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June 08, 2005
Adventures in "The City"
Yesterday I took the train into The City. Well, all of us Cosmoploitan types call NYC The City, ya know. I'm no novice when it comes to traveling;I think trips to Italy, Brazil and South Africa qualify me as a "World Traveler". I don't think there is any experience that can prepare one for being in New York City. I was rendered a hick in a matter of minutes. I really truly tried not to walk gawking at all the tall buildings, however, we might have decided on which way to go a little quicker had I looked up to see where the Empire State Building was. snort.
Back to the beginning...I took the train from New Haven to Penn Station where I met up with my friend Tonya, from Iowa, please. We two were then to meet another friend from Brooklyn at a restaurant in the Empire State building. First of all Tonya's son asked where she and I were going to meet...Penn Staion of course!...duh...he suggested by the Big Board with arrivals and departures. Yeah there is more than one BUT we found each other. Then, since I was not familiar with train travel particularly, I was concerned that no one had collected my ticket at all from NH to NYC. so I went to customer service and "turned it in". First she looked at me as if I'd grown an extra head, you want to us to collect your ticket? Oh ok...well thank you for your honesty. Well right, I do have a price but $35 isn't it. Ok Ok...I was really more interested in issues such as flights...if I don't "use" the first half of my ticket, then I can't use the second half..ya know? So maybe that just isn't an issue with trains and I gave $35 away. Nooooooooo, see I would have stolen that $35 if I hadn't turned it in..right?
Ok, moving on..Iowa and Vermont head up to the Observatory on the Empire State Building.(no, I had never been before). We followed all the hoards of people; being inline became a matter of course and we just took the opportunity to chat and catch up while following the masses. At least we had the sense to question the direction of the masses once we got up to the observation deck...they were all in line to go back down to the main level...no THAT would have been a waste of my $14. We gawked with the rest of the throngs..it was hazy so that took a little of the thrill out. It also took a little of the panic out too..neither one of us is all that thrilled with heights. I was also not thrilled with the little old lady tourist from Europe somewhere who insisted on crawling on my back to see where the twin towers had stood. Back off woman and I'll move so you can see better! Geesh..I bet she wasn't intimidated in the Big Apple.
We finally decided that yup, we'd seen what we needed to see, done what we needed to do and found that line that was headed back down in the elevators...amazing one can descend 86 floors so quickly. Dru Ann found us, we ate lunch, took photos and parted company again. DA had pesky work to get back to but Tonya and I started making our way back to Penn Station. A pit stop in Macy's was in order...well geesh it's the real Macy's and we were on 34th street afterall! Yeah, I finally made that connection too..a miracle!...what a weehawker I am!
The rest was mostly uneventful, except we could barely find our way out of the men's dept and some inappropriate finger pointing..weehawkers. I managed to get back on the train and arrived back in New Haven safe and sound.......
Ya know, hopping the train to go into The City for that day is pretty much up there with being a traveler...I just may do it again and maybe some year I'll feel more comfortable in The City.
Posted by frani at June 8, 2005 07:36 AM
Comments
LOL!! You are truly a world-class traveler now that you have been to the "city".
L, DA
Posted by: DA ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.frani.net/weblog3//nav-commenters.gif)
at June 8, 2005 12:25 PM
ummm...
You were in the City and didn't call?? (granted my personal cell was dead... but STILL!)
Posted by: Morgan at June 8, 2005 06:33 PM
ummm world traveler that YOU are, I thought you were in Orlando...could you have traveled in from Queens for lunch? Next time!
Posted by: Fran at June 8, 2005 07:02 PM
Do not feel badly, Fran, "The City" makes hicks out of us all .
Posted by: bunnybeth at June 8, 2005 11:02 PM
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