| October 21, 2003
Before leaving Haverville, Massachusetts we
searched out and made reservations for Long Island, New York. Drove
Highway 95 which acts as a ring road on the west side of Boston and
commented, as we had already done several times this morning, of how much
we had enjoyed being in Boston. We continued to drive south and
slightly west and crossed into Rhode Island just north of
Providence. Still staying on Hwy 95 (other than for pit stops)
we crossed into Connecticut. The temperature has been fluctuating
between 20.5c and 15c along with variations in weather from
pounding rain to sunshine and high cirrus clouds.
Two more states have been added to our list
- Rhode Island and Connecticut. It was late when we reluctantly
booked into our hotel room in Jamaica - a suburb of New York City.
The neighbourhood was somewhat deprived. The desk clerk was behind
glass walls, the check-in card made statements such as "Your
signature below confirms that ..." among others .... "the monies
used to pay for the room have not been secured illegally" and
"the room will not be used for illegal purposes." When we
asked what area codes were not long distance so we could connect our lap
top to a local number, she said "local calls are fifty cents each and
you need to leave a five dollar deposit before we open the phone
line." We showed her a letter from Choice Hotels which extended
to us certain privileges including free local calling. She phoned
her boss and then opened up the lines. We had booked three nights -
but gave notice we would only be staying the one that had been
guaranteed.
The room, which overlooked the chop shop
next door, was clean enough to allow us to stay. It was just
before dark and we went out in search of food. After walking a few
blocks, one of which was through a flea market in the parking lot of
Aqueduct (horse racing) in the processes of breaking down and packing up,
we came upon a busy pizza shop and shared 3 different slices and a Greek
salad ... and made plans to find new accommodations tomorrow.
October 22, 2003
The morning was spent in search of new
accommodations. The drive gave us some appreciation of just how long
Long Island is. Once we checked in to a Quality Inn in a nicer
neighbourhood and with a nicer view, we walk the six blocks to the commuter
train and began our first journey into New York City.
As we emerged from Penn Station the sky loomed
high above the skyscrapers. Macy's was straight ahead and it was difficult not to just stop and gawk at the buildings and let it
sink in "We are in New York, New York."
The city is
bigger than life. It is a city of excesses. tall buildings,
signs almost as big as the buildings themselves, streets flooded with
yellow taxi cabs and black Lincoln Towncar limos with blacked out windows
competing with delivery trucks and vans, the occasional private vehicle,
tour buses and courier bikes that zip in and out a deathly pace.
Hundred year old buildings are reflected in the glass towers of new
structures. The best way to feel New York is on foot .... at ground
level with the people that call this busy city their own .... shop people,
business people, street hawkers, students, most sane ... some insane and
more than just a few teetering on the edge showing their own style of
"extreme". For example the Naked Cowboy who stands in an
advantageous spot with Times Square as a background so people ... mostly
women ... but not all .... can have their pictures taken with his buff
body, his geeetar strategically placed, a white hat and cowboy boots.
When he
turns around he is wearing white underpants with the words "Naked
Cowboy" printed across them. The first time we saw him is was
close to freezing temperatures .... but I guess the money people stuff in
his boots at least keep his feet warm.
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We even saw a billboard ad
for him at one of the outlying bus stops. Then there was the fellow
dressed to the nines in a beautiful tuxedo, a big floppy white
handkerchief buqueting out of his pocket, a spiked Mohawk hair-do and a
pleased grin on his face from the double-takes people were giving
him. Oh, and then there was the fellow walking his rabbit on a leash
.... and those were just three out on the streets. |
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Food places are abundant at ground level and
their meal portions sometime seem obscene. In New York, especially
in Times Square, it is difficult to tell when darkness falls as mega-watts
of lights fill the space between earth and stars. We took a night
tour. It was cold but the view from the open-air-top of the double-decker
tour trolley felt like the best seats in town for the show. New York
overwhelms the senses to excess and our minds and emotions were
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abuzz as
we made our way back to our suburb room on the subdued commuter
train. |
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October 23, 2003
Back to New York and a morning of
jump-on-jump-off touring double-decker and then it was back to ground level and the
excited yet orderly chaos of New York streets. We sought out
the address where Rev James Kennedy (Sherrie's great-great grandfather)
ministered to his first North American church flock from 1871 to 1896. If the
church address has not changed then the space once known as the Reform Presbyterian
Church is now a hotel, however, on a nearby street corner stood a
Presbyterian church that was undergoing major structural changes (putting a
basement under the existing building).
We were able to attract the attention
of a construction foreman and after hearing our story and our desire to
see the inside of the building, he went back in and brought out the
church's building supervisor. He explained that it was not open to
the public ... danger of being injured where work was being carried out
... but that he could sympathize with our desires. The foreman and
the churchman ... led us into the building and into a magnificent
church. |
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Terry talked with the gentlemen while Sherrie took one
picture after another (some blurry as a result of the excitement being
felt). We came away with the name and email address of a lady in the
church that may be able to confirm whether or not this was indeed James
Kennedy's church.
Back on the trolley and off again just down
the block from Carnegie's Deli (across from Carnegie Hall). Inside Carnegie's the only thing
stopping it from being wall to wall people were tables ladened with corn
beef sandwiches, huge slices of cheese cake and other assorted menu
items. We each had the smaller version of the Carnegie's corn beef
sandwich; |
| those who ordered the "Woody Allen" received a
sandwich twice as thick. Again the description "excess"
comes to mind. Sherrie couldn't envision eating so much corn beef in one
seating so put two-thirds of it aside and along with some from Terry's
sandwich the two of us managed to have two more dinners from the take-home
package (a common sight leaving the deli). |
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We joined the rush hour crowd in the subway
and on the train. Our New York excursions had been both exhilarating
and exhausting.
October 24, 2003
A day off. It is good to
take a day off now and then when traveling. Although fun and
enjoyable ...
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