NYC

Welcome to Manhattan!

I've only been to NYC once in my life and it was the same trip as I mentioned in the earlier post about going to Princeton.  When my brother graduated we went into the city for the day to tour some of the classic sights.  I fell asleep on the drive in from Pennsylvania and woke up amid the loud horns, jack hammers and tall buildings as we came across the George Washington Bridge right into the city.  I was forever imprinted with a love for that busy, crazy, chaotic city.  I don't know if Id love to live there but I really loved visiting.  It probably has something to do with growing up in a piddly little town and never really seeing such a big city before.  I love the whole "I'm one among millions and yet an individual" feel of it.

 A on the move shot of the city as we drove in.  The tall building, with the two cranes on it, being constructed is the new World Trade Center.

 Classic New York -- The Times.

 Church of Scientology - sweet.

 Times Square.  Our hotel was right here - at the Marriot Marque.  It was super fun to be in the middle of the crazy, so alive it felt like we were in the heart, part of the city.

 We attended Phantom of the Opera while there and I gotta say - loved it!

 Broadway!

 This is the view from our 31st floor hotel room.

 Charlotte and my niece, Misha, teased me for taking this photo of this couple caught in an amorous embrace in front of the NY Public Library.  I had to take it though because after all those romantic movies like "Sleepless in Seattle" and the like, NYC is a city for lovers.   I found this romantic.  Certainly, I wouldn't wish to view this scene for extended periods of time, but it was sort of sweet and very NYC-ish to me.

 A cool shot I took of the tulips in bloom in front of the NY Public Library - see the lion in the background?

 NY Public Library during the day.

 City streets are so fun and it makes me feel so small but so sophisticated at the same time.

 Here we are at a delicious Japanese restaurant for dinner.  Thanks Tomoko for introducing it to us.  Also, for teaching us how to eat (and encouraging us to try it) some raw fish.  A bite or two was enough for me, even though I actually liked the taste of the tuna.  I ordered chicken with curry.

 I believe this is the Chrysler Building - standing behind Grand Central Station.

 NY Public Library at night.

 The lion at NY Public Library

 Another very iconic NYC scene - though very sad.  I took this picture because I could not believe how many homeless people we saw, right a midst the wealth and opulence.  Its not right.

 Column view of the NY Public Library

 Charlotte in front of the library doors.  They wouldn't let us in.  It was closed, darn it.

 Empire State building lit up for Easter.

 Times Square at night.

 NYC taxi - they really are everywhere!

 We went to M&M world, where every color known to man can be found on an M&M.

 This was a crazy looking dude driving his little pink bike around Times Square and so we took a picture with him.

 View at night from our hotel room.

 Here is one of those nifty elevator car parks.  I saw ones that were 5-6 cars high.  It was super cool looking.

 The U.S.S Intrepid

 The skyline as we left - ::pout::