7th June, Saturday – New York (Day 3)
Day 8
Made an early start as we have many stops planned for today! Popped by the Flatiron district in the morning, to check out the curious triangular building built into its curiously shaped land..
Flatiron district!
Then there was the nearby historical landmark of the Metropolitan Life Tower.. and a quick stop by the old WTC site, Ground Zero, revisiting the past, yet looking to the future as you look at the construction works going on as life picks ups..
We’re scheduled to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island today! Having booked tickets previously online, we took the faster queue, and got on the boat quite smoothly from the centre at Battery Park..
A pity about the weather though, cos its really really misty! You could barely see the Statue from afar.. As usual, “fought” with the hordes of tourists on the boat who were all jostling for prime position to snap The Statue of Liberty in all her glory.
And security’s really tight! Needed 2 layers of security checks before we could enter the pedestal of the Statue, which housed a museum. From the top of the pedestal, we could look up into the inside of the Statue and get a glimpse of the steel framework and steps built into the Statue. A pity that we couldn’t get to go up into the Statue itself after 9-11.
Photo of the Statue!
A quick tour of the outdoor area of the Statue of Liberty was completed at a quick pace due to the rather hot weather.. Phew. I think its even hotter than back in Singapore! At least back home, there’s decent cloud cover.. but with nary a cloud in sight, all the heat comes to the ground!
Ellis Island is next on the tour stop! Previously housing an immigration centre to screen and process all the immigrants who wanted to come to the USA, it is now a national monument..
*Hhmmm, history of Statue and Ellis Island I’m not gonna put up here.. Quite impressive history of the Statue – a gift from France to America, its symbolism, creation, fund raising, many issues.. go read up on google if u’re interested.. =P
The 2 tours took much longer than expected, and it was almost 3pm by the time we reached our hostel for a quick rest.
Afternoon programme: SoHo region and TriBeCa! =)
SoHo, or the area South of Houston Street, contains buildings built in the flat-iron style as shown earlier above. The SoHo streets come alive during the daytime, not just with the many retail outlets lining the street – from A/X, to American Eagle, to Prada,… there’s also a multitude of street stalls selling trinklets, paintings, jewellery, clothes.. You name it, they have it! (Haha, felt like Orchard Road meets neighbourhood Pasar Malam.. =P)
Oh yes, chanced by the old St Patrick’s church around the Little Italy area, and popped in for evening service.. Nice interior!
Ok, after SoHo, its time to explore the TriBeCa region!
TriBeCa, referring to the Triangular area Below Canal Street, (yeah, its really this – don’t ask me where it came from), is known for its film relations..
Oh, according to the Lonely Planet guide, this was an old industrial warehouse area, which has recently undergone a vibrant revamp. Apparently old industrial is the new chic, hip – and its cool to be seen there. So up sprung a cluster of shophouses, eateries and restaurants catering to this new hip crowd..
Personally, I don’t have quite the eye for architecture, but I suppose these buildings look like old industrial warehouses? Cue: look at the black ramps and stairs outside the building, and the elevated platform – which seem to suggest it being used as old loading docks previously.
Strolled around TriBeCa, before deciding that it was too expensive to eat there.. =P So off to the famous 5th Avenue for some retail therapy! =) (more like window shopping.. -_-“)
First on my list: F.A.O. Schawz - Home to soft toys across the globe! The display of soft toys on sale at FAO is simply mind-boggling..
Hehe, even the store security guard/doorman is dressed to his part.. =)
Walked past Tiffany & Co’s – made famous by the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s!, Trump tower, and...
This is for you, Linken!
Rockefeller Centre! A simply gorgeous complex.. Check out the statues of Zeus in the background, with the statue of Prometheus in the foreground overlooking the eatery in Rockefeller centre.. Apparently this is where it turns into an ice-skating ring in the winter, complete with Christmas tree? But its summer now! =( Boo.
Was contemplating a guided tour of the NBC studios, radio studio, but the price is simply astronomical.. O_O Went up to the top of the Rockefeller for a beautiful night view of Manhattan! A heavily built up city, with night lights all aglow..
From Rockefeller centre, we progressed back to Times Square to check out the lovely shops there! =)
M&Ms shop!!! Haha, this should be an attraction in itself. The paraphernalia and merchandise on sale was just simply calling out everywhere.. “Buy me! Buy me!” Argh. Resisted great temptation by using those itchy fingers to take photographs instead. =P
And just across the road – Hershey’s chocolate shop! Haha, friendly competition? I think they actually complement each other!
With a wide variety of Hershey’s chocolates, kisses, Reeses’ chocolates on sale, and even cutesy stuff toys!!!
Candy heaven! =)
Times Square.. standing in the middle of it is already half the spectacle taken in.. the other half must lie hidden in its shops all around! =P
Made an early start as we have many stops planned for today! Popped by the Flatiron district in the morning, to check out the curious triangular building built into its curiously shaped land..
Flatiron district!
Then there was the nearby historical landmark of the Metropolitan Life Tower.. and a quick stop by the old WTC site, Ground Zero, revisiting the past, yet looking to the future as you look at the construction works going on as life picks ups..
We’re scheduled to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island today! Having booked tickets previously online, we took the faster queue, and got on the boat quite smoothly from the centre at Battery Park..
A pity about the weather though, cos its really really misty! You could barely see the Statue from afar.. As usual, “fought” with the hordes of tourists on the boat who were all jostling for prime position to snap The Statue of Liberty in all her glory.
And security’s really tight! Needed 2 layers of security checks before we could enter the pedestal of the Statue, which housed a museum. From the top of the pedestal, we could look up into the inside of the Statue and get a glimpse of the steel framework and steps built into the Statue. A pity that we couldn’t get to go up into the Statue itself after 9-11.
Photo of the Statue!
A quick tour of the outdoor area of the Statue of Liberty was completed at a quick pace due to the rather hot weather.. Phew. I think its even hotter than back in Singapore! At least back home, there’s decent cloud cover.. but with nary a cloud in sight, all the heat comes to the ground!
Ellis Island is next on the tour stop! Previously housing an immigration centre to screen and process all the immigrants who wanted to come to the USA, it is now a national monument..
*Hhmmm, history of Statue and Ellis Island I’m not gonna put up here.. Quite impressive history of the Statue – a gift from France to America, its symbolism, creation, fund raising, many issues.. go read up on google if u’re interested.. =P
The 2 tours took much longer than expected, and it was almost 3pm by the time we reached our hostel for a quick rest.
Afternoon programme: SoHo region and TriBeCa! =)
SoHo, or the area South of Houston Street, contains buildings built in the flat-iron style as shown earlier above. The SoHo streets come alive during the daytime, not just with the many retail outlets lining the street – from A/X, to American Eagle, to Prada,… there’s also a multitude of street stalls selling trinklets, paintings, jewellery, clothes.. You name it, they have it! (Haha, felt like Orchard Road meets neighbourhood Pasar Malam.. =P)
Oh yes, chanced by the old St Patrick’s church around the Little Italy area, and popped in for evening service.. Nice interior!
Ok, after SoHo, its time to explore the TriBeCa region!
TriBeCa, referring to the Triangular area Below Canal Street, (yeah, its really this – don’t ask me where it came from), is known for its film relations..
Oh, according to the Lonely Planet guide, this was an old industrial warehouse area, which has recently undergone a vibrant revamp. Apparently old industrial is the new chic, hip – and its cool to be seen there. So up sprung a cluster of shophouses, eateries and restaurants catering to this new hip crowd..
Personally, I don’t have quite the eye for architecture, but I suppose these buildings look like old industrial warehouses? Cue: look at the black ramps and stairs outside the building, and the elevated platform – which seem to suggest it being used as old loading docks previously.
Strolled around TriBeCa, before deciding that it was too expensive to eat there.. =P So off to the famous 5th Avenue for some retail therapy! =) (more like window shopping.. -_-“)
First on my list: F.A.O. Schawz - Home to soft toys across the globe! The display of soft toys on sale at FAO is simply mind-boggling..
Hehe, even the store security guard/doorman is dressed to his part.. =)
Walked past Tiffany & Co’s – made famous by the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s!, Trump tower, and...
This is for you, Linken!
Rockefeller Centre! A simply gorgeous complex.. Check out the statues of Zeus in the background, with the statue of Prometheus in the foreground overlooking the eatery in Rockefeller centre.. Apparently this is where it turns into an ice-skating ring in the winter, complete with Christmas tree? But its summer now! =( Boo.
Was contemplating a guided tour of the NBC studios, radio studio, but the price is simply astronomical.. O_O Went up to the top of the Rockefeller for a beautiful night view of Manhattan! A heavily built up city, with night lights all aglow..
From Rockefeller centre, we progressed back to Times Square to check out the lovely shops there! =)
M&Ms shop!!! Haha, this should be an attraction in itself. The paraphernalia and merchandise on sale was just simply calling out everywhere.. “Buy me! Buy me!” Argh. Resisted great temptation by using those itchy fingers to take photographs instead. =P
And just across the road – Hershey’s chocolate shop! Haha, friendly competition? I think they actually complement each other!
With a wide variety of Hershey’s chocolates, kisses, Reeses’ chocolates on sale, and even cutesy stuff toys!!!
Candy heaven! =)
Times Square.. standing in the middle of it is already half the spectacle taken in.. the other half must lie hidden in its shops all around! =P
penned in the diary of memories by Alvin at
10:19 PM
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