New York

Trip Start Aug 12, 2006

Trip End Oct 07, 2006

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Where I stayed

Jazz on the Park Hostel New York City

(New York City hotels)

Flag of United States New York, United States
Saturday, September 16, 2006

From Maine to New York. What a culture shock, from serenity to the bustling horn honking city of New York. Leaving booking accommodation to the last minute, ie, we were on the phone to NY from Boston moments before we caught our bus, it seemed the whole of Manhatten in the way of budget accommodation was full, except 1 hostel called the Jazz hostel in none other than Harlem. But that's cool, we're the adventurous type, and it was fine, a bit squishy in the room, they were trying to get the most $$$ for the least work possible and squeezed 5 sets of bunk beds into a dorm with no space at all to put our baggage and no lockers for valuables. And Ok, so we didn't leave the hostel that night to check out Harlem as they had a 5 dollar chicken wing and potato salad night which we just couldn't refuse. That was our first night in NY, sleeping on our day packs not so comfortable but sleep was had and it was only for 1 night as for the next 3 was spent with my cousin Aidan in his apartment 1 block from Wall Street.
Plans for the next morning were to get up early dump our bags at Central Station, sightsee for the day before meeting Aidan later in the evening to move on down to his place

Night out with Aidan

. Firstly it's torrential rain in New York, yip, its bucketing down. Ok so we won't be doing the Circle Line boat tour, so what else to do except shopping, Macy's here I come.. ;=)
However we still need to dump our bags, and guess what Grand Central Station doesn't have baggage storage, and NEITHER DOES THE WHOLE OF NEW YORK CITY, thanks to 9/11 so the info people and nice police officers tell us. Realising we had Aidans address we jump on the subway and head straight there handing them to reception to mind for the day. Whoo hoo, now 20kgs lighter, off to do the sights. Straight into Times Square, take the photo, then as it's still bucketing down into Toys r'Us and Macy's for me for the afternoon. And do you know the best thing about shopping the the US... I'm a size 5. How cool is that!!
Thankfully the next day the rain stopped, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. So off we go to do the Circle Line Boat Cruise which goes for 3 hours around the whole of Manhattan providing a fantastic view of the skyline with a guide pointing out those interesting spots and buildings where the extremely wealthy wellknown and not so wellknown people have their townhouses. Exhausted after our big day we decide to retire back to Aidans to do some laundry and have a early night. Whoo hoo clean clothes.. :-)
Next day, Empire States Building, Central Park, stumbled across a street fair, Brooklyn and Greenwich Village in the evening for dinner and margerittas. Man, this sightseeing stuff is exhausting.
Next morning, down to Wall Street and the Stock Exchange to take the pictures at the same time seeing the US presidential helicopters land. What timing!
Feeling like we could spend a week or more in NY soaking up the vibe, we at least feel like we've conquered the main sights of New York in 3 days, and the time has come to leave on a train to Chicago. All aboard!!