Up and at it early… Still on Atlantic time! Janie and I crept away for an early breakfast followed by some logistic work in regards to entry at a couple of spaces we wished to visit. Mornings, prior to all the bustle, are when I get the plan for the day set and make sure we’ve got access and location information covered. Before leaving home, I had assigned everyone a little homework… To come up with an item they’d like to do during the trip. It worked out great and shared around some of the planning!
First stop bright and early Monday morning was to the 34th St. entrance to the High Line Park. This was Monica’s find online, and she really wanted to try it. Basically, the park is a reconditioned elevated rail line that runs along the west side of the island into the Meatpacking District. The walkway provides some excellent views of the Hudson as well as walks through housing and business areas. I suppose we took roughly 45 minutes on the paths, enjoying the fresh December breeze and foliage along the rail beds. I’m guessing this is a popular summer attraction, with nooks and crannies smattered along the pathway for viewing/stopping. An entirely relaxing stroll!
The Park dumps out on Gansevoort Street, in the heart of the Meat Packing District. We were in need of some java and a place out of the elements for a few minutes so we dropped into Gansevoort Market. Holy funky bathrooms… All done in that old corrugated steel! Neat table selections with misfit chairs repurposed for duty. Nice and quiet in the morning hours. Then it was off into Greenwich Village and Washington Square. The Square was occupied by sightseers and pigeons… We mused at photogs moving about and Washington Monument, kind of a mini Arc de Triomphe! This part of town felt pretty upscale.
Our thought was to frequent the Market at Union Square that was maxed out in Christmas mode, but at the time of our arrival most was still under wrap. Our Plan B involved catching the Subway south to Battery Park. Most of the guide books I’ve referenced have a star by the Staten Island Ferry. A free service (of which there aren’t many in NYC), the ferry shuttles pedestrian passengers from the tip of Manhattan to Staten Island across New York Harbour. Great views of the cityscape and Statue of Liberty are significant parts of the attraction. We did the return trip, all in about 1 1/2. It was an opportunity to just sit and look, out of the fray of midtown. Nice break in the middle of the day!
Just a short walk from Battery Park is Ground Zero and site of the 9-11 Memorial grounds. We opted against the 2hr lineup to go inside, but did take in the quietness of the North and South pools ringed with the names of those lost. Big crowds in the area on a warm December afternoon. After a short visit we caught the MTA subway back to 42nd and just a block from our digs.
Okay… Tangent! We happened to have a room on the 21st floor of the Hampton. Now that’s by no means the tallest building close by, but it did afford a view of a large number of NYC rooftops (sorry, no Spider-Man!). After some contemplation, I had to google to confirm my suspicion in regards to the huge wooden barrels resting on the roofs in our midtown neighbourhood. It so happens, NY abounds with wooden water tanks (see pic/link) that are widely popular for the purported advantages in regards to storage of H2O in a city with such a reliance on vertically significant architecture.
So… I somehow thought the holidays might prove somewhat more relaxed in the Times Square area… Wrong! It was full on during our first two days in NY. We took several opportunities to just “stumble” through and watch the scene. As always, it was fast paced, very eclectic, vendor laden and glitzy as ever. Commercialism at its very peek (or depths if you’re not into advertisements). Regardless of your preference, it’s still a sight to behold!
After a mug up and catching up online at the Hampton, we found ourselves strolling back to MSG for the Magic vs Knicks… Nifty little NBA match up (Ever wonder “What’s a Knickerbocker?“). Basketball is loads of fun to watch… There seemed to never be a moment when there wasn’t something happening front and centre. The game itself saw another home team loss… But was close until the final minute. Great fun for all… Then home to nestle in after another big day in the city.