The Big Apple Day 2, Part 1

We arrived back at the apartment after 1:00a.m. on trains that were packed.  If we had planned better, we would have taken the subway to our station and then called a metro car and awaited it at Dunkin' Donuts.  I was too tired to do that and just wanted to keep moving, so we walked the last several blocks.

We slept in a bit on Wednesday and then headed into Manhattan to meet my college friend and roommate for lunch.

When we first departed the subway, we were intrigued by this building which I learned from Nikki is the flat iron building because it looks like a flat iron from the top.  It just stuck out in the middle of the street - cool!

another cathedral, We really enjoyed the varied architecture in NYC.

We had a little extra time before meeting Nikki, and we were close to Madison Square Gardens, so we went to see it.  Along the way I had to replace my purse.  I looked for days before we left for a boho sling purse big enough to carry my camera and and water bottle.  I found something close enough, and the zipper broke on it on our first day.  I found a great deal on a replacement much better suited for my needs, and since I have lost the receipt on the original purse, that purse was a total waste.  

I dont' even know what Fuse is, but the building and surrounding lights (see picture above) are cool.

This was so cool.  We witnessed this firetruck being backed into the station.  I should have taped it or at least snapped several pictures.  Cars were parked in the fire lane across the street, and the driver still managed to back in this monster without even scratching anything.  Impressive!!  FDNY, you rock!

We met Nikki for lunch.  It has been years since I last saw her, and we are always able to pick up where we left off.   This part of our trip was fabulous. I can't help but think whenever I am getting ready to meet Nikki that we talked in college about continuing to room together after we graduated and moving to North Carolina, a state we both thought was  beautiful.    I distinctly remember the day she asked me if I could see her in NC, and I responded with, "no, I see you in NY."  I asked the same question of her, and she said she didn't see me in NC either but in my home state.  That proved to be true for both of us.  Nikki offered us terrific advice early on when I sent her my must see list and asked if I should add to it.  She suggested the Brooklyn Promenade, and that was a wonderful stop on our journey.  I would advise anyone heading to NYC to not miss it.

After lunch we were torn about going in two directions.  We could have headed north for Bloomingdale's and Tiffany's or south to see the World Trade Center memorial.  The biggest reason I had for going to Bloomingdale's was to purchase a charm for my bracelet.  We headed over to Macy's and found a jewelry store right across the street that sold the charms, so we ended up heading to the World Trade Center Memorial.

steel from the original towers crafted to look like the NY skyline

The new World Trade center building

The memorial was huge.  The only way to capture a good picture would be from above.  I did not realize that you cannot just walk up and see it.  You have to have tickets.  They are free, but they keep the crowd manageable.  We shopped a bit while waiting for our designated time to see the memorial. A museum is in the works, so they do ask for donations to help cover that cost.

After leaving the memorial site.  We witnessed an altercation between NY shop owners.  Whew, you don't want to be in the middle of that! It would totally be so Seinfeldish if it wasn't for the the fact that it really is not funny in reality. One shop was hanging a banner using a ladder right in the doorway of the other shop.  An employee in the shop with the blocked entrance was angry that customers could not get in to the the store.  We were the customers, but we were choosing postcards on an outside rack and did not need to get in immediately.  Those working to hang the sign responded to the nasty attack with their own nastiness, and threats ensued.  It was crazy. Both were in the wrong.  It was so hot in NY, and tempers flared.  We learned later in the day when we witnessed another altercation involving a shop owner that you cannot let anyone intimidate you in the city, so shop owners are quick to get nasty with people.

After this experience we headed north again to meet our guide for another photography tour.  We were early, so we went into the beautiful New York post office where we wrote out postcards for the kids and mailed them. Customer service in the NY post office is not so great.  I needed 4 postcard stamps and waited for longer than I should have to get to a window to purchase them and then waited longer than necessary at the window.  The computers there are dinosaurs.  Our local post office is much more advanced.

Next stop - landmarks photography tour