Project OZ: Travel report New York

Ok, this is not about our Project OZ and it is also a day or two late, but...
We're back from The Big Apple.

Four days of big city holiday in New York are sadly over.

On Thursday 14/06 -12 we left for my first visit to New York. Man, have I been looking forward to this trip, and it did not disappoint me.
The flight was only eight hours, and because of the time difference we actually landed only two hours after take-off :)

Arrival:
At Newark airport there was the obligatory American-type security and passport control. Amazingly, passport control and luggage retrieval only took about one hour. Then it was New York City next.

Day One
by the help of taxi, which is fantastically cheap in New York, we arrived at our hotel without problems. We stayed a hotel in the Upper West Side which was both cheap (believe it or not) and clean and friendly. W79th Street is a good starting point as it is close both to Broadway and the W79 metro-station.
After checking in, we walked downtown to find our goal for the day, the Empire State Building. Even though it is very easy to find from across the Hudson River it is not so easy when you are in between all the Tall buildings in this city.
One thing that was not hard to find however, was Times Square:

With all the lights and boards, you know when you are there.

We did eventually find the Empire State Building as well and up we went.

The view from the 86th and 102th floors is just breathtaking:

Day two:

This day was spent in the Financial District and general downtown. We saw what will be the new World Trade Towers and had a burger and a beer in Battery park just enjoying the weather.

The Rockefeller Building

Next was walking trough TriBeCa, SoHo, Little Italy and finally Chinatown. This is the New York that I was expecting. The houses with fire escapes on them, the gritty feel and the shops and people on the streets. It felt a little like being in a movie. Me Like :)

In front of the statue at the Rockefeller Centre

In TriBeCa

Street view in Chinatown

Signs is Chinatown

Grand Central Station

Day Three

This day was spent partly at the Hudson River. We got some stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty:

Looks familiar :) ?

After that we went to Macy's. Way to crowded so that didn't last long Much nicer to just walk about and look at the city and all the people. this being a Saturday they were definitely there. Times Square was packed.

Day four

Electronics day ;) B&H Electronics is a sight in it self even if you are not interested in electronics. Run by Hasidic Jews (who are most of the employees as well) it was closed on Saturday and open on Sunday. They know what they are talking about and if you buy something it travels in a little basket along the roof to the checkout. Nice concept :)

Apart from that we just went home this day. Sadly our long weekend in The Big Apple was over :(

In general I just have to say that I loved this city and really want to come back. There is food on every corner (almost literally on Every corner) and good one at that. Cabs are, for Norwegians, almost for free and there are just so much to see and do.

I don't do advertising on this blog, but I just have to give a shout out to the cafe were we ate our breakfasts. The New Wave Cafe at 2212 Broadway (between 78th and 79th Streets). We ate all our breakfasts here for a reason. Good food, good service and cheap prices. It is highly recommended if you're ever in the neighbourhood.

All in all; a great weekend and I'll love to come back :)

Some more pics just because I want to :)