We arrived in New York City late in the evening. I was thrilled to have found a reputable car service that provides car seats to drive us from LaGuardia Airport to our hotel in the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. Taking the subway with our luggage and a baby would have been a nightmare, especially because it wouldn’t have been a direct route. When he’s not taking shuttling common folk like us to and from the airport, our driver drives for a number of famous people, including actress Sarah Jessica Parker. We had a great time hearing about all his adventures.
The hotel staff was kind enough to put us in a handicap accessible room so the baby crib would fit. We were grateful for the extra space, although the room was still only the size of the stateroom we had had on our Mexico cruise. I can only imagine how small the regular rooms must have been! Space sure if limited in the Big Apple.
Our first morning was spent wandering around Wall Street and the Financial District. We stepped inside Trinity Church, although the main sanctuary was closed for renovation.
Trinity was chartered by King William III in 1697. Founding Fathers John Jay and Alexander Hamilton attended. Hamilton, the United States’ first Secretary of the Treasury and the man credited for establishing a national bank, is buried in the church’s graveyard. Some of his children were baptized at Trinity. The current Trinity Church building was completed in 1846. The first burned down in 1776, and the second was torn down in 1839.
We walked past the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on a Saturday morning, and there was a huge, orange advertising banner stretched across the iconic windows. On Sunday, it was gone. Mr. Handsome wonders if they put it over the windows for security while people are in the building and then pull it up on weekends.
The cobblestone near the NYSE made Wall Street feel oddly quaint, although it proved to be a bit problematic when I was trying to push the sleeping Little Buddy in his stroller without waking him.
Later that day, we ventured up to Midtown Manhattan on the subway. I experienced the subway during a visit to New York City almost ten years, but I didn’t remember it being so confusing. “Everything about that was terrible,” Mr. Handsome stated after we were safely above ground.
Taking the stroller on the subway was a bit of a challenge, but not as much as I had expected. We were able to find elevators most of the time, and when we couldn’t, it wasn’t too difficult to carry the stroller up or down the stairs. And Little Buddy always smiled and laughed when we picked it up.
We had already become accustomed to the slower pace in the Financial District, but the minute we stepped out onto the street in Midtown, we realized that this was a very different place. People everywhere. Heavy air with a lack of oxygen. Every time we crossed the street, it seemed like there was at least one car that almost hit us.
But Times Square was spectacular, as was the chocolate mousse cheesecake from Junior’s (a recommendation from a friend). The best cheesecake we’ve ever had, hands down.
That evening, we had two very unique experiences. We walked through Saks Fifth Avenue and ate Korean BBQ. Not at the same time, though. I’ll write about that later.
You were in my stomping grounds.
Car drivers will tell you stories, if they talk at all. Sometimes they’re just stories. Don’t let it go to your head. Hope you survived the on-going construction @ LGA. Bet you had to go into left field by bus to get that car.
You should look up what happened (or didn’t happen) to Trinity Church on 9/11 and how it was utilized then.
The banner was probably on the NYSE because whatever company that was had an IPO the day before. They’ll put up ads there for companies who are new to the NYSE with IPO’s or are ringing the bell that day. It’s not a security thing. Most of NYC’s security, you’re not supposed to see…except for the show of force in Times Square, which consists of either armed-to-the-teeth, military-style personnel with dogs, or uniformed NYC cops standing around in bunches shooting the breeze with each other and the tourists.
The subway’s not that terrible. Well, it’s NYC and it’s the subway, but hey if it’s actually running without bad service changes, and there wasn’t a rat on your train or some other completely unsavory thing (enough said), then you had a good trip. It’s only confusing when you don’t take it all the time or don’t understand the basics, like which side of the street you should enter from to go uptown or downtown.
Times Square is what it is. Tourist trap, as you saw. Crossing the street is a sport, but a taxi turning in the middle of people walking happens all the time, and is usually harmless. (Simply shout, “Hey, I’m walking here!”) Hope you stayed far, far away from Elmo, Spiderman, Hello Kitty, walking Statues of Liberty, fake Buddhist monks, and scantily-clad women or cowboys, because they’re all one big tourist racket.
Cheesecake – good – bet Junior’s was a zoo on a Saturday night.
Saks – you should have gone to Macy’s instead and taken a ride on the old clack-y wooden escalators that are still there between some floors. Cheapest amusement ride in the city. “Six Flags Over Macy’s.”
Had you gone a few blocks away from TS, you’d have seen a different city. The Hudson riverfront park (to the west) and The High Line park/walk is spectacular. So is Bryant Park and the NY Public Library (south) and Central Park (north). Lincoln Center. Swoon. Rockefeller Center. At Christmas.
NYC is like a drug. Some people avoid it and some can’t get enough of it. I’m the latter.
Sounds like you’re an NYC pro! Thanks for sharing all the info. I have heard that Rockefeller is gorgeous at Christmas. We have friends who go back every year because they just love it so much. That’s very interesting about the NYSE. And you’re exactly right about the LGA construction. It was a mess, and our driver said it will be years before it’s finished.
Do you live right in the city or outside?
Ellie
In the city right now. Part of the year here and part elsewhere.
Hi Ellie Thank you for the story concerning Trinity Church. Our 4th great grandparents were married there. Our third great grandmother and her siblings were baptized at Trinity Church. Her husband’s family has a vault there and other members of the family are buried in the church yard. These ancestors are all on my maternal side. When Joan worked near there she would go to the church yard and look around. At the time we did not know our ancestry. When Marion was in school she wrote a report on Alexander Hamilton being buried at Trinity Church her teacher questioned it. He asked her are you sure? Marion knew more than her history teacher.
Ellie We have read a book “My Dear Hamilton” by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray. It is very interesting.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
That is so very neat! Thank you for sharing. Do you know if your family members knew any of the “famous” folks, like Hamilton?
Ellie
I love your travelogs, Ellie. They are always so interesting and informative. It was great to see NYC through your words and photos. I especially love the picture of Little Buddy staring down the street toward Trinity Church. I didn’t realize Hamilton was buried at Trinity. Is Trinity close to the Financial District? It’s tie to Hamilton would be cool! Sightseeing in New York is on my bucket list, although it sounds difficult to navigate. Do you think it’s easier to visit there on a weekend or weekend, or is it pretty much crowded at any time.
Thanks, Barb! Yep, Trinity is right at the end of Wall Street. I think it’s crowded all the time, although we found the Financial District to be a little less busy on the weekend and Upper Manhattan to be a little less busy during the week.
Ellie
Many years ago, on one of our NYC trips, my teenage daughter and I also went into SAX and played a little game of “how much do you think this cost?”…couldn’t afford anything there, but at least could say we were there and had fun with those outrageous prices.
LOL, that sounds like a fun game. We found some shoes that were normally priced (really good quality hiking boots for $180) but that was it.
Ellie
Little buddy has taken his daddy’s hair for sure!
Yes, he sure has!
How fun! I’m definitely a Chicago girl born and raised, but I love visiting New York! Had you been previously?
Also, I love how little Buddy is coming on all your adventures! He’s gonna be a traveling pro.
I visited about 10 years ago, but my husband never has. How do you think Chicago compares to NYC?
Ellie
Thank you so much for all your travel stories with pictures Elly. My husband and I hope to one day travel around in the USA. We are looking at Texas (wouldn’t mind visiting Waco and Magnolia Market) and the great national parks. Suzanne from Holland.