NY Seeeeeeee (Part 2 – Ready to go! New Attitude)

New York City!! N. Y. Ceeeeeeeee! J

2nd Day – Lots to do - New attitude

I went back to my 11th floor room on my first night in the Big Apple tired, yet excited for the rest of my stay.  After a mild panic attack, as day turned to night, I realised I wanted to live this city, not hide from it!  And over the next 6 days I did just that and actually felt safer in Manhattan than in any other city. 

My hunger to see absolutely everything was consuming.  Many people say "Don't make plans!" when you visit New York because you never know what you’re going to come across!  I had a rough plan; after all, I had been reading up on this magical new destination of mine for months.  That night I listened to the constant whir of traffic, sirens and car horns and looked out of the window, amazed at the bright lights, and revised tomorrows plan: Uptown then Central Park.  I slept well, but eagerly awaited the morning.

I walked out of the hotel on my first full day in the Big Apple, high on life and raring to go.

I was staying on 8th Avenue and 44th Street, so was right in the middle of it all.  The lights weren’t so bright now but the sirens and horns continued.  I went to get my favourite coffee chain “Tall Americano” and saw the News trucks!?!  Is this what people had been on about? 

I got my coffee, to go, and headed up 42nd Street where people were marching in front of  theatres with signs as camera crews filmed.  What had I walked into? The Writer’s strikes of 2007! 

 
 
After marvelling at the amount of people in front of every 42nd Street theatre I realised my plan to see a Broadway show sometime this week may have to be altered (luckily I hadn’t bought tickets beforehand) .  Drinking coffee and walking, something that grew to be part of my persona, I arrived at Times Square.  Awwww Times Square!  Just as intriguing by day as by night!  After chatting with some yellow coated sales people I bought a 48 hour NY Tour Ticket (I will tell you now, it is well worth the money for seeing everything if you’re not clear where you’re going).



Times Square, New York.  By day.

Bleeker St.

Empire State

 And so, going against my plan, I took the Downtown Tour.  I was getting my fill of sights, seeing Macy's, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron building, the Ladies Mile, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Chinatown and Little Italy. 

I got off at the Ground Zero stop.  After seeing the images of the destruction of the Twin Towers I couldn’t believe I was actually here.  On the screen,  it, 9/11, seemed like a Hollywood production, but here now, seeing the outcome, I actually felt the pain that radiated from this bombsite/ burial ground/ abyss.  It was so much more than I had ever imagined.

Ground Zero in 2007

After contemplating this respectfully silent spot, I wandered around the Battery Park esplanade area, had lunch, and got back on the hop-on hop-off bus.  Travelling back up north I took in yet more sights: South Street Seaport, Lower East Side, East Village, the United Nations Building and the Rockefeller Centre. 

I got off the bus tired, nothing another “Tall Americano” wouldn’t fix, and got back on another one for the Night Tour  (I was definately getting my money’s worth). 

A trip to Brooklyn this time, via the all the same downtown sights  but with the bright lights included. 

Over the bridge we stopped at the Fulton Ferry Landing to dreamily gaze over the water to glitzy Manhattan, and WOW!  Absolutely fantastic views!  But it was cold and a lot of the photos that night turned out blurry!

Manhattan from Fulton Ferry landing

On returning to the lights and action of my beloved Times Square, I ate that night at Bubba Gump´s restaurant.  My first visit, but certainly not my last shrimp enhanced munch affair, to a Forrest Gump themed restaurant. 

At the end of that full day, I realised, I had not completed my plan, but, and in the words of Forrest:

“Life is like a box of chocolates”

Oh yeah ! You bet, you never know what you're gonna get!

The Berlin Wall - Why? Exactly!





In August, 1961 the hundred miles of Wall went up, overnight, dividing Berlin into a physical East and West.

At 01.11h the GDR- German Democratic Republic (of the East) aired a radio broadcast, in the East, and closed off access to the Federal Republic of Germany (the West) without their knowledge.

The Eastern (or Soviet) Bloc claimed that West Germany still had fascist elements lingering from the War and constructed the wall to protect its people.  Another reason, it seems, was to stop the increasingly high emigration of East Germans to the Western world.

The Ally-occupied west found out a few hours after the transmission when reports started to come in of trains being unable to complete their journeys and lorries being forced to turn around.

As the wall, fences and border control points (7 street crossings and 1 train station crossing) went up, tanks and armed police got into position.  As the years went on a “no man’s land” was created between an inner and outer wall.  In places this open space, from five to several hundred meters wide, was either mined or gravelled to be able to clearly see footprints, and armed guards were ordered to shoot on sight.

Checkpoint Charlie:

the crossing for Allied forces and foreigners.

Many Berliners discovered the horrific division when they woke up the next morning with the reality of barbed wire fences and cut telephone lines.  Families, friends and lovers were cruelly separated with the construction of the barrier and, over the years, desperation caused over 10,000 GDR citizens to try to escape across the border.  Tragically, more than 100 people died trying to cross the cold cement curtain.

There are so many stories of East to West escape attempts, as hope drove the escapees away from their bleak lives: climbing over or tunnelling under the wall, jumping from bordering buildings or confectioning a hot air balloon, hiding under lorries and in car boots …… but one that remains stuck in my head is that of the carving out a petrol tank.  The tank was altered in a way that a slim diameter in the tank provided just enough petrol to get to the other side.  In the cavity left over was enough space to hide a child!

When the Communist government collapsed the wall, finally, started to come down in November 1989 and hope returned to Berlin as the two halves were reunited.

 

Berliners do not need reminding of the turbulent past of their now Cosmopolitan city, but the memories live on as small parts of the wall stand in place as a reminder.

At "Topographie des Terrors" the remnants of the wall mix with the history of the pain of the Nazi regime.  This fascinating site, of the former Gestapo headquarters, really is an eye-opener and yet another reminder of the horrific history of Berlin.

Also,  the line of the wall still exists, embedded in the streets, with double cobble stones and bronze plaques inscribed “Berliner Mauer 1961–1989”.  

However, what struck me the most was actually imagining the wall, via the lines, and it just didn’t make sense, it went up crossing roads, rail tracks and bridges, and that was that!

The still apparent Berlin Wall lines, 2011

  

I visited Berlin, in November, and the thermometers never seemed to rise above 0º!

This city was not only cold in the temperature sense but in the history sense too. 

You can’t help but feel the pain that this city has felt over so very many years, what with the War and the Wall, but, you also feel the happiness, triumph and hope for the future. 

Me, facing "cold" Berlin (weather and history) at  "Topographie des Terrors"

Washing on a Colour Cycle

Curiously, it appears a new law may be sneaking into force if you're going to hang your washing out!

In these two places, at least, coordinating your clothes has now moved passed your outfit and on to your washing line:


Girona, Spain



Burano, Italy



Reflections .......

....... are everywhere!

Of ourselves, of the sun, of buildings, of monuments, of life! 

Sometimes we just don't see them, but they are always there!

Here's just a few of my "visions" on my travels:

Calella De Palafrugell, Girona, Spain.  Mediterranean Sunrise.

 

Market Drayton, Shropshire, UK. Canal Life.



Madrid, Spain. Palacio Real in the Teatro Real.

Besalú, Girona, Spain.  The fantastic fortified bridge.



Berlin, Germany.  Straddling the Wall.

New York, USA.  Chrysler Building in the Hyatt.

Granada, Spain.  Torre de Comares at the Alhambra.

Venice, Italy.  Rooftops and the San Marco Bell Tower.

Las Vegas, USA.  McCarran Intl Airport.

Girona, Spain.  Colourful houses of the Onyar.

Paris, France.  The Louvre



New York, USA.  The Empire State Building over Central Park



Las Vegas, USA.  Caesers Palace





L'Escala, Girona, Spain.  Riuet Beach



Burano, Italy.  Beautiful Burano

Girona, Spain.  Part of the "Temps de Flors" in 2011



Santa Monica, USA.  Sunset

Open your eyes the next time you're out, you'll see them!



N.Y.Seeeeee (Part 1 - As a virgen)

New York City!!  N. Y. C!

Even as you say the words, or initials, your mouth WILL form a smile! Try it!

N.Y. Ceeeeeeeee

New York Cityyyyyyyyyyyyyy

And so it should!! Take a bite out of the Big Apple and you won’t be disappointed J

 

1st time - 1st Day - 1st Impressions

The first time I flew to New York the expectation and excitement consumed me.  I wanted to see it all and I wanted to see it all NOW!  I’d read the guide books, seen the movies and followed the city-based series.  I wanted to experience all I’d seen in the images and see for myself if it really was as amazing as it appeared.

After watching the route map on the screen in front of me, for hours, my excitement was mounting.  The landing gear unfolded, the “km to destination” diminished and I eagerly looked out of the window searching for just one of those crucial sights.  On finally landing at JFK I felt disappointedly cheated at not having seen anything (maybe I was on the wrong side of the plane)!   But, after immigration, collecting luggage and on leaving terminal 7, THERE was my 1st sight:  Yellow cabs!!  Loads of busy buzzing yellow cabs and my appetite had been fed.

First views of the Big Apple continued to feed my desire as I journeyed away from the airport, via car service Dial 7, and Manhattan was getting closer!  Going over the bridge and being amidst the City traffic I was getting more excited.  But, it was only after checking in, at 3pm, changing and getting out there did I begin to FEEL the excitement I was seeking. 

Starting at 45th Street and only looking up, in awe of the size and height of the skyscrapers, I walked down 8th Avenue.  I was getting my "sight" fix passing 42nd Street, the New York Times building, Port Authority and Madison Square Garden.  I was drinking up the atmosphere, until ..... I arrived at 24th Street and realised I should be getting back.  After all, it was getting dark and I was a single girl in this big bad city (there are a lot of negative images of New York too). 

I stopped, and right at THAT moment realised I couldn’t spend the rest of my time here going back to the hotel at sundown.  As the day comes to a close in Manhattan the infinitely tall buildings light up and every now and again you catch a glimpse of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building or just another skyscraper!  There are people everywhere and you can’t help but feel accepted and at home…….. So, I got over it, right there and then! 

I walked back up 8th Avenue, with my new found attitude, crossed over to Broadway at 50th Street and walked down to Times Square.  Oh, larger than life Times Square: the lights, the action and the movement consumed me.  I knew I loved it here.

Times Square

I wandered now, more intrigued than scared, to the Rockefeller Centre.  The elevator transported me up 65 floors in 43 seconds to the “Top Of The Rock” and WOW!  This was MY PLACE, now I knew why I was here. 

  

Empire State from the Top of the Rock



After contemplating this amazing city from high above, and feeling hungry after a long journey, I reluctantly left that top of the world feeling, and ate with the “Stars” at Planet Hollywood. 

I went to bed that night tired yet excited for the rest of my stay.  I wanted to live this city, not hide from it!  And over those next 6 days I actually felt safer in Manhattan than in any other city.

NYC-  Feel your way 

 

You’ll pick your tour, your sights and you will most definitely have some unforgettable experiences.

I have enjoyed so very many that I could go on for hours and hours but these are 3 moments that impacted me the most on that 1st, and not final trip to NY Seeeeeeeeeee J :

Coming out of Wall Street 

A feeling of freedom after leaving the maze of the skyscraper covered Financial District.



Ground Zero (2007)

A feeling of disbelief at the sheer enormity of the destruction! 
The feeling of pain at so many lives taken on 9/11.

Entering Ellis Island

The feeling of hope in the entrance hall where expectant immigrants awaited their sentence:
In or Out.

 What awaits you?  Everything you’re looking for!