New York by train, ferry and foot

Slept in! Wonderful! Late breakfast in the hotel before arming ourselves with a map and our cameras we set out to tackle the subway to get to the World Trade Centre. We milled around the entrance to the subway for a while, trying to figure out what kind of ticket we needed to ride the subway. Finally got some help and then we bought metrocards and descended into the subway.

Everywhere are signs saying “If you see something, say something.” Whenever I saw one, all I could think of was a drag queen called Taylor Mac who sings a song called “Say Something”, based on the MTA’s ‘slogan’. And when he sings it, it goes, “If you see something, say something. Something like this…” and then screams. Makes me laugh every time.

We got on a train, went south, got off at 14th St because the trains weren’t going further and then looked a bit bewildered on the platform trying to figure out which train to catch next. Two older guys took pity on us and asked us where we were going and then directed us to catch the next train and get off at Chambers. They then talked to us.

One of them lives in the West Village, either in the same building as or next to Hugh Jackman. Who he’s met and talked about Ireland (his homeland) with. And this guy’s nephew lives in Sydney and asked me what the weather was like and the best time to visit. They got on the train with us then got off at the next station. They were very nice, very friendly and not at all what I expected from New Yorkers. Pleasantly surprised.

We got off at Chambers then walked down to the World Trade Centre site. They’ve built number one, which is tall and impressive and imposing. We didn’t go to the memorial but navigated around a lot of people selling commemorative books with titles like “Freedom Forever” or “Never Forget”. Ugh.

We walked around the little church there, checking out the old tombstones, then went down Church St, cut through Trinity Church, onto Wall Street, saw the Stock Exchange Building, then down Beaver St to see the bull. We took photos at the arse end because the head had too many people around it.

More walking to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. We joined a couple hundred people as we spilled onto the free ferry and it set off across the water. The ferry is the best way to see the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of LIberty. And despite the number of people pouring onto the ferry, there is still ample uncrowded viewing. And it’s all free. Twenty-five minutes to Staten Island, then you get off, go around into the ferry terminal and get back on the ferry and go back to Manhattan. Well worth the trip.

Amazed at how small the Statue looks. Considering how often you see it in movies and TV, you expect it to be this monstrous thing but it actually looks quite petite. Then again, we were looking at it from a distance.

We caught the subway up to 14th St and Union Square to go to Momofuku Noodle Bar (Albert’s recommendation) for a late lunch. I enjoyed walking along the streets between the subway station and the restaurant. They were much more peaceful and sedate, and kind of what I like seeing in New York movies/shows, just the normalcy, not the insanity of the tourist traps.

After lunch, back onto the subway again to Grand Central Station, another of those icons that you see in everything New York. Feels a bit surreal to actually be there. What’s even weirder is an Apple store located on one of the levels, in prime position.

Then outside to check out the Chrysler building from the street. There are some other amazing art deco buildings around it too that have the most beautiful decorations on the outer walls. All of which are mostly overlooked by people wandering by or craning their next to get a shot of the Chrysler building.

We walked up 42nd Street and the pavement got more crowded the closer we got to Times Square. Couldn’t wait to get into the hotel and put my feet up. Next time we come to New York, definitely not staying in this part of town.

In the evening we had tickets to see Spiderman the Musical. I had low expectations and amazingly they were too high. Billed as a spectacular with some nifty effects, Glen and I were completely underwhelmed and then writhing in our seats from the general awfulness of the script and music. The music was written by Bono and The Edge and all I can say is they must have been paid a shitload of money. The script was god awful and cringeworthy and I couldn’t summon up anything to make me care.

After ten minutes in, I tried to find the good in it. Thinking that maybe I was pre-judging it and should look at it again from a different viewpoint. Didn’t help. It was just bad. The acrobatics were interesting and provided a bit of a thrill but they weren’t enough to make up for the rest of it. I get that they were going for a comic book feel, considering Spiderman started off as a comic, but it just comes out as exceedingly cheesy and woeful.

At half-time, Glen and I barely looked back as we left. Albert stayed behind and later said that the storyline didn’t get any better, neither did the music, but the special effects were cool. Regardless, the cast got a standing ovation. Then again, I think people giving standing ovations for everything over here.

With our reclaimed time, Glen and I walked through busy streets to Hell’s Kitchen to find some food for a late night supper. We went into a very run-down Chinese restaurant called Mee Noodle. Articles and awards from ten and twenty years ago were hanging on the walls, and the place had definitely seen better days, but it was open, there were people in it and the food was cheap. It wasn’t bad either. Glen and I had a chicken dish each and couldn’t finish the servings.

Afterwards we went into the gay bar next door called Flaming Saddles. It’s cowboy themed. And it was packed. We got in, squished our way through and then, after about five minutes of not being able to move anywhere, we left. We couldn’t get to the bar without some major pushing and shoving (and not in a good way) so we gave up and left. There were some hotties there though. Typical American college boy types. Looked like a fun place but I’ve had my fill of cramped, crowded spaces for one night.

Back to the hotel at quarter to midnight with Albert returning soon after to give us an update on the rest of the musical. It’s given us something to laugh about for sure. So that’s the end of our first full day in New York. Two and a half more to go. Am sure they’ll be just as packed.