Ironic,
that’s what it is. After over 50 years
of never setting foot in the Big Apple, I’ve now been into New York City twice
in barely three months! And both times,
it’s been a strictly time-limited visit on a tight schedule.
Although
today’s 4.5-hour bus tour struggled mightily with traffic jams at every turn,
we managed to see a fair bit of the city, get a feel for some of the different
neighbourhoods in Manhattan, visit four main sites that everyone was glad to
see up close (however briefly), and gave me what I most wanted – a good list of
places to go and things to see the next time I am here!
However, I certainly have to say that a bus tour is probably the least efficient way to see New York City. Shipmates who took the "Hop On, Hop Off" tour said that they only had time for 2 or 3 stops before they had to head back to the ship.
However, I certainly have to say that a bus tour is probably the least efficient way to see New York City. Shipmates who took the "Hop On, Hop Off" tour said that they only had time for 2 or 3 stops before they had to head back to the ship.
At any rate, are a few of the sights du jour for today’s brilliantly sunny and 15C
(59F) tour of a city which is truly a “wonderful town”.
First
stop was at the site of the World Trade Center.
Here is one of the two memorial fountains. The black ledge around the rim is engraved with the names of the victims.
The
northern limit of our tour was at 59th Street, the southern edge of
Central Park. Farther than this we did
not get because our ship was docked in Brooklyn’s Cruise Terminal and we needed
a fair chunk of time just to get to and from there.
We
then drove down Fifth Avenue for a short stop at Rockefeller Center. The Christmas tree from Nova Scotia isn’t up
yet, but the skating rink is going full tilt.
The
Rockefeller Center’s tallest tower makes an impressive mark on the skyline.
And
just a block over on Fifth Avenue sits the glorious newly-cleaned spectacle of
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic Revival masterpiece.
After
we got back to the ship, and I had lunch, I went up topsides and got these
spectacular views of the city and of the Statue of Liberty. Both were plainly visible from the Brooklyn
Cruise Terminal. The foreground of the
city picture is Governor’s Island, which used to be a military base with forts.
For me, the real highlight of the day was the “sailaway” party on the upper decks at 4:30 pm.
The DJ was spinning records
that had New York themes, the sky was turning dramatic as clouds moved in
around the setting sun, and if the breeze was picking up a bit too much it was
still pleasant – if cool. And the views
as we slowly slid out of the harbour were incredible. The city, with the setting sun illuminating
the glass walls of the buildings:
For me, the real highlight of the day was the “sailaway” party on the upper decks at 4:30 pm.
The
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge with the Caribbean
Princess sliding under – and not, apparently, with a lot of room to spare.
A few days after the fact, here's a look at our stopover day in New York City.
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