Wednesday 25 May 2016

New York Day 1

I have just returned from a 10 day trip to East USA. It started with three days in New York before joining a trip around the sights of Eastern USA. This is my 2nd visit to NY so I didn't have to dash around trying to visit all the tourist sights.
Flying with BA is always a calm experience as is the process of going through security even though I am always searched.( Wearing a money belt under my clothes was probably not the most sensible as the woman searching me took a step back when she felt it. Possible thoughts of a suicide belt may have crossed her mind!) Arriving on the other side however is a nightmare. We queued for one and a half hours to get through immigration. May I suggest that JFK airport needs more immigration staff on duty? The trip into the city wasn't too bad traffic -wise and we were welcomed with terrific nighttime views of the city. We had booked two rooms at the Travel Inn in Midtown Manhattan but when we arrived they had decided to cancel one! Not a great start but they did have another room available so all was well. Good night's sleep and we were ready to start exploring New York.

Travelling on the subway is easy once you understand the different lines. It is much cheaper here than London but not as extensive. First on the list for today was the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side.

















The streets of New York are full of Art Deco buildings and designs.


























Murals brighten up boring concrete blocks.










Gambling adverts and a Buddhist Temple seemed to be strange bedfellows.


Then we arrived at the Tenement Museum in Orchard Street. This 1863 tenement was home to 7000 immigrants and is now a Museum. It tells the history of the building through the experiences of people who lived there. We followed the lives of an Irish family who moved into this block in the 1870s. Along with everyone else living here they had a kitchen, living room and bedroom. By today's standards the rooms were tiny and dark with no ventilation and only one window per apartment. It was an interesting insight into life for immigrants in the late 19th cent with similar comparisons to  the immigrants of today trying to make a better life for themselves.






The tenement building across the road from the museum is now a hotel and cafe. The perfect place for a sit down and drink.


We wandered off to see Chelsea Market which is in a converted biscuit factory. It was full of purveyors of specialist foods which were difficult to resist but we had just eaten so plans were made to return later in the week to try out the delicious looking shell fish on offer.














The weather was warm and sunny so the ideal time for a walk on the High Line. This converted disused railway line is now a garden walk. It is above the meat packing district and gives great views down the streets below.





The Empire State building in the distance.




Even views of Penn station


















I waited until the evening before enjoying the lights and sights around Times Square.


No mistaking which city I am in from this photo.

The end of a long but exciting day.

17 comments:

  1. What an adventure you have had - so much just in the first day too.

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  2. I am feeling a sense of deja vu from what you saw. The Tenement Museum sounds quite interesting and its history was a great read. I had only associated the tenements with Jewish immigration. With some reflection, I really wish we had visited NY when it was not so hot and humid.

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  3. I was just telling my wife a couple days ago...I would really love to spend a week in the city...focus: the waterfronts. Ah

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  4. A fabulous city and so much to see and do. You went to places that I've never heard of. Not a good start though the same happened to us but a long time ago. I always feel sorry for mothers with little children in those hour long queues.

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  5. Hello, what a wonderful tour of NYC! You saw some sights that are new to me like the Tenement Museum. Thanks for sharing your trip! Enjoy your day and week ahead!

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  6. I am glad you will be putting lots of pictures of your adventures on your blog. I only spent one day in New York years ago and all I remember is Times Square at night. It's the city that many think of as the center of the world. :-)

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  7. Really enjoyed this and have pinned it for my next trip to NYC.

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  8. really nice and busy city

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  9. You're always traveling to someplace interesting, and New York is no exception. Enjoyed all your photos!

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  10. It seems funny to see NYC on your blog instead of London! Sounds like a great start with all you packed into your first day.

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  11. You packed in a lot that first day. It's been a very long time since I've been in NYC to visit. Normally I am passing through by train or by it by car and can only see the skyscrapers. Never heard of the tenement museum. Sounds fascinating. May convince Dan we need to visit there sometime.

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  12. Very nice! I've got some photos from the High Line I'll be posting over the next couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your views of this great city.

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  13. We went for a week in July 2014. Had a great time. Rode past the Tenement museum but did walk the Highline. Great experience but wouldn't rush to return. Great photos.

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  14. A surprise to find you here and of course I learned things about NYC from you that I did not when we visited it ourselves. Our whole country is having huge problems with airport security these days, incoming and outgoing, it's a big mess. Hope I learn that the rest of your visit was more welcoming.

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  15. I really enjoyed your pictures, they showed a less touristic side of New York (except Times Square of course!). I like Chelsea Market too and I have a cookbook with recipes from the different stands there.

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  16. It was already horrible to get through immigration in NY in the 80/90 when we have been there last time ! On top the personal was so unfriendly ! So probably now it's even worse. We also landed in Chicago where it was completely different. Of course after 9/11 it certainly became worse there too, but at least the people were helpful and friendly.

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  17. Gadding about again?
    Fabulous write up of your trip.

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