The Day With NYC
Added at 11:03pm and filed under family, travel
We squeezed so much into four days. Like, a stupid amount. And you’d have thought that, as this is our second visit, we’d be able to give the more touristy things a miss but – given this was Sammy’s first time – no such chance. At 8am on our first morning we were at the top of the Empire State Building, taking in the breath-taking views over a crisp blue sky. We spent several hours in Central Park and in the American Museum of Natural History, took in the Downtown and Uptown tours, wandered for hours along 5th Avenue and watched M spend entirely too much money in Abercrombie and Fitch (seriously: why? That store is so UNBELIEVABLY up its own arse. Low lights and dance music? In a STORE? Pft). We spent loads of time in Times Square as our hotel was only a couple of blocks away, and entirely too much time in Toys R Us.
It was only a week ago, but I’m already forgetting things; what we did each day, how we felt, what we saw. But I know that we loved it – each and every second. M and I have always been city people and it seems that S is going exactly the same way. It surprises (hell, even shocks) people when we explain that we forewent a fortnight in Spain for our four day mania in NYC, but that’s what we did and we don’t regret it. Not able to afford both, we sat down and had our first family conference and talked about where we wanted to go for our main holiday this year. It took about three and a half seconds for us to settle on New York.
If people are shocked that we opted for a long weekend in NYC over a fortnight half board in Spain, it’s nothing to what they are when we explain that S went with us. But honestly – he’s my boy. Why wouldn’t I want him with me, sharing these incredible experiences with him? Yeah, it’s good to have a break but it’s sooo much better to be with him. Besides: the last time we were there, we couldn’t believe how family friend the city was. Not just the tourist stuff like the zoo and museums and the park, but also the shops and restaurants – everywhere. I was concerned about the pace of the city, and the maelstrom each time you try to cross a street etc., but I needn’t have worried. He took it all in his stride.
Sam’s a smart, savvy, intelligent kid, but we still had to have several long discussions about how busy it would be, how scary it might seem, and was he sure that he still wanted us to go there? He didn’t waver for a moment, not then or since. Although our hands were slippery with sweat after six hours of continuous, and – in my case – maniacal hand-holding, I don’t think I would’ve had it any other way – I don’t think any of us would have.
The itinerary below is entirely for my own benefit, simply an aid to my failing memory (it’s my aim to add photos to this entry when they’re all processed and uploaded but you’ll have to make do for now!). It’s not sexed up or anything but here’s a brief day-by-day summary of what we got up to:
Day 1 (arrived lunch time): Dropped off bags at the hotel near Madison Square Garden. Went for a walk up to Times Square, where enroute Sammy got invited into the local fire station, hefted up by a fire fighter and sat behind the wheel of a NYC fire truck, complete with sirens raring (he crapped himself – hah!). Spent time taking in the Square and visited Toys R Us where S ‘met’ Spiderman. (We caved and bought the ‘memento’ photograph but I’m glad that we did – he looks thoroughly stunned and delighted, all at once). Tried to visit the Hard Rock for dinner but it was fucking HEAVING, so we left. I later learned that this was because the Michael Jackson auction was taking place there that evening. Heh.
Day 2: Up at the crack of dawn. Had brief and disappointing breakfast at the hotel, after which we strolled to the Empire State Building, where we were fourth in the queue at 7.45am. This is utterly the time to go – no queue, no fuss and perfect views. Afterward we wandered down to the Flatiron Building. This was entirely for S’s benefit; I couldn’t care less but, as the setting for the Daily Bugle in the Spiderman movies, it was a must-see for six-year-old SpiderSam. :) We then hopped onto the GrayLine and did the Downtown Loop. Got off at Ground Zero at which we visited St. Pauls’ Chapel and the memorial gallery (which was horrific, as you might expect) and then accompanied a survivor for a hour long tour of the site and to hear his story. It was . . . harrowing. Horrible. But mesmerising. I feel a bit iffy about visiting and taking photos of the site, as though it was some gloriously fun tourist trap, but 100% of the payment goes to support the families and survivors, and it was important to me that we not only paid our respects, but also that S grows up aware and mindful of the sacrifices of others. It was an odd chapter in the day but I’m very glad we did it. We didn’t last time.
We then headed to the Rockefeller, where we spent a THOUSAND years looking for a place to eat. Sated, I then hit the NBC and Nintendo stores which officially makes Rockefeller Plaza one of my most favourites places in the world. Bought entirely too many t-shirts in NBC (Battlestar Galactica and The Office FTW!) and also left with an Andy Bobblehead and my own Dundie. Woot. In the Nintendo store Sam picked up a Mario cuddly toy he fell in love with, whereas I left with more geeky t-shirts and an awesome Zelda mug. More woot. We finished off the day by visiting FAO Swartz where Sam refused to make me into a Muppet for Christmas. I was surprisingly hurt. He says he’s sorry he didn’t do it now, but I grew up watching the Muppets and although I explained that I loved them and just really wanted to have fun with him, he wasn’t having any of it. :( (We’ve since realised that you can design them online, but I don’t think that they ship to the UK).
Day 3: Yesterday was intense, so we were all feeling a bit tired today. S had woken at 3.30am and didn’t go back to sleep, so you can just imagine how much fun that was. We had breakfast in the same diner in Murray Hill that we loved last time (waffles for breakfast FTW) and then watched M spend far too much money in aforementioned arsey Abercrombie (where we had to QUEUE to get in, may I add), as well as the Disney store and, a staple favourite of mine, the Apple store. We spent most of rest of the morning at Central Park, where we walked for a gazillion miles, mostly just so we could take in sights from the Ghostbusters film. A couple of hours were then spent at the American Museum of Natural History, but I admit that I flaked out in Ocean Life and laid on the floor, exhausted, staring up at the belly of the Blue Whale while M and S finished up the other three floors. (I wish I was making that up). We finished off taking in the Uptown tour, which we didn’t do last time, changed buses at Central Park, then wandered down from Times Square. We bought beer and pizza and ate in our room. Think the three of us were asleep by 9pm.
Day 4: We were KNACKERED today. We had a town car booked for 3pm, but it seemed entirely too far away. We to the diner for brekkie again, and then visited Macy’s, which was gloriously disappointing, but I suppose that’s because I abhor shopping and find department stores irritating. We did some more shopping and finally scored a table at the Hard Rock for lunch. Then we visited Toys R Us one final time for S to see the T-Rex and the Ferris wheel, and then wandered back to our hotel. Our town car came at 3pm but it turned out to be a stretch limo. We couldn’t have left Manhattan in more style. :)
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On 6 December, 2009 at 9:34 pm, Renate said:
Omg a NINTENDO STORE? How could I have missed that? :O And I was right there, at Rockefeller Plaza! Sheeeet.
How much did you have to pay for your hotel room? When I went last month I stayed with a friend at her dorm, but next time I want to bring my husband and, well, we’d rather have a hotel room than sleep on someone’s floor. ;)
And I’d totally do 4 days in NYC over 14 in Spain. Seriously, Spain is SO CLOSE (more so for you than for me), whereas NYC, well, that’s sort of its own world entirely.
Glad to hear that all of you had fun! :)
On 7 December, 2009 at 8:47 am, Vixx said:
We stayed in the Hampton Inn Madison Square. Reasonable rooms but uber clean and lovely staff – we were very impressed. Very reasonable rates, too (we paid £250GBP for three nights stay, which was great for such a central location).
I know – we didn’t see the Nintendo store last time, and it took FOREVER to find it! It’s just outside, around the corner.
V xx
On 7 December, 2009 at 9:45 pm, Sarah said:
Oo, that’s exciting! I love NYC. I live in Washington D.C, and while it’s not as trendy as NYC, it’s still a city that’s awake 24/7 and I like that feeling.
I took a trip to NYC with my friend to catch the Comic Con for my job, and we spent too much of our time in the Toys R Us lol. There’s a funny pic of me shaking my fist at the T-rex, and of my friend acting like Speed Racer as he got out of the model that they had on the floor. That place IS SO BIG! I don’t blame your son Sam, but he’s more age appropriate haha.
On 8 December, 2009 at 8:20 am, Vixx said:
I’d love to visit Washington DC one day. :)
And you visit Comic Con for your JOB?! What kind of awesomely amazing job do you have?!
V xx
On 8 December, 2009 at 4:07 pm, Sarah said:
I work for Gamepro (but am thinking of doing something else), but my co-workers and I received tickets in a goodie bag for doing well at a convention. Better than a pat on the head, eh.
I dunno if you remember me or not, Vixx, but we used to sorta talk online sometimes but I ended up disappearing due to being busy with my job and life. I owned toolatenow.net (a gaming hub) & we met ’cause of the Silent Hill forum, since we’re crazy nutters. I always felt bad I never replied to a request you asked me once, to help interview a Silent Hill producer, ’cause you’re all set and solid in your own gaming site now! Haha.
On 8 December, 2009 at 7:35 pm, Vixx said:
Oooh – THAT Sarah! Oh, I heart you! Yay for coming back but SMACK for fucking off and ignoring me in the first place …
Coolio job. Think if I lived my life over, I’d *so* be in gaming journalism now. What a shame I’m now old and earn far too much in my day job to change now! What exactly do you do there?
Which gaming site are you talking about – SHH.com or aeropause.com? But yes, I did ask you to help – I remember now. Sob.
V xx
On 8 December, 2009 at 9:51 pm, Sarah said:
It was the SHH.com where our love story began. Or something.
LOL you might not believe this, but not helping you with that Silent Hill thing has haunted me for 2yrs. Like, no shit — the REGRET AHHH!
What I do in Gamepro is I dig for info on proceedings and news, with a team of about 6 other people. I used to write at the Gamer Girl offshot Gamepro was affliated with, but I didn’t enjoy my time there.
I think it’s so cool what you’re doing at aeropause.com, though. I read your entry about how you broke the news on Yamaoka leaving. I was like YEAH, GET IT, GIRL! I’m getting back into Silent Hill, but I wish I had my own space again to put up the entire comic book series that I had bought and scanned. Not quite on par to Wallofdeath’s Translatedmemories.com, but I think I was the only person who had it on their website.
Oh man, I natter on. I’m so glad you’re back, though! I silently stalked but your website was silent for a long time.
On 9 December, 2009 at 8:51 am, Vixx said:
Yeah – the Yamaoka thing was kind of intense.
Would be happy to host the comics at SHH.com if you’re interested – or provide you with your own SH webspace. Just ask.
If I told you that I’d been thinking of setting up a new site run exclusively by female writers/players (albeit ones who don’t exclusively play fucking animal crossing or American’s Next Top Model games – and with NO PINK IN THE LAYOUT), would you be interested? (Obviously, hobby/just-for-fun only – no pay. :( But might be a laugh …?)
V xx
On 9 December, 2009 at 10:33 pm, Candi said:
I’m so glad to hear NYC is actually family friendly. We are in dire need of a vacation.
Haha, I would have gone the fortnight in Spain, but that is only because this sheltered Texas girl has never been out of the US. :(
On 10 December, 2009 at 3:54 pm, Teesee said:
I’ve been playing Grand Theft Auto IV a lot recently and parts of Liberty City is based on New York – it really makes me want to go! I still haven’t been despite promising myself I will one day.
Sounds like you had a great time. Who did you fly with?
On 10 December, 2009 at 5:18 pm, Sarah said:
I’d love if you’d host the comics! I think it’d do better being at the SHH site instead of my own, because it’s more resource-y. I have all the scans, and thumbnails, but I dunno how you’d want to present them.
And yeah, that’s a keen idea about writing with other ladies who loves them games. I’d be down for that. I love to prattle on about fictional characters and their pathos, or game mechanics.
On 11 December, 2009 at 6:10 pm, Audrey said:
This sounds like it was amazing. It’s wonderful you guys plan a family vacation every year like this, and bring Sam along. Travel is such an important aspect of growing-up. It sounds like this trip went as magically as possible; I am happy for you guys. (: And maybe a little jealous. A little.. okay a LOT. Hehe (: