| New York is one of those places that just has to be | | | | leave. Remember they do it for nothing, all they ask is |
| experienced firsthand. Not only is everything big, very | | | | that you fill in a form saying how good your greeter |
| big, but it's also very loud. But it's still possible to sneak | | | | was and how wonderful a service they offer and then |
| up on it and appear to sometimes catch it off its guard, | | | | post it to the New York Metropolitan Council so they |
| like first thing in the morning. It's like watching a giant | | | | can get more funding. The greeter even gives you the |
| wake up from his slumber, yawning and stretching, | | | | stamped addressed envelope to send it off in |
| preparing for the toils that the day will bring. | | | | Other favorites of mine are the Chrysler Building, |
| I love traveling, I love architecture and I love | | | | Grand Central Station (wonderful building, and it's only a |
| experiencing civilization. I'm not a great shopper but I | | | | train station!), the Flat Iron Building and Canal Square |
| love the shops in New York. I love watching people | | | | open air market. All are worth the effort to get and |
| going about their business but I also love losing myself | | | | see. |
| in the atmosphere of the placed I'm in. | | | | Travel by subway is also a lot less daunting than you |
| In New York you can experience all of this and so | | | | might be led to believe. A great way to pass a day is |
| much more. | | | | to get the subway to the very tip of Manhattan and |
| I've been to New York on four separate occasions | | | | take the ferry to Staten Island (This costs less than $2 |
| now, twice pre 9/11 and twice post and New York has | | | | for the return trip and you get to see the Staten Island |
| always been New York. That's the real beauty of the | | | | Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge as well as the Statue of |
| city. | | | | Liberty. The journey takes about two hours in total and |
| I usually try to arrive in the city at about 2pm after | | | | gives you some great photo opportunities. |
| flying in from London, head straight to the hotel to | | | | From the tip of Manhattan you can walk all the way |
| wash and freshen up and get rid of my luggage, then | | | | up Broadway taking in the wonderful shopping |
| it's straight out to get to grips with what New York has | | | | experience that is Canal Street, I didn't think it was |
| to offer. | | | | possible to get so many fake Rolex watches in one |
| My first port of call is the Empire State Building. They | | | | place! You'll also pass through the fashion district that |
| say that God is in the detail, it certainly is at the Empire | | | | offers tax free clothing and then onto the more |
| State Building. From its art deco fresco's to the | | | | popular sights of New York. |
| wonderful 20 foot replica of the building sculptured into | | | | Leave yourself plenty of time to walk Broadway as it |
| the wall in the reception lobby the wow effect that the | | | | is very long and is full of distraction. If you get tired just |
| designers wanted to hit people with as they entered | | | | hop on the subway. |
| was certainly achieved. It's usually just going dark | | | | Macy's is a must for the hardened shopper, offering |
| when I get to the top so I get to see the most famous | | | | tourists an 11 per cent discount card as well as tax |
| skyline in the world lit up in all its glory. What a | | | | free shopping, definitely making the shopping |
| spectacle. I always find myself drifting off to the world | | | | experience all the sweeter. For the kids or the adults |
| of home that I left behind, finding it hard to believe that | | | | that haven't grown up FAO Schwartz is a must. Look |
| I'm on the same planet. | | | | out for the giant floor piano on the Upper floor, for |
| The evening meal is another treat, taken at the | | | | those of you that have seen the Tom Hanks film Big |
| Marriott Hotel in Times Square; here you can eat in | | | | you may recognize it. |
| style at a revolving restaurant, watching the sights go | | | | For the sporty people out there Nike Town [ is worth a |
| by as you eat. To help you identify the sights they | | | | trip, 5 floors full of everything Nike has to offer at |
| even print the view on the napkins! | | | | pretty reasonable prices and for those of you with |
| For breakfast head just off Times Square to find | | | | kids or with a sweet tooth Dylan's Candy Store is |
| some wonderful diners that do great value for money | | | | unbelievable. |
| breakfasts that will keep you going until lunch. | | | | A quiet walk around central park is always a pleasant |
| One of the best kept secrets in New York is a | | | | experience but if the weather isn't too good you've got |
| service called the New York Greeter. These are a | | | | the Museum of Natural History in the same area. If |
| volunteer group of people that offer their services to | | | | walking isn't for you then take the open top bus tour |
| tourists to show them around the real New York. You | | | | which offers many tours to different parts of the city. |
| can specify to them (by e mail before you arrive) | | | | If art is your thing there is the Metropolitan Museum of |
| what you enjoy doing or where you'd like to go and | | | | Art, The Guggenheim, the Museum of Modern Art plus |
| they arrange a greeter to meet you and take you on | | | | many many more. |
| a tour of the area or to the place you specified. You | | | | There is so much to do in New York that a weekend |
| get free subway and bus travel when with your | | | | will seem like not enough time to do it all in, but I find |
| greeter and it's totally free. I've had lunch at the United | | | | from Thursday to Sunday enough. The crowds |
| Nations Building booked by my greeter and had tours | | | | become hard work, the noise becomes tiring and the |
| of the Lower East and Westside with a greeter and | | | | traffic becomes unbearable. But as soon as I'm at the |
| seen so many things that otherwise I might not have | | | | airport waiting for my aeroplane I want to be back |
| seen. They really are fantastic people and are well | | | | there in the midst of it all. |
| worth the effort of dropping them a mail before you | | | | |