a spot on a van to take me to Grand Central Station where I would meet up with Daniel. He got stuck on a business call so it was up to me to get myself to their apartment. I decided to be brave and use the subway since it was a quick trip with no transfers. Well, it was rush hour and due to some delays with one of the other trains I basically got stuck in the subway station. I also get no cell service in the subway so I had no way to let Daniel know where I was. So I managed to navigate through the crowd and get back outside. I took a cab from there, but made it :-) That night I went to see an off-off-broadway production of one scene plays at the Red Room Theatre in the East Village. Ted directed one of the plays and it was really good!
Friday we headed to Coney Island way out in Brooklyn! It was a good day to go because it was not very crowded. The weather was humid and hazy, but still nice enough to be outside. We spent time on the beach, walking the boardwalk, riding the Wonder Wheel & Cyclone, and of coarse eating! First up was a Cheese & Bacon Hot Dog from Nathan's Famous, then we had fried oreos and ice cream. It rained in the afternoon so we went to the NY Aquarium which is just off the boardwalk. We decided a little snack was in order before our long subway ride back to the city so we ate at Nathan's Famous once again :-)
Saturday morning we walked downtown to the piers along the Hudson River. It was sunny and clear all day! During the summer a few of the boathouses offer free kayaking in the river. We had a great view of downtown while in the water and we could even see the Statue of Liberty and Jersey City! After lunch I took the subway to the Upper West Side to the American Museum of Natural History. I spent a couple hours making my way through the exhibits. My favorite was the Hall of African Mammals. Afterwards I walked to the Lincoln Center campus where I saw Juliard and the Metropolitan Opera House. I then kept on walking right down Broadway until I reached Times Square. It was completely packed, but I did come across the infamous Naked Cowboy. That night Ted and Daniel took me to a really great restaraunt called Westville. They serve lots of fresh meats and vegetables with the menu changing daily based on what they have. It was delicious!
Sunday was another beautiful sunny day so we headed to Central Park and rented some bicycles. Ted used to give bike tours in the park so he was the perfect guide. We saw Conservatory Waters, the Alice in Wonderland statue, Bethesda Terrace/Fountain, the Boathouse, the Mall, and more. Since we had the bikes we even rode to the northern most part of the park where there were some beautiful gardens. Central Park is so big that even after three hours I still didn't see everything! After lunch I headed to see Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre. It was fantastic and well worth it! That night Ted was able to get us free tickets to see Blue Man Group. There show was really funny and energetic. I definitely recommend them. There wasn't time for me to do much on Monday since I was pretty anxious to make sure I got to the airport on time to avoid the horrible experience I had last time. Needless to say I made it with time to spare and arrived home safely and on time!
I couldn't have asked for a better trip and I am so glad to have met Ted and Daniel last summer on my Costa Rica trip. They are very kind and generous friends. I always have a good time with them. I also feel very blessed to have the opportunity to travel as much as I have these past two years.
Coney Island Photo Booth
