"New York" a New York City Travel Page by martin_nl

Wow! What a time I had in New York. It was fabulous. Of course it was way to short so I am planning my next trip already. Man there is a lot to see and do in this place. My visit to NYC was also my first visit ever to the US, and if the rest of the country is even close to what NY is like I will find myself travelling down there more often then I would have ever thought.

My trip started a few days before I got to New York. I got a reasonably cheap flight with Iceland Air that allowed to make a three day stopover in Reykjavik. After those days it was time to move to New York. This city has been on my to do list for ages now and I was glad I was on my way there. After boarding the plane and crossing the Atlantic and flying over Greenland I finally arrived at JFK.

I anticipated the whole arrival procedure would take about 1-2 hours in total, so I was very surprised that in 5 minutes I had passed this station already. I was a bit awquard though. On arrival they take a picture of you and you have to put you index finger on a plate and they make copies of those fingers. A bit weird, but oh well, I've got nothing to hide...

Took the air train and the A train up to 55th street where I had a hostel booked. Little did I know the location was this superb as it was. Just a few blocks from Central Park, 42nd Street and all of the other highlights. So I got there Sunday night and went straight to bed after a long chat with one of my roommates. Monday got up early and did a walk around Lower Manhattan to get a first feel of the city. The rest of the day was spent with VT'ers and it was great!!!! Read next chapter for that and see the pics.

Tuesday got up early again, bought a tea at Dean & Delucca and me and Lucy (one of my roommates) walked through Central Park on the way to the Metropolitan Museum. Spend the whole morning at this fabulous place and had some lunch on the west side of the Central Park. We tracked down H&H bagels where we wanted to buy a bagel with cream cheese and salmon, but unfortunately they only sold plain bagels. So the search continued and we found one a few blocks down in a deli. Shopped a bit at Fairway supermarket and then took the train down to Ground Zero. This made such an impact on us a few years ago that we had to see for ourselves. We walked into the Tribute WTC 9/11 place, where you can see a story told by the people that experienced. Now words can describe what you hear and see here. It was very emotional. After a gutted throat it was time to continue. Walked around Lower Manhattan again for a but and shopped some at Century 21. Then on to Brooklyn Bridge for sunset. The day finished with some noodles at Bos on the corner of 55th St and 8th Ave, close to the hostel. In the night I decided to go out again for a walk to Times Square and Rockefeller Center.

Wednesday I took a right outside the hostel and walked all the way down to 18th St along the river of Hudson River Park. A great walk and lots to see along the way. Went to Chelsea after that for some food at Chelsea Markets and to check out some galleries. In the afternoon I walked all over the city from Madison Square Garden and Bryant Park to Grand Central Station and the United Nations building. In the evening met up with some VT'ers again for some ice skating and more (see next chapter again). What a day, I was exhausted!

Last day was Thursday, so met up with VT'ers again to check out Little Italy and Chinatown. Had lunch and some drinks and then it was time to move back to the hostel again in the afternoon to pick up my bag and travel back to JFK and back to Reykjavik, for another day. I had a wonderful time in New York!!! But as I said before way tooooo short!

My stay wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for all the fantastic VT'ers I've met. Most locals, but some others too and even a brand new member, who had her first meeting the same day she joined VT. We met the first full day I was in NYC for a drink at the Heartland Brewery on Union Square and then went for lunch to Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. Then a walk around town, and another drink at the Sidewalk Cafe. Then on to Frank's for a great dinner. After dinner we went to a pub just accross the road.

Wednesday some of us were to meet up again at the ice rink at the Rockefeller Center. Only two of us skated and the spectators can be seen in the pic. After this we went to a lounge and had some wine and beers at Faces & Names. Afterwards a burger at the best burger place in town at the Le Meridien Hotel. Then it was time for some more drink in the east side of Midtown Manhattan. Another great day!!

My last day I also met up with again with Valerie and Heather for a walk around Chinatown and Little Italy. Had some lunch at Mr. Tang's in Chinatown, some more walking and I bought an Hello Titty t-shirt. That's when we saw Room 18 and had a fresh and ice cold Tiger beer here.

Thanks to all the peeps I met on this little trip to New York. You made my day!!! Take a look at the travelogues for some pics.