Well this one has been a long time coming but it’s time to write about the New York trip. If you followed the launch of the Commando Fat Loss Program you’ll know that my main purpose of going to New York was to do a session with the Bartendaz in the park and film it to include the workout in the program. But since I was there… might as well do as many fun things as possible while there right?
Day 1
Get off the plane and there is a train that will take you right into New York. How cool is that. From there, you’re probably not going to pay more than $10 to get to any manhattan hotel.
Now before I go further, check this. I told a few people I was heading to New York and the comments all pretty much could be grouped into “Why?” and “Be careful and watch out for the crazies”. WTF? Seriously. First, “Why Not” and second, be careful what you look for because you’ll probably find it. People have to stop watching the news and discover what they think of the world for themselves and not what the fear mongers tell them.
So I get off the plane, buy my ticket for the train and I’m standing there trying to figure out where I am and where I’m going, staring at the map on the wall. That’s when I hear “Where y’all try’n t’git?”. Yup, apparently the crazies here in New York are very friendly and helpful. Who’da thunk. She went on to explain how and what I needed to do without me ever asking. Hell, I live in Calgary and no one has ever been that helpful even when I asked. Lol.
Once we get off the train, old school brown color coaches for the subway. It felt like I was in a movie and people were going to bust out into a break dance scene. I can see all the old warehouses and huge brick buildings used for shipping and receiving.
I’m totally suprised to see all the swamp like areas and ponds of dead water. I thought New York City was going to be all concrete. Pretty cool. There are ducks swimming in ponds that look like they hold bass and then 2 more minutes on the train and you’re seeing kids shooting hoops under a bridge and colorful graffiti. The vibe here is so cool.
Soon you’ll arrive at pen station and I get the wierd feeling that I’ve been missing out. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first but then I realized that pen station has class and charecter. It’s hard to explain. In Calgary (which I love) things are like starched hospitals corners on your bed whereas things here are like a dark walnut large posted bed that has been handed down through the family.
The doors at pen station are brass and the floors are marble and there is stone all around. History bits and quotes are on the walls. It’s like when you go to rockefeller center and read that famous insperational bit by John D Rockefeller. It makes you feel nostalgic and warm like the smell of cooking bread when you come home.
There is so much going on but it doesn’t have that rushed feeling like you would expect.
If the New York garbage collectors went on strike there would be serious problems. There are mounds of garbage on the back streets every ten feet at the door of the resturant that made it and each pile is 4 to 6 feet high. The trucks are gowling around and the guys are chucking the bags all over the place. This is all happening just 50 feet away from the glitz and glam of 5th ave.
What Should You Do On Your New York City Visit?
You have to take the subway. It’s a trip. If for nothing else, the next time you go to subway to get a sandwich, you’ll understand the wallpaper. The New York subway will take you everywhere including places you don’t want to be for very cheap. I say that tongue in cheek. Everywhere I went, people were nice to me. I got some strange looks in some places as the only lighter shade human around, but I was still treated with mutual respect.
When I went it was just when Michael Jackson died and so we went to the Apollo and they had a full wall memorial going. It was really neat to see how much that man has effected people. Plus, the Apollo… come on, that place just GROWS talent. So that’s a must see and you can get there on one of the many bus tours available like these guys “Things to do in New York City”
That company linked there is CitySights NY. They have a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that is operated on a fleet of 60 new?double-decker buses designed with top-deck-only seating to?provide you with the best possible views of New York City’s? attractions, neighborhoods and places of interest.?
?They also have what are often acknowledged as New York City’s?best-value double-decker sightseeing packages including major?attractions and activities such as harbor cruises (Cool stuff, get off and shop and eat.I bought a pair of converse there), museum visits,?helicopter tours, shopping day trips and one-day escorted?motorcoach tours to Boston, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia &?Amish Country.
You can also get off and see the Brooklyn Bridge since you’ll be right below it when you do the harbor tour.
The Night Tour has an amazing view of?the illuminated Manhattan skyline from a special stop on the?Brooklyn waterfront. The Brooklyn Tour takes you to trendy and?historic neighborhoods as well.
You’ll probably want to take the ferry to Staten Island too. We got on and got a great photo of the Statue of Liberty from the boat. We didn’t do anything on Staten Island as we just got off one boat and onto the return one because we just wanted the ride, views and photo ops.
I’m writing a whole series on my New York City visit and as you’re reading this I’m working on more parts. You can go ahead and read the second part of my trip here: New York City Visit 2
