April 2, 2008
In Old New York
Start spreading the news
I’m leaving today
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York…
I awoke at 2:10 a.m. this morning, twenty minutes before my alarm was set to go off. It’s as though my body sensed it was time to start our New York City adventure. The excitement! The anticipation! I just couldn’t sleep. This may also be due to the fact that my stomach was in knots all night about the flying part. I hadn’t been on a plane in 15 years.
After showering, dressing and double checking that I had everything I needed, I kissed Doug and Dawson goodbye (several times) and drove to my parents’ house. My sister, Rachel, was going to ride to the airport with me and then drive my car back. I didn’t want to pay the exorbitant overnight parking fees, especially when my parents live 20 minutes from Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) in Mosinee.
We got to the airport at 4:05 a.m., I printed my boarding passes and checked my luggage, then waited for 45 minutes until I could board the plane. I had my carry-on bag, and when it was time to go through security I was surprised that I had to take my shoes off and have them checked for razor blades. Times have definitely changed. I knew flying regulations were different since 9/11, but it still surprised me, eight years later.
The first flight was a small commuter plane. I had a window seat and thankfully it was still dark outside. I only saw navy blue sky and lots of street lights on the ground below. Flying over the Mississippi River scared the bejeebus out of me. My connection was in Minneapolis-St. Paul and my first plane was 10 minutes late in landing. This left me with only 30 minutes to run like the wind from gate A6 to gate G16, which consisted of several escalators and a sky way. I made it to the gate with only 10 minutes to spare. I was sweating profusely by the time I got on the much larger jet that would take me to LaGuardia airport in Queens.
I tried to sleep for most of the two hour flight. I was so exhausted from getting up early and trying to stay calm as we were thousands of feet in the air. Thirty minutes before we were scheduled to land, we hit some turbulence which jolted me awake.
As we neared NYC, I was absolutely stunned when I saw the Statue of Liberty from the air. It looked so tiny, and so far away from Manhattan. But our lady is beautiful, and the freedom she represents still takes my breath away.
Seeing the Empire State Building and the Chrysler building from the plane window was pretty cool, too. They look so majestic, these icons of Beaux-Arts architecture. Even Central Park was breathtaking from the air.
As we neared the airport, the plane began to shake and dip. I could feel every vibration, every sudden change in altitude, right in the pit of my stomach. It scared me enough that I practically threw up in my mouth, and I even uttered the words, “Dear God…make it stop!” A nice woman next to me offered to hold my hand, but I politely declined. I figured I had to get over my fear eventually.
After we landed, I collected my baggage and bought a ticket for an Air Link van to take me into the city. The driver managed to cram nine people and all of our luggage into the vehicle. It was neat to see parts of the outer boroughs and I kind of freaked out when we entered the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. I could hear this rushing sound and I wondered, “Is that the East River or the subway?” I still have no idea. I’m just glad I didn’t hyperventilate in such close quarters. And the way this guy drove? Oy vey. Speeding. Tailgating. Horn honking. Cutting taxis and buses off. I’m lucky to be alive.
Once I got to my hotel, I pre-registered, but check-in wasn’t until 3 p.m. I had two hours to kill. The hotel held my luggage for me and I walked a block south to Gray’s Papaya.
Sex and the City fans will remember this as the place where Carrie went for a hot dog after her book party. It was kind of fun to be in the same place as something filmed for HBO. I had the “Recession Special”: two dogs and a papaya fruit drink for $3.50. I hadn’t eaten yet and my stomach was rumbling. I’m tellin’ ya, hot dogs never tasted so good.
Next I ventured east on 72nd street toward Central Park. I saw the Dakota, the building in which John Lennon lived. He was shot and killed outside the Dakota in 1980. Across the street in Central Park, just steps from the Dakota, is Strawberry Fields, a quiet knoll dedicated to the memory of John Lennon by Yoko Ono. When I went through that part of the park, a man named Gary was giving a bit of history of Lennon and Ono and the building. Yoko Ono still has an apartment there. Gary had made a peace sign from beautiful flowers on the “Imagine” circle tiled in stone.
I continued walking through the park toward the Mall (the only straight path, formal promenade in the park) and giggled with glee when I saw the horse-drawn carriages and the coachman in his top hat and overcoat. I felt as though I had been transported to the era of Edith Wharton and Henry James. It was magical. I still can’t believe I’m in this great city.
While I was admiring Bethesda Fountain, a gentleman offered to give me a tour of the park on his bicycle carriage for $120. I passed on his offer, especially when I could get the exercise for free. At the fountain, which has no water in it this time of year, there was a jazz quartet playing wonderful music. I took a few seconds of video footage with my camera because I wanted to remember this sound. Up the stairs from the fountain, another musician was playing a xylophone, and yet another a ukulele.
Some of the other landmarks I passed included Cherry Hill, Hans Christian Andersen, Alice In Wonderland, the Loeb Boathouse, Belvedere Castle, the Ramble and the Bow Bridge. It was there that my camera batteries died and I decided to head back to the hotel. My feet were killing me. This city definitely gave me a work out.
On my way back, I was getting hungry again, so I stopped at Columbus Gourmet and ordered the Beef Burger Deluxe and Fries. The sandwich was as big as my head. I couldn’t even eat a quarter of it. The time was 2:45 and thankfully the hotel had a room ready for me and I checked in. I finished eating and then sprawled on my bed to rest for a moment.
It’s extremely hot in this Upper West Side apartment/hotel complex. The heater won’t seem to turn off, even though the switch is pointing to off. I have the window open and the New York breeze is wonderful. Right now the Presbyterian Church around the corner is playing “How Great Thou Art” from their bell tower. I can’t help but smile. My grandmother loved to sing that song to me when I was a child. Before that I could hear the faint sound of a French horn wafting among the skyscrapers, and the occasional fire engine or police car siren reminding me that I am indeed in the Big Apple.
It’s been a great first day. Tonight I’m going to attempt the subway to meet Mom-101 and the sk*rt girls for drinks. Wish me luck!
View more of Central Park and NYC.
Posted by Dana @ 5:38 pm • Travel Mama, Uncategorized
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April 2nd, 2008 at 10:21 pm, Wifey's House Says:
Congrats on the new job – smiles! Enjoy New York!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:01 pm, The Dana Files » It’s a Miracle Says:
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