PA/NYC: How to stay overnight in Manhattan...

Friday morning we woke up with the slightest plan...do get to New Jersey, take the train to NY, and figure it out from there. So after a little breakfast, we headed north.

With little issues, we ended up in Penn Station, which was the first insight of how the city lived...crowded, rushed, and impatient. We got there a little after 1 and couldn't believe the amount of comings and goings happening. We came out at Madison Square Garden.

We stopped immediately enjoyed a NY pretzel with mustard and salt. We started our walk. We walked on Fashion Avenue and it was everything I could do to not stare at the buildings and the sights. I know that's the dead giveaway for everything touristy. Matt got his bearings where he was at and we decided to live out our own personal "Don Draper" and took a walk on Madison Avenue where advertising really took hold. 

To get our bearings and get out of the rain, I had Matt and I stop at the Belgian Beer Cafe. Was a beautiful restaurant with great lights and ceilings. We ordered a couple drinks and I could resist some oysters. Matt had a Belgium beer, Palm and I had a cherry beer called Boon Kriek, a Cherry Lambic, that was amazing.

We got on the subway and headed south, we each had a plan in mind. When I found out we were close to the Brooklyn Bridge, that became mine but Matt's plan was the Merrill Lynch, Charging Bull. After a bit of a walk, I got to my goal first. We didn't get on the bridge, but instead walked under it.

Next stop was the Bull, which wasn't too far of a walk from the bridge. When we got there, it was a mad house! The whole bull was covered in people and cameras. We thought it may be more of an opportune time to enjoy a late lunch and had pizza at Georgio's. Two slices with a stromboli on the side.

After eating, we headed back to bull, which had gotten better but still needed to be supervised by law enforcement who had to yell at individuals for climbing on the bull. It was unorganized chaos and we eventually had to force our way in one way or another. And to think, each end was equally busy. I knew Matt was getting frustrated with the crowd but I convinced him to be patient.

We headed off to Battery Park to see Lady Liberty. We had barely sat down on a bench when Matt said, wouldn't it be cool to go on the Ferry over? I said, let's do it. We had enough time left in the day to take the Statue in even though I wanted to see both her and Ellis Island.

As we got away from Manhattan, it was amazing to see the city skyline. We saw the Freedom Tower standing proud as well as the Empire State Building. Matt couldn't believe her size and thought she'd be bigger but she did look beautiful.

We circled her once, Matt read the signage, I snapped as many pictures of her as I could. He then was quick to point out that I wasn't taking full advantage of the educational opportunities that were before me.

The whole experience was surreal. We were in NYC and wandering about Liberty Island. For REAL! We did have to make a stop in the gift store before going back to Manhattan. Next time, I do want to take in Ellis Island's tour and experience.

When we got back Matt decided it was time to see another landmark, one of significant TV importance...the friends house! We went into Greenwich and managed to find it and a bunch of fun shops and restaurants. I could have taken more time to explore but we had set up a time to meet Chris Cooper, a friend of Judy's who had agreed to take us out to dinner and visit more about the city. We took our first NYC cab trip, nothing like feeling like a real local. We met with Chris, who had shown Matt around on the previous trip and has been living in New York for many years, working in the fashion industry. He took us up to his rooftop which has become a personal art gallery as well as another way to see the city. Was fun to see the things that he'd created among the rooftops, construction projects, and skyscrapers. 

He got us checked into a hotel, Hotel 17. Which was a bit more than we'd planned and when we saw what we were getting, we realized that Manhattan prices are a thing of their own. The place was interesting and makes for a great story for sure. The room had 2 beds (full and single) pushed against the wall, a small tv, a night stand, and a sink. The bathroom was across the hall....and communal. 

Chris took us to Odessa's for dinner, which is a true NYC diner. Matt took in the Kielbasa with sauerkraut and four pirogies with applesauce. The pirogies were fried, which was different for us. I had the chicken caesar wrap and fries. The meal was great and was fun to take in the local atmosphere.

We split ways with Chris for a little bit, we had to run to pick up overnight items and take in a drink at Mumbles, just down for the restaurant. We also managed to stop in a little thrift store...we walked away with a wool coat for me and a tie for Matt. They are wonderfully hideous.

In a New York Neighborhood, on the corner of 10th.
Chris: Your staying the night, right?
ALR: We hadn't talked about it
Chris: I found you a little place down the street, good rate!
MJR: I think we could.
ALR: We didn't bring anything...this is all we have on us.
MJR: We've never stayed in New York before.
ALR: You need to call Judy.
MJR: We'll stay.
ALR: We need to go pick up hairspray, contact solution and case, and deodorant.