The 4am alarm was not appreciated this morning. But I dragged my butt out of bed and quickly got ready because I knew today was the day we were heading to New York City!!!
I am super glad we are only doing one domestic flight this trip, as security was slow and the plane was pretty tiny compared to what we are used to flying on! Pete and I had to sit separately for this trip but that
was not really an issue because pretty much everyone on the flight slept.
was not really an issue because pretty much everyone on the flight slept.
But 11:30am, we arrived in New York. We flew into Newark and got our first taste of train travel in NYC from here.
The train pulled into the subway and there was a frantic rush to get off. We rushed through the station, looking for the way out. Everything is underground, so I had not yet experienced my first moment of entering New York! The anticipation was killing me! We leapt onto an escalator, so tall we could not see what was at the top. As we rose, the tooting of car horns and running of engines amplified. Before too long the escalator pushed us off and we were standing on the street. It was bitterly cold but we did not care – we were officially in New York City.
We dragged our tired arses and large bags along 34th Street to 7th and proceeded to 39th. Our home for the
next two nights was Pod 39. To say the room was small, is quite the understatement. We had selected the bunk room as it was the same price as the double bed and we figured we would each rather sleep in a bunk that squish into a double. As we were just looking for a crash pad after a long day of exploring the city, the accommodation was more than adequate.
next two nights was Pod 39. To say the room was small, is quite the understatement. We had selected the bunk room as it was the same price as the double bed and we figured we would each rather sleep in a bunk that squish into a double. As we were just looking for a crash pad after a long day of exploring the city, the accommodation was more than adequate.
So, we are in New York and we had a very jam packed itinerary for this big city. We had our list of ‘must do’ and ‘would like to do’ and we set off to our first bucket list stop – A Madison Square Garden
Tour. Well, actually the tour was the second thing ticked off the list, as the first was to eat pizza in New York. So we sat at a cool little pizza place, right on the corner opposite Madison Square Garden and each ate the most gigantic and awesome piece of pizza in our lives. Eat pizza in New York, tick!
Tour. Well, actually the tour was the second thing ticked off the list, as the first was to eat pizza in New York. So we sat at a cool little pizza place, right on the corner opposite Madison Square Garden and each ate the most gigantic and awesome piece of pizza in our lives. Eat pizza in New York, tick!
Anywho, back to the tour! Our tour guide, Sol, was adorable. A nuggety lil dude who loved his sports and the Rangers. First stop we saw the hallway from the 1960s that has not been updated at all. The posters hanging on the walls are the same posters that hang there in the 60s. They have made a point of not touching this area, despite the significant renovations that have occurred in other parts. Then we went up a few flours and saw Madison Square Garden 360. There is pretty much a big ol line of photos and dates that circle around this storey. They have picked out one significant event or thing that occurred at MSG for every single day of the year. There is also special Top Moments which are considered the most important events to have occurred at Madison Square Garden. They include the first WrestleMania, Mohamad Ali V Joe Frasier, Wayne Gretsky and heaps of others that I cannot remember, probably because I had not ever heard of them. Following this, we got to go into a private box, which was very swanky. The ice hockey was on later that same night, so it was freezing cold inside (though not too much colder than the icy temperature outside!) We then got to go over the Bridge, which is a suspension walkway that sits along the top of the roof. It does not block the view of the people in the nosebleed seats due to the angle of the seats and the centre/floor. Next we got to go rink side. Sal explained all about how they cover the ice when there are NBA games, etc. I nodded and smiled, I guess if I were more of a basketball or ice hockey fan, it would have meant more to me, but it was somewhat interesting nonetheless.
After the tour, we popped on our gloves and beanies and hit the mean streets of NYC. We had a few hours to fill before we hit the Top of the Rock and we wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the Big Apple. From Madison Square Garden we headed up to Times Square. Wow. It was everything I expected it to be, and then some. I will leave it at that, for now, while I try to articulate my thoughts and feelings about Times Square.
The next stop on our adventure was the Top of the Rock. This had been recommended by a few people due to being able to view the NY skyline with the Empire State Building in the pictures and the fact that it is generally less busy too. Both of these things appealed to us. The only downside of this is that it was cold up the top! I still cannot feel my fingers, but it was worth it. We had purchased a Sun and Moon ticket, which allows you to visit once in the day and once in the night (within a 24 hour period). So after our day tour, we went back to the motel to check in and put on some more layers. As the afternoon turned into evening, we hit Times Square, to see it in all of its lit up glory. It was so ridiculously cold, but so worth it. Icicles still hanging from our noses, we returned to the Top of the Rock. There was someone saying that the wind chill factor on this night was -20 degrees Fahrenheit. I still cannot feel my face.
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