Thanks. Like I suggested, I think at this point I have to try to adapt a balancing act of APPEARING to be interested and provide input, while letting my wife make whatever decisions she wishes. She is the one who really wanted to go to NYC. Nothing against NYC, but I’ve lived in/been to several big(ish) cities - including NYC - and while I’m sure I’ll enjoy my visit, cities aren’t really my thing.
So it is tough, when she asks my opinion/help, I find myself actually developing preferences - whereas before I had none, and then trying to not be miffed when she decides otherwise. The planning process is not a part of travel that I personally really enjoy - and I think my wife’s and my approaches to the planning is pretty different.
I’m sure the trip will be very nice - but it will pretty exclusively represent her wishes, so I’m definitely stepping back from the planning. I’m sure we’ll see some neat museums, other neat neighborhoods/sites, get a lot of walking in, and eat some good food. So all is good.
Just got back from a lovely Thur-Tues visit to NYC. Nice town you guys have there!
Thanks again for all of the info. We really had a great time. I see that I posted this before:
I’m glad that that is a lot of what we did. ONLY downside is we REALLY walked ourselves sore. By 4-5 pm most eves, we were happy just to hang in our hotel room, stretching and putting our feet up.
Our hotel was on 48th between 8th and 9th. Fine location. If we did it again, we woulda tried to go 1-2 blocks N and E, but we were very close to various subway lines - and we took the subway ALL OVER. What an amazing subway system - tho it IS a bit of a puzzle at first.
Day 1, we walked to MOMA. Spent a couple hours there, then walked up 5th, thru Bergdorff Goodman, across the S end of Central Park, took a carriage ride, then back to the hotel. Bought sandwiches along the way. After dark, we walked to Times Square. LOTS of hustlers, but pretty easy to ignore.
Friday, we found a great bagel shop 1 block away where we had breakfast 3 days. Walked to the Empire State, then subway to Staten Island Ferry and took the ferry out and back. Subway into Brooklyn and had a delicious lunch at a little hole in the wall some lady on the street recommended. Walked back across the bridge, strolled around the courthouses, down to 9/11 Memorial, saw Hamilton’s grave, Wall Street, the bull… Subway home to Times Square, had some 99 cent slices and completely over the top gelato cones for dinner.
MAN - smelled A LOT of pot all over the city. And forget the reputation of rude New Yorkers. EVERYONE was very helpful - workers, passersby, fellow tourists… In fact, my wife got to joking about her “app” - ask someone! Worked great! Another thing that surprised us was the number of people playing music loudly - either just walking along blaring rap, or those annoying pedal cabs. That might have been the single most unpleasant thing about the trip. When we got out of the show on Sun, it was assaultive, with a whole row of the cabs lined up blaring their music. And man, it is a trip, the way you all just throw your trash out on the curb!
Saturday - another beautiful sunny day. Subway to Washington Park. Apparently homeless central. Walked around the park, through Greenwich, and over to the High Line for a free guided tour. Walked to one store my wife really wanted to go to (pigments/varnishes). Real nice lunch at Herald Square. Walked to the NYPL, on to Grand Central, to Rockefeller Center, and back to the hotel.
Sunday morning we took the subway up to Zabars. Ate pastries and read the Times in the park. Walked around a bit and across to the Guggenheim. Walked around the Upper East Side and bought some fruit on the street (VERY cheap). Headed back to the hotel to rest up for theater (Music Man) at 3. More slices from a different joint for dinner, and a black and white cookie for dessert.
Monday, breakfast at Junior’s Diner, then subway to the Met where we spent the ENTIRE DAY - from 10-5, including a very nice lunch on the 4th floor. WOW!
The last day was foggy but warm. We had fruit for breakfast and took the subway up to the north end of the park, and just walked all over the north end of the park and the upper west side for abut 3 hours. I never imagined I would see that sort of thing right in Manhattan. Then another bagel and salad, and to the airport.
I’m a lifelong Chicago and often sing my hometown’s praises, but if Chicago IS the second city, it is indeed a distant second place. I was amazed at the cosmopolitan nature of so many places we went. Even walking down 5th avenue, there were many people of all colors, speaking many languages. Down in the subway it was even more diverse.
We never felt the least bit unsafe - tho we did have to intentionally avoid the hustlers, homeless, and crazies. Very nice place to visit, but I’m not sure I’m eager to live there! ;). Sure is an easy place to spend $$$!
