After checking into our Hotel last Friday night, (16th) we quickly experienced
our first taste of New York hospitality. We hopped aboard a Metro bus to travel about 13 blocks uptown only to discover we needed either a Metro pass or a pocket full of Quarters of which we had neither. While we attempting to exit the bus, the driver just closed the door and told us to have a seat. Thank you again Mr. Bus Driver.
We then boarded the Double Decker tour bus for the night tour of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The night was cool and enjoyable as we viewed Times Square ,SOHO, China Town,Little Italy, Greenwich village and crossed the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn and back.
Saturday morning started with a Loop tour of lower Manhattan again but with a hop off at Battery Park where we caught the Staten Island Ferry and returned back to hop on the loop tour again back into mid town. By this time the temperature was uncomfortable up top of the bus so we stopped for refreshments before catching the one headed uptown around Central Park West, through Harlem and back down the East side. This phase was ridden in the lower airconditioned section of the bus.
This all loops tour really helped us learn about the city and our way around.
Sunday morning was slow getting started for my tired old body from what seemed 100 miles of walking. In fact, there seemed to be more trim and in shape people in the city than other places we have been. Has to be all the walking. I had purchased 2 one day Metro passes for the bus and subway that had unlimited use for the day. For $7 bucks each this is a bargain. We then hopped the Metro bus for Central Park West and exited it at The Tavern On The Green in Central Park. I was surprised to see all the hundreds of sun bathers laying everywhere. While strolling through the park, I found myself in bad need of a restroom, of which I quickly went searching for. At last we came upon a row of 5 port-a-potties.Now people, a couple of weeks ago there was a long thread about the restrooms on Amtrak. You have never seen anything like a Port-a-potty in Central Park on a weekend and no TP too boot. You would be surprised how many scraps of paper can be found in your wallet or pockets. We then had to find a water faucet to wash up. This pretty well filled our need to explore Central Park.
We then proceeded back down to Penn Station and caught the Subway out to Coney Island and the Boardwalk. After exploring this and the beach for awhile, we ate a couple of Nathan's Hotdogs and caught the subway back to Penn.
All in all, we didn't see any shows or tour a museum but we did see every building and items we wanted to see, and the places too.
Now I have most of my life heard how rude and unfriendly New Yorkers were. In the three days we were there, we never met a rude person. They may be short on words but not rude. Oh, I did see a few "Cabbies" wave at other cabbies or bus drivers. Guess some things hold true.
I'm sorry to say it Chicago people, but the 4 rude and unfriendly people we met was in Chicago and we were only there a total of about 5 hours both coming and going............BD
our first taste of New York hospitality. We hopped aboard a Metro bus to travel about 13 blocks uptown only to discover we needed either a Metro pass or a pocket full of Quarters of which we had neither. While we attempting to exit the bus, the driver just closed the door and told us to have a seat. Thank you again Mr. Bus Driver.
We then boarded the Double Decker tour bus for the night tour of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The night was cool and enjoyable as we viewed Times Square ,SOHO, China Town,Little Italy, Greenwich village and crossed the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn and back.
Saturday morning started with a Loop tour of lower Manhattan again but with a hop off at Battery Park where we caught the Staten Island Ferry and returned back to hop on the loop tour again back into mid town. By this time the temperature was uncomfortable up top of the bus so we stopped for refreshments before catching the one headed uptown around Central Park West, through Harlem and back down the East side. This phase was ridden in the lower airconditioned section of the bus.
This all loops tour really helped us learn about the city and our way around.
Sunday morning was slow getting started for my tired old body from what seemed 100 miles of walking. In fact, there seemed to be more trim and in shape people in the city than other places we have been. Has to be all the walking. I had purchased 2 one day Metro passes for the bus and subway that had unlimited use for the day. For $7 bucks each this is a bargain. We then hopped the Metro bus for Central Park West and exited it at The Tavern On The Green in Central Park. I was surprised to see all the hundreds of sun bathers laying everywhere. While strolling through the park, I found myself in bad need of a restroom, of which I quickly went searching for. At last we came upon a row of 5 port-a-potties.Now people, a couple of weeks ago there was a long thread about the restrooms on Amtrak. You have never seen anything like a Port-a-potty in Central Park on a weekend and no TP too boot. You would be surprised how many scraps of paper can be found in your wallet or pockets. We then had to find a water faucet to wash up. This pretty well filled our need to explore Central Park.
We then proceeded back down to Penn Station and caught the Subway out to Coney Island and the Boardwalk. After exploring this and the beach for awhile, we ate a couple of Nathan's Hotdogs and caught the subway back to Penn.
All in all, we didn't see any shows or tour a museum but we did see every building and items we wanted to see, and the places too.
Now I have most of my life heard how rude and unfriendly New Yorkers were. In the three days we were there, we never met a rude person. They may be short on words but not rude. Oh, I did see a few "Cabbies" wave at other cabbies or bus drivers. Guess some things hold true.
I'm sorry to say it Chicago people, but the 4 rude and unfriendly people we met was in Chicago and we were only there a total of about 5 hours both coming and going............BD