My wife and I spent 5 days in NYC last week. It's something we try to do every November, just before the Christmas season really starts. This year we met some friends that live in Maine. An old Air Force buddy of mine and his wife. He was my best man, I was his. We're Godparents to each other's children. Long time friendship...40+ years. It was his 70th birthday and he just retired. We always stay right near Times Square.
Anyway, it was his first time in NYC since he was 14 years old. We did a whirlwind tour of things we loved and things they wanted to see. In the 5 days we managed to walk 27 miles and we threw more 20 dollar bills at cab drivers then we care to count.
Here's some pics from my smartphone. I also had a camera with me but I still need to export the pics to my PC.
I had my new precious, my 2011 Case-Bose Coffin Jack with me. It did spend some time in the hotel room, as many places we visited required security screening. Here's a pic from my breakfast this morning, just in case anyone hasn't seen my gift from
Charlie, Paul, Mike, Duncan, Neal and Dave. Thanks again guys!
We visited the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier Museum. It was my first time on a Carrier, holy cow what a ship! My Uncle served on one during WWII. We also took a tour of the submarine Growler which was part of the museum. Here's a pic of the periscope view taken on my smartphone. Pretty cool.
One of a ball turret. I thought of the "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" poem by Randall Jarrell, which
Mayonardo
reminded us of on Veteran's Day.
Inside the Intrepid they had many planes on display. Vets get in free too! Nice!
The Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, not trimmed yet but in place and ready.
The ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center getting some Zamboni love before the evening skating.
NYC skyline as dusk approaches. Taken from the top of 30 Rockefeller Center. That's the Empire State Building left of center and the World Trade Center just to the right in the distance, and farther out in the harbor you can see the Statue of Liberty, if you zoom in.
The Statue of Liberty from the Museum on Liberty Island.
The Registry Room on Ellis Island. I stood there and imagined my Grandfather and his family in 1902, arriving here from Hungary, via Antwerp Belgium. He was 3 years old. I look at my 3 year old Grandson and thank God everyday that my grandpa came to the US.
A few random pics.
The Christmas Tree on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the Medieval displays.
Ferrara's Bakery in Little Italy. We stopped there on the way to my favorite restaurant, Forlini's. No restaurant pics as they're still on the camera. Sometimes they shoot some Law and Order: SVU scenes at Forlini's. I've been going to this restaurant since 1983. Love the place, love the people.
Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, where we lit a few candles.
Grand Central Station's Oyster Bar Restaurant and a bowl of Seafood Chowder that I make it a habit to have whenever we're in NYC. They also make the best Bloody Mary I've ever had, also on my list of must haves when here.
I'll close out with a year old shot of Times Square last November. All my TS shots this year are still on my camera, waiting to get transferred.
Sorry for the long post. I figured those that may have never visited would get a kick out seeing some images. Well worth the trip if you get the chance!
I was happy to have my Coffin jack along!