Ah, the unexpected part of our trip. I’ve covered why we were there in previous posts, and I’m still unable to even think of that airline without getting angry. (The return trip home didn’t help matters – after the luxury of economy on British Airways, economy on American Airlines was dismal. I’m trying not to remember the food, which lived up to the stereotype that airline food is revolting, and actually made me sick. Which doesn’t usually happen – I have an iron stomach. Or something.)
We managed to get a hotel sorted out, and got a taxi from JFK into Manhattan. I was still pretty upset when we got into the cab, but when we passed the graveyard that you see at the start of Cruel Intentions (oh yes, I’m a 90’s teen), I started to cheer up slightly. The view of the island was amazing. Once we had been through the tunnel, we were suddenly in the city, and I couldn’t help but stare upwards.
We got into the hotel (Westin New York at Times Square – it even has its own iPhone/iPad app. No, I don’t know why either.
We were staying on the 28th floor, which gave us an incredible view of New Jersey, and down below, West 43rd Street. Because the room was booked via Alex’s company, we had a “deluxe” room, with another epic “heavenly” bed (I really like the Westin chains now.) and a “heavenly” shower which is two shower heads instead of one. Pointless, but kinda cool. (Lets not talk about the bath, another American disappointment.)
Around the corner was Times Square. Such a crazy place!
Monday, we got to the hotel, went out to get some snacks, etc, and went to bed. I had had very little sleep (only managing an hour or so on the plane) so was grumpy from that as well. We had to send our clothes to the laundry service in the hotel, as obviously, we’d only packed for one week! It was pretty funny having to give someone 4 sacks worth of clothes – the bill was crazy, but it was probably cheaper (and definitely easier!) than buying new clothes (and the excess baggage costs – I was almost up to my limit anyway).
When packing to go, I packed for the weather we had been having in the UK at that time – temperatures of -5C. I got to California to find it was about 20 degrees warmer! Thankfully they were mostly layers, so I was OK. Alex, having been to Las Vegas the month before, knew what sort of weather to expect in Palo Alto, so packed for that. Unfortunately this meant that when we were in New York, he hadn’t brought a coat! It was seriously cold there, bitter winds but thankfully no snow! So on Tuesday, we went to Macy’s, apparently the largest store in the world. You’d expect me to be delighted by that, but honestly, a giant shop 3 days before Christmas? Hell on earth. We found a coat (Alex doing his usual “take an hour to debate different items, then settle for the first one seen” (he is like a girl)) and went up to the 7th floor for some Maccy D’s filth. I just couldn’t find any enthusiasm for shopping – maybe it was because I had no money, or maybe it was just that I was tired of shopping, but it meant that the most exciting part of that trip was the wooden escalators that have been there since the beginning!
On Wednesday, we took a walk up Fifth Avenue, passing the tree in Rockafeller Centre (still so pretty)
And er…the Apple store on Fifth. Oh come on, how could we not go? Look at it! Its a flipping cube of nothingness! Its all underground! Thats a queue of people waiting to get in (partly to get out of the cold tbh)
We didn’t actually buy anything, but we did get some very late lunch in Trump Tower. That place is so insanely decorated, pink marble and gold everywhere.
On Thursday, Alex stayed in bed all day, after staying up till 7am trying to catch up with the work he was missing at home, so I caught the Metro down to Battery Park and hopped on a ferry to Liberty Island to visit a blue lady.
Lulz, Statue of Liberty’s bum. (I don’t think I’ve seen a photo from this side.)
Unless you book really early enough to get “crown” tickets (which I obviously didn’t), there isn’t really that much to do when you go to Liberty Island besides take photos of Lady Liberty. Yawn. So I caught the ferry back to Manhattan, and set off to try and find a subway station. Well, that was the aim, until I saw this:
This sculpture, called The Sphere used to reside in the plaza between the Word Trade Center towers. After 9/11, the Sphere was moved from there to Battery Park, and currently acts as a temporary memorial while work is underway to build a permanent memorial.
I headed up Trinity Place, and knew where I was when the towers all around gave way like this.
Its pretty incredible when you think only 10 years ago, this was a built up block. They’re currently building the permanent memorial on this spot, which I’d like to visit one day.
Over the road from the building site is Trinity Church
I had always wanted to go to New York, but I didn’t really enjoy our trip as much as I should have done because it was so unplanned, and I just wanted to be home. I’m so grateful to everyone on Twitter who kept me sane those two weeks I was away – I think I would have gone crazy if I couldn’t vent somewhere! I’d like to go again some day, but maybe around my birthday so its a bit warmer!
More photos (of course!) over on Facebook.
I am in awe of New York. Totally in love. It’s such a shame you went in such rubbish circumstances- but that just gives you the perfect excuse to visit again soon,…yay!!!
Some lovely photos m’dear :)
xxx
I have never been to New York and I am SO dying to go! Well done on making the best of an unexpected situation.
I love experiencing New York through the eyes of someone else, especially since I live so close and visit so often! It’s unlike any other place in the world :) How great that you go to do so many things, including taking a trip to the Statue of Liberty…I’ve never been there before and I’ve lived here all my life ;)
My boyfriend shops the same way as yours- so annoying! Glad you managed to have a sort of ok time in NY, hope you get a proper trip another time though.