Upon
arrival at Liberty Landing, we were awestruck (well, at least I was) with all
we needed to know to handle our upcoming week in New York City. We needed a
basic knowledge of ferries, subways, trains and buses; locations of various
venues for which we already had tickets; weather for the upcoming week; restaurants
and grocery opportunities, to name only a few. Overwhelmed would describe my
mindset. Clay keeps his cool; me, hmmm, not so much. Clay had researched many
of the transportation modes so we were a step ahead of the game there.
We
set out on foot to acquaint ourselves with the area where we were docked which
was Liberty State Park. Complete with a marina, two highly-rated restaurants, a
fully-developed park with lots of green space and biking/walking paths, and
ferry stops for both NYC to the Financial District and for the Statue of
Liberty/Ellis Island. We followed the brick walkway adjacent to the harbor
which curled around the Empty Sky Memorial (what a meaningful tribute to the
New Jerseyans who died in 9/11!) and revealed an awesome view of Manhattan, the
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the busy traffic on the Hudson River
through which we'd just cruised.
As
we returned to the SaSea Sally, we encountered Kelly with overnight bag in
hand, having just arrived by rental car to meet her husband and son who were
arriving by boat. Kelly had opted out of the North Atlantic Crossing from Cape
May/Atlantic City, fearing a rough and turbulent ride; many gals do this,
sending their hubbys with a substitute crew for the 'crossing' and choosing a calm
alternative. I commented, "I'm either tough, stupid or
adventuresome." Take your pick. I think my mindset (reflecting on
"Stand By Your Man") is that I'd rather be WITH him to handle any
complication than awaiting his arrival at the endpoint, wringing my hands when
he's late and wondering if he's ok.
We
had a fabulous whirlwind week in New York City! We became well acquainted with
the Liberty Lady II which ferried us to and from Liberty Landing on the New
Jersey shore to the Financial District of Manhattan. We became well acquainted
with the subway system as well as the CoNNection (free) bus through Lower
Manhattan. By week's end, both Clay and I were well-pleased with our ability to
navigate New York City; we never traveled without a bevy of maps, back-up
outerwear in case of frigid venue temps (frequent), and clear minds. We checked
weather in advance, and grabbed umbrellas if the forecast implied showers. We
took precautions with security, and I was pleased I'd purchased a thin
waistpack which kept my ID and credit cards plus bit of cash closeby. All in
all, we found New Yorkers to be extremely approachable and often quite willing
to extend a conversation beyond simply answering our questions.
Highlights
of our week:
On
Tuesday, Clay and I took the Liberty Lady II to the ferry stop in Lower Manhattan
for the first time. "Hang on Lucy, we're going for a ride!" We walked
a proposed five minutes (which ended up being thirty, which means the policeman
on the motorcycle was estimating the five minutes as his RIDING time, not our
walking time!) to Pier A Visitors Center. Boy did we score here in meeting
tourist guide extraordinaire Miss Mary! Spouting information like a fountain,
she was a wealth of information which we absorbed like sponges! We took her
suggestion of riding the CoNNection free bus through Lower Manhattan to get a
'fix' on things and to visit the South Street Seaport area. We retraced our
route via the CoNNection bus for lunch at newly-renovated Pier A, then boarded
the CoNNection again to the 9/11 Museum.
Note
regarding Pier A: "The landmark building at the southern tip of Manhattan
that originally housed the city’s docks department and later served as a
command post for the city’s fire boats has been turned into a restaurant. The
ground floor of the imposing 28,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts structure at 22
Battery Place is a beer hall about the length of a football field, with an open
kitchen at the 50-yard line. It has 400 seats indoors and almost as many on the
decks overlooking New York Harbor."
We
rendezvoused with cousin Robert Sedlak and his wife Maria at the 9/11 Museum,
toured the Museum, then the four of us boarded the Liberty Lady II for a stormy
ride back to the SaSea Sally. Stormy is an understatement as Robert and Maria
will readily confirm! Snacks aboard after drying out (the storm was horrific
with piercing lightning and thunder that 'bout sent shock waves thru you), we
then proceeded to the ferry stop in a gentle spritz for a short ferry ride (two
minutes for $2) across the waterway for a casual dinner at a Cheers-type neighborhood
bar called White Star. We parted company with the Sedlaks at this point for
their cab ride back to NYC and for our adventure back to the boat (light rail
train followed by a lengthy walk in the dark after a wrong turn from the train
stop...oops!). So thrilled that Sedlaks' visit to NYC coordinated with
ours...and kudos to Clay and Robert for making the memorable reunion happen!
On
Wednesday, we spent the entire morning troubleshooting then diagnosing the
death of Clay's cell phone. What a pickle we were in with his dead cell phone
and our provider being a regional carrier! The scenario played out over the
next days to end well, but have you ever seen Clay Logan frustrated?
We
caught the noon ferry then subway to the Theatre District of NYC for a 2 p.m.
matinee of "Kinky Boots" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre as recommended
by our good Tumbleweed friends. (Glad the Al Hirschfeld Theatre was listed
first alphabeticlly on our Theatre District map; made it easy to find...just
kidding!) How much we enjoyed the live performance where a modern-day theme was
explored with humor, sensitivity, and professionality (hey, that is a
word!) Sal insert here: I'm not the best of writers; I'm a math/science
person. I may occasionally make up words, but frequently check Merriam-Webster
and find those words to be REAL. How 'bout that! Continuing, we found the
"Kinky Boots" lead to be making his debut on Broadway...and what a
debut it was! Loved the show!
Post-show,
we wandered the Theatre District just because...then meandered by the Herald
Square Macys on 34th Street. We, of course, had to pose for cell phone shots in
the spacious interior of each the womens and mens departments. Wish I'd been
solo to do a bit of browsing, but off we went to catch the ferry before the last
scheduled departure.
On
Thursday, our destination was determined by a growth/bite/blister which had
formed on Clay's left pinkie. Thankful for guidance from our home dermatologist
who Rx'd an Rx, we mounted our bikes and wound our way through the complex of
streets in Jersey City to secure the prescription and to happen upon a mall
housing Panera and JC Penney. Quite by accident we made a day of our outing,
lunching at Panera and shopping a bit at JCP. We retraced our route (kind of),
returning to Liberty State Park too late to secure Thursday tickets to the
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. No worries; that simply designed our
Friday.
On
Friday, after touring both icons of American History, we traveled both the
ferry to Battery Park and the subway to Central Park (hey, we were getting
pretty good at this NYC transit system given the fact that son John wasn't here
to guide us as he had been during his NYMEX internship in 2005...miss you,
John!). Our travels took us to the southeast corner of Central Park to find
cousin Kris Kinet at the Sherry Netherlands Hotel. What did I just say about
'getting pretty good'? Within a stone's throw of Kris' hotel, we couldn't find
it, but did...with a call to her hubby Michael.
It
was a delight to reconnect with Kris and to have an almost-native New Yorker
show us around. Not only we were able to appreciate the renovations on the
hotel, but she guided us via subway to Chinatown for a 'down & dirty'
Chinese meal at a restaurant she favors. Kris ordered for us and, not sure what
we ate, it was nonetheless fabulous. I do remember a fried rice unlike any I'd
ever eaten (yum) and sauteed pea pod stems and leaves without the peapods (each
bite was a mouthful with chopsticks as our utensils, no cutting allowed I
guess). Our return to the boat with the ferry 'closed' for the night took us
via taxi to the PATH train station at the World Trade Center then under the
Hudson River to catch the New Jersey light rail to the Liberty State Park stop
where we made the correct turn for a much shorter walk 'home.'
On
Saturday, Clay's Westminster friend Dave Evans arrived for a mid-morning
reunion following which he drove us to Greenwich Village and Washington Square
(Park). What a festive area where we captured on 'film' folks enjoying a day in
the park: dog walkers; moms and dads pushing strollers; park goers meticulously
drafting sidewalk chalk 'graffiti;' musicians performing just for the joy of it
(but an open instrument case for tips; and the like. Following a falafel
sandwich for me and edibles a bit more traditional for Clay and Dave at Turkiss
(restaurant), Dave expertly maneuvered the crowded streets of NYC to deliver us
to the Gershwin Theatre for a Saturday matinee of "Wicked." Clay and
I were thrilled to enjoy another professional production of a show we'd never
seen but for which we'd heard rave reviews. The costuming, acting and set
design made for a magnificent afternoon, and the story line had me alternating
laughter with tears. Wish I'd had a packet of kleenex in my backpack, but I
travel light...but not light enough to have omitted two umbrellas housed
therein. Glad we'd checked the forecast (even tho the weatherman is more often
wrong than right), post-show we joined the throng underneath umbrellas as we
fell into step heading back to the boat. Subway and the PATH train returned us
to the light rail station on the New Jersey side of the Hudson at which time
Clay insisted we hail a cab for the remaining $20 of the trip. I hate spending
money on cabs, often opting to walk even long distances, but it was then
raining cats and dogs with a fierce wind thrown in for insult. Glad of his
insistence! Saturday had been an event-packed and fun-filled day which we ended
in delight eating out of the frig!
By
Sunday, we felt fairly confident in our ability to navigate the transit system
of NYC, so Clay and I parted company early afternoon for him to pursue a tour
of the Intrepid while I appreciated some 'me' time exploring Central Park and
whatever else opportuned to fill the afternoon hours of freedom. I discovered a
street fair, so poked among the various vendors and made my way back to our
defined meeting spot. We'd been forewarned by cousin Kris of a larger than
normal Gay Pride Parade taking place this Sunday, so we allowed plenty of time
for our travel. No worries, but so nice to have had her heads-up! Thanks, Kris!
Monday
was departure day toward Port Washington but not before a bike ride for
reprovisioning. Question: How full can you stuff two backpacks and still
handle the weight and volume issues on a folding bike? Answer: Well $92 worth,
of course. Once supplies were stowed aboard, we executed a mid-afternoon
departure for a 25-mile cruise through the Hudson and East Rivers, passing such
landmarks as South Street Seaport and the United Nations building, and under
the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, and Queensboro bridges. We passed
through Hell Gate, the midpoint of the 14-mile-long East River between the
Battery on the southwestern tip of Manhattan and the Throgs Neck Bridge on the
eastern end of the river at the entrance into Long Island Sound. Opposing
currents can seriously hinder progress at this point (Hell Gate), but lore has
it that "Hell Gate" is a corruption of the Dutch
"Hellegat," meaning "bright passage."
Leaving
the East River, we cruised past Little Neck Bay (the first harbor on the Long
Island shore), entered Manhasset Bay and continued to arrive at Brewer's Capri
West Marina. This trek initiated our Long Island Sound exploration, and I'm
pleased to report we were successful in handling the extremely busy waterways
and currents (by good planning on Clay's part or by chance) this Monday
afternoon.
As
our week ends in NYC, I'm pleased to report we had a memorable seven days and
could have squeezed in precious little more. Thanks to all who contributed to
our wonderful stay here! And, on that note, I will send this on its way through
cyberspace to your inbox for your reading pleasure.
