NEW YORK CITY


(New York City Flag)


(Manhattan Map)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008:

We sailed under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge before 6:00 A.M.
The Statue of Liberty was off the port side as we turned into our berth in Brooklyn just after 7:00.
After 28 wonderful days at sea I reluctantly disembarked the Sea Princess around 10:00 A.M.

THE SEA PRINCESS: A FOND FAREWELL VIDEO 5 minute video of our early morning sail into New York's harbor to end the cruise.

It was about a twenty minute cab ride to my hotel,
the New York Hilton at Rockefeller Center.


All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

I didn't do a whole lot this first day in the Big Apple.
It was a short walk over to Broadway and Times Square.

TIMES SQUARE VIDEO 9 minute video of New York's Times Square.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

Hello, We cruised into New York's harbor just before sunrise this morning. We sailed by the Statue of Liberty before docking in Brooklyn. I really hated leaving the ship after four weeks. It took until about 11:00am to get off the ship. I took a cab to the New York Hilton at Rockafeller Center where I will be staying for three days before flying home Tuesday. Below you can see Radio City Music Hall from across the fountain and pool in front of the Exxon Building. It is just a short walk over to Times Square from my hotel. I walked past the Ed Sullivan Theater which is a few blocks north of Times Square. It looks like Rupert put out his garbage before he closed up for the day. More later, Tim

Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2008:

I began this beautiful Sunday morning by walking around the World Trade Center site.
St. Paul's Chapel, at 209 Broadway, is an Episcopal chapel located on Church Street
between Fulton and Vesey Streets, opposite the east side of the World Trade Center
site in lower Manhattan. After the attack on September 11, 2001, which led to the
collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, St. Paul's Chapel served
as a place of rest and refuge for recovery workers at the WTC site.
The Bell of Hope was present by the Lord Mayor of London as a memorial to
those who died on 9/11. It was casted in London at the same foundry as the Liberty Bell.



The FDNY Memorial Wall, a Gift from Holland & Knight, honors members of the
New York City Fire Department and Holland & Knight Partner Who Perished on 9-11-2001
Located at FDNY Engine Co. 10, FDNY Ladder Co. 10, 124 Liberty Street, New York City.

GROUND ZERO VIDEO 11 minute video of my walk around the World Trade Center site.

In Battery Park is the globe that sat between the World Trade Centers along with an eternal flame.
From Battery Park I took the ferry over to Liberty Island. We also stopped at Ellis Island.

LIBERTY ISLAND VIDEO 9 minute video of my visit to the Statue of Liberty.

After returning from the Statue of Liberty I walked all around lower Manhattan and the financial district.

MANHATTAN: THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE CITY VIDEO 11 minute video of my walk around the island of Manhattan.

My walk took me down Wall Street and past the New York Stock Exchange.
I ended my walk at the South Street Pier where I took a one hour cruise on a New York Water taxi.
We sailed up the Hudson River past the World Trade Center site
and then turned around passing Jersey City, New Jersey.



After passing the Statue of Liberty it was back up the East River and under the Brooklyn Bridge.
Under the Brooklyn Bridge you can see one of four waterfalls
that were placed along the East River as part of an art exhibit.

NEW YORK CITY RIVERS CRUISE VIDEO 11 minute video of my New York Water Taxi cruise around the island of Manhattan.

Next I took a cab over to the Empire State Building.
From the 86th floor observation deck you get a magnificent view of Manhattan.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING VIDEO 8 minute video of the Empire State Building.

I decided to walk back to my Hotel from the Empire State Building.
I walked up Park Avenue to 42nd Street passing the Met Life Building and the Chrysler Building.



I then continued to walk north up Fifth Avenue which took me past St. Patrick's Cathedral.
From there I cut through Rockefeller Plaza over to my hotel at 53rd and Sixth Avenue.
Later in the evening I took a walk over to Times Square.



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008:

On Monday morning I took a nice long walk through Central Park.



With about twenty-five million visitors annually, Central Park is the most visited city park in the United States.

CENTRAL PARK VIDEO 11 minute video of New York City's Central Park.

Most of the areas adjacent to the park are known for impressive buildings and valuable real estate.



I took to the skies in the afternoon as I took a helicopter flight around the island of Manhattan.



It was a bumpy ride due to the wind but the views were fantastic.

NEW YORK CITY HELICOPTER TOUR VIDEO 11 minute video of my helicopter flight around the island of Manhattan.

Shortly before sunset I walked across the street from my hotel and visited "The Top of the Rock."



Unparalleled views of New York City from the newly renovated
observation deck on the 70th floor of the GE Building.



It was a perfect end to an almost flawless 36 day adventure.

ROCKEFELLER CENTER VIDEO 11 minute video of Rockefeller Center and the "Top of the Rock" observation deck.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008:

A fantastic 36 day vacation came to an end as I flew out of LaGuardia Airport after 1:00 P.M.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

Hello, The best vacation of my life is now over and I am back home. I owe you one more email since I had just arrived in the big apple the last time we talked. I began Sunday morning with a ground zero walking tour. I met my tour guide and the rest of the group in midtown and then took the subway to lower Manhattan. We walked all around the World Trade Center site. We also visted the FDNY Memorial Wall and St. Paul's Chapel. The tour ended in Battery Park. Since I was in Battery Park I hopped on one of the boats to the Statue of Liberty. I took the elevator to the top of the pedestal which is where the picture of Ellis Island you see below was taken. We got a nice view of Lower Manhattan on our way back to Battery Park. From Battery Park I walked over to Wall Street. Below is the New York Stock Exchange. I ended my walk at the South Street Pier where I had lunch at Nathans. From the South Street Pier I took a one hour cruise on a New York Water taxi. Below you can see the Brooklyn Bridge and one of four waterfalls that were placed along the East River as part of an art exhibit. Below is lower Manhattan from the East River. The cruise continued up the Hudson River and past the World Trade Center. I circled around the Statue of Liberty again and then it was pack to South Street Pier. We passed a Staten Island Ferry along the way. I took a cab over to the Empire State Building. It was very crowded up there. Below is looking north toward the GE Building. Below is looking northeast toward the Chrysler Building. Below is east toward the U.N. Below is east again toward the East River. And below is south toward lower Manhattan and the financial district. I decided to walk back to my hotel which was twenty blocks north of the Empire State Building. I walked up Park Avenue to Grand Central Station. From there it was over to Fifth Avenue and north from there. I walked past Saint Patrick's Cathedral. And through Rockefeller Center to my hotel. I rested my feet a bit and then went back out after the sun set for an evening stroll. After a good night's rest on Monday morning it was time for another long walk. It was north out of the hotel to Central Park. I walked across the Great Lawn. Around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Past the Bethesda Fountain. After admiring the impressive buildings along 59th Street it was back to the hotel. Monday afternoon I took a helicopter tour. Below is lower Manhattan as we start up the East River. Below is the South Street Pier and the Brooklyn Bridge where I was yesterday. Looking up the East River toward midtown. Midtown and the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and U.N. Looking south down Broadway from above Central Park. Looking down Broadway to Times Square. The Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. Yankee Stadium, both the old and new. I finished off my vacation with a visit to the Top of the Rock at sunset. Below is Central Park. The view south at sunset. Looking northeast you can see a nice full moon rising. Looking northwest to the George Washington Bridge. And the last picture speaks for itself. I'm now counting down the days to February and South America. Tim

Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

I made a holiday visit to New York City in 2010, click HERE to take a look!

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