everyone’s your friend in new york city
I’m not doing the English dancing weekend after all. I piddled around, delayed sending in the registration, debated eternally where or not I should go until it was too late. It would have been easier if there was somebody that I was going with… or if the price had been half as much; then I’d have done it without a second thought. In the end, I decided that I could not splurge on it, and I’ll have to find another place to wear my pretty dress. I’m planning on going down to Illinois in May for a English dance so it will be displayed then.
So instead of men in cravats, I’m going to New York to visit Sam and baby Meghan. This is such a huge deal for me and evidence of how much I want to see that wild baby hair. I’m already trembling and have a pit of fear in my stomach. I don’t do tall buildings. That’s the understatement of the year. I become paralyzed under their shadow, frightened to near death that they are going to fall on me (yeah, September 11th was virtually my worst nightmare come to life). And that’s just the comparatively scrawny buildings in SLC. Needless to say, a visit to the Empire State Building/Chrysler Building/Times Square/Ground zero and even the Statue of Liberty are not on the list. Right now, I’m liking the idea of a boat tour of the city: a chance to see the important sights and bridges, but from a distance, where I can practice taking pictures of reflections in the Hudson River. I’m also looking forward to central park and seeing the skyline there.
And if all else fails, I’ll get myself a prescription for some propanolol and/or alprazolam and medicate my way through. The benefit of being a doctor.
So, question to my wise friends out there who have been to NYC: Which are the must see sights, mostly in Manhattan and that won’t frighten me to death? And from those who live there, any hidden nooks that shouldn’t be missed but are often overlooked by the tourists?
Oh, wow. That is a tough fear. You’re being very brave.
I would say go to Central Park. It’s wide and open and pleasant and might be soothing. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is on one edge of the Park and is a regular museum-sized building, with some great stuff inside. I’ve heard good things about the Cloisters (another Met museum) but didn’t go there.
Beyond that, I don’t know. I didn’t really notice the tall buildings all around, but I probably wouldn’t have unless I looked up.
You know the Statue of Liberty isn’t a technically a building, although you can walk up to the top of it via stairs? It’s a very huge statue, on an island that you have to take a ferry to get to. It might be one of the least problematic tourist sites and it is also one of the most interesting, especially if you have relatives that came through Ellis Island.
I hate to break this to you, but tall buildings are not entirely avoidable in New York City. So if that’s your phobia, then a little desensitization might be in order before you leave, or you won’t leave their apartment. Bring the drugs, too.
I would recommend a visit to The Cloisters and to Central Park. If you like modern art, it would be a shame to miss seeing the Guggenheim Museum, which is a magnificent piece of sculpture in its own right.
Oooh – go to Ellis Island! I could have spent even longer than I did there (skipped the Statue of Liberty altogether haha).
Also – The Carnegie Deli = YUM. Seventh Ave & 55th St. Awesome cheesecake. I wish I could remember the name of the pizza place I visited – that was to die for as well.
I agree with the above poster – Central Park would probably be a good choice for you as well.
Ellis Island relatives
Your great grandfather J N Kjaer went through Ellis Island in the 1920s.