New York New York!
When I say I could never leave Greater Manchester, there is perhaps one exception, and that’s New York! I love the place, it’s like a home from home, folk there, like Mancunians are proud to be New Yorkers, but also bloody proud of their historical migrant roots, and the same ‘get stuff done’ attitude!
So, here’s my ideas for anyone thinking of going, there’s a bit, I’ve been and got around, so I’ve found plenty that I like, and some great tips, read on!
For views – Empire State Building by day, on a clear day you can see for miles, with a belting view of Manhattan island, New Jersey and more. Then do Top of the Rock (Rockefeller building) by night, and when you come out of the lift, find the stairwell to the upper deck for photos. You’ll love seeing NYC in lights, with the bridges lit up and more, it’s stunning, and really peaceful up there, perfect for venturing on to the nighttime madness of Times Square after.
If you like stunning internal architecture, then you’ll enjoy Grand Central Station, but even better, is New York Public library, the stonework is amazing.
Tips – If you do the cruise from the harbour around manhattan island, do it by daytime, you see far more! Use the subway as well, it’s really easy to navigate. Also, if you fly to JFK, and want to save cash on an expensive taxi, get the air train to Jamaica avenue, then take the E train, which has lifts at 42nd St bus terminal and Penn St Station. If you buy the weekly tube pass (really cheap), all you’ve paid is a few dollar for the air train, not $100 each way in a taxi!
Eating wise, if you like varied, then last time I went, we stayed off 42st St and 10th Av, between 8 / 9th Av, from 42nd St to 50th St, is Hells Kitchen, you’ll be spoilt for culinary choice, from curry to Italian, and even traditional American diners, and it’s bloody cheap!
If you go Central Park, when a bike guy grips you to pedal you round, don’t take the first offer, they will drop their prices, we got 60% off by keep saying no, until it made sense at $40 to have someone pedal round the park stopping along the way to see parts you might not find by the naked eye!
If you like history, then take the ferry from Battery park to see lady liberty, but visit Ellis island, learn how migrants came to new York, the same migrants that built the big city we know now!
If you fancy a few hours on the beach, get a tube train to Coney Island, I went in October one year and it was 73F, not bad when back home was 53F the same day, if you grab an ice cream, get one scoop, they are massive, I had to race to eat it before it melted down my hand!
There’s lots more I could tell you, but that would spoil the beauty of discovery, but I’ll end with one final tip, there’s a space shuttle on board the Intrepid, and more as well, if you like places and space stuff, get a ticket, then maybe take the cruise next door!
Oh, there’s a theatre just off Broadway, family name up in lights!
