Trinity Church Cemetery ,NYC

These photos were taken in NYC in the Trinity Church cemetery, 2 years ago this April, just as the tree buds were starting to pop. The girls and I were rushing around so I didn’t have many opportunities for photography, but these are a couple shots I had sitting in my files that I wanted to share. Honestly they are probably the best shots of the day if that tells you anything.

It was very warm, close to 90 degrees, and the Pope was in town. The traffic, the people, the walking … it was crazy, but there were a couple moments of calmness and mild relaxation.  This was one of them.

 

5th Avenue Central Park West

 

After this NYC post I probably have 2 more to publish, but I want to tell you up front, my pictures aren’t that great. Most all of them were taken on the fly with little to no effort. Usually when I photograph something I like to take several shots and choose the best. That wasn’t possible because my family just kept walking and then I’d have to RUN to catch up. I also had to be careful I wasn’t run over by other people!

 

If you’ve been to NYC than you know horse and buggies are a common sight near Central Park. It wasn’t until I arrived at Central Park South that I found where they were based.

In the upper right hand corner you can see where the CBS Morning Show is filmed

 

At this price, in this economy, I’m not surprised to see so many of the guys are standing around. At the same time $34 a half hour doesn’t seem like much money when you consider the upkeep of the horse and carriage, insurance, and hourly pay for the driver

 

I’m no expert but to me this doesn’t look like the best life for a horse. I wonder if they always have flowers on the carriages or if it was for the Kentucky Derby the next day?

 

There were plenty of carriages to choose from

 

On 5th Avenue looking downtown from the carriages (it appears like the line guy was having an off day. Oops!)

 

 The Plaza Hotel a rather exclusive and beautiful hotel starting at over $600 a night

(sitting adjacent to the carriages)

 

Aren’t the Hydrangeas in the window boxes beautiful? They were all real too, going around both sides of the building.

Just across the street from The Plaza, and in front of FAO Schwartz (to the right) is the one of a kind Apple store

 

Looking up from the bench I was sitting on. For a photo of the inside of this very unique store click here. You can also find more cool pictures of the store here.

 

An Uglydoll display in the window of FAO Schwartz

 

I just wanted to give out a couple tips that we found helpful if you’re headed to NYC for the first time:

* Consider buying tickets to one of the Double Decker tour busses. I know, you’ll feel like the ultimate tourist but I promise you it’s an enjoyable experience. It gave us a good feel of how NYC is laid out and we saw things we wouldn’t normally have seen otherwise, plus most of the tour guides are very knowledgeable of the city. If there’s a place of interest you would like to investigate further, say Central Park, just get off the bus, mosey around for a half hour or so, and hop back onto the next bus. The busses run constantly so you won’t have to wait long. It will save your feet immense pain and it’s more fun than the subway. We chose Grey Line New York. I bought the 2 day, All Loops Tour passes for $49 each. Children under 11 are $39 each, and they would love it! I’d like to thank Nikki over on Blah, Blah, Blah, Blog for all her help. She was instrumental in giving me tips!

* Drink plenty of water! Walking so much and being busy you can forget to keep hydrated. Very important stuff!

* Links:

Big Apple Greeter

NYCGO

TKTS (discount Broadway show tickets)

Today Show (some great video’s with info about visiting NYC)

Central Park

Crown Plaza Times Square: This is where we stayed and were very pleased with the room and staff. Next time we’ll be staying someplace outside of Times Square just because we’ve been there, done that.

And get your Statue of Liberty/Monument Access passes early!

 

* If you agree with me and think the horses should not be made to work long hours on the streets, in all kinds of weather, with poor care, please consider signing the Petition on this website. You may also send Mayor Bloomberg an email stating why this is an inappropriate life for a horse. Thank you.

Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

Statue of Liberty visit

Arriving Saturday at the Statue of Liberty the weather looked like this; cloudy and cool, with occasional sprinkles.

To get into the Statue we had to go through 2 different check points. The first one we just had to show our tickets and check most of our belongings in a locker. The second one was the most secure as we each had to stand in a machine that blew big puffs of air on us, up and down our bodies, to check for bombs or explosives. Woman were trying to hold their shirts down since it was sort of like a peep show from the puffs being so strong! lol! They also x-rayed everything we had … belts, jackets, jewelry, cameras …. just like at the airports.

And if you don’t get a Monument Pass (which you better do if you’re visiting!) at least 2 days in advance they won’t let you in. I saw one couple turned away and it broke my heart. To come all that way to the island and not be able to see the Statue up close . . . but don’t argue because security and the guys with machine guns aren’t going to change their minds.

One of the first things we saw as we entered the museum (which you had to go through to get to the monument) was the original torch. It kind of looks like a tea pot to me! Notice the door on the right side of the torch.

A replica of the Lady’s face. She looks like one tough lady to me!

The girls found this part to be extremely boring. Maybe I’m just getting old but I would have enjoyed browsing a little more in the museum.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m afraid of heights so I couldn’t make the trip to the top of the platform. If the stairs inside had been enclosed I could have done it, but they weren’t, and I freaked out half way up. Such a wimp!

My husband and the girls peeked over the edge at me. Even Brent said it made him a little nervous being up there. This is the highest they’ll let anyone go, the rest of the way up inside the statue is a spiral staircase though, in case you were wondering. The Statue itself has been closed since 9/11/01.

* Shortly after publishing this post the statue was reopened to visitors

As I stood outside on the platform, the sky started to clear, the sun came out, and it warmed up nicely! Ahhhh . . .

Looking back on the city we had just come from, I couldn’t help but reflect on 9/11. Seeing the smoke, ash, and debris that engulfed NYC that awful day almost 8 years ago was so dramatic and sad.

A beautiful Spring sky to save the day

Brooklyn Bridge

Thank you stranger lady for taking this picture for us!

How could I resist a shot of a seagull? He’s glaring at me and all the rest of the tourists wondering where the food is!

Looking up at the little people on the platform just below the Lady’s shackled feet, yet for some reason when we arrived the Lady looked smaller than I thought she would.

My husband and I had hoped to get off the boat at Ellis Island next, but it was not to be. We had two girls who were a little grumpy and wanted nothing more then to go shopping in Soho. Shopping it was.

Have you visited the Statue of Liberty? I’d love to hear about your visit!

NYC Memories

As I plan a family trip to NYC in April I can't help but remember our trip to the Big Apple last April 19th. The same day the Pope was in town. The same day it was 80-something degree's. The same day we walked miles upon miles, and lost my daughter on the subway. The same day I ended up very sick.

Hopefully this trip will be a little bit more enjoyable as we are staying IN the city, plus my husband is coming along so I won't end up by myself on the bathroom floor with the paramedics picking me up and taking me to the ER. Lucky him, he had to drive down to Stamford, CT (a 3 hour drive) with a friend so the friend could drive my car and the girls home, while he sat with me in the ER for several more hours. Food poisoning ... total exhaustion ... not sure what it was I had but it wasn't part of the plan. Ah yes, the good old days ; )

There are some good memories though and this is one of them:

The girls and I had stopped into a cafe' for something to eat and drink, as well as cool off and rest our feet. When we walked out the door I noticed this man and his adorable little dog sitting in a car, obviously waiting for someone.

I'm telling you this dog lives a better life than I do! Aren't they so freakin' adorable? If my husband owned a porche I can guarantee he would NOT let the dog ride in it. He doesn't even let the dog ride in the car he owns now and it's a Subaru! lol!

I've always wondered what happened to the little dogs ear. Attacked by a larger dog perhaps? Is it a rescue dog? Either way, the lifestyle it leads obviously makes up for any previous hardships.

9 - 11

In June 2007 I took my very first trip to NYC. It was only for a day (as was my 2nd trip) but seeing the site of the World Trade Center remained tops on my list of 'Things to See', and I'm so glad I did.

The site itself, and the gash left in the city is impressive and memorable. I only wish I had been able to see the Twin Towers before 9-11-01. It must have truly been a dizzying sight!

Below is the viewing platform to look out over the work being done. When we went back this past April it really didn't look much different. Sure, more work had been completed but overall it still had an empty feeling. The grate you are made to look through doesn't help. Why they couldn't have come up with something a little more 'viewer' friendly I don't know. My guess is that they were worried visitors would be throwing memento's, flowers, etc. into the work area below. Many articles had been stuffed into the grating and left behind for those who lost their lives.

The memorial below is made of solid copper and placed along a wall just behind the viewing platform. All the names of the victims are etched along the bottom. It was difficult to take any good pictures because of scaffolding set up in front of the memorial.

A Fire Station sits adjacent to the WTC site. I believe the memorial plaques above are attached to the brick wall of the station, though I can't say I remember for sure. I thought I had a picture of the Fire Station itself but I couldn't find it. The old brick station looks oddly misplaced as everything surrounding it is quite modern. The guys working there seemed very used to being photographed by tourists like myself.

If you look closely at the side of the truck, names of the Fire Fighters lost on

9-11 are painted on the door.

My husband loved the Financial District of NYC! I think he was very envious of how many of the men were dressed, wishing he could wear Armani, or whatever it is they wear on a daily basis. Yes, he has far more fashion sense than me though he seldom has the chance to show it off anymore. To this day Brent's background picture on his phone is this very photo. If you've never been to NYC and have the chance to go, make sure to see both of these places. Just the enormity of the flag below is incredible!

May you take a moment today to reflect of the events of September 11, 2001.