For our last day, we decided to leave the island. If only for an hour. Walking around New York the past couple of days, Sean and I got to see neighbourhoods and their different flavours. We cut across the beauty and tranquility that is Central Park. We stood in awe of architectural skyscrapers.
But sometimes it’s not enough to see it from within. Sometimes one wants to see it from the outside. Just travel one train stop to Brooklyn or New Jersey and you’re sure to get an amazing view of New York. Or you could, like us, take the ferry to Staten Island.
We got off at Bowling Green and headed towards the ferry terminal. Due to damage wrought by Hurricane Sandy, Battery Park was behind fencing. Unfortunately, we were not able to get up close to see the sphere, the metallic sculpture that was damaged during the 9/11 attacks. It’s amazing that it only sustained dents and holes when the World Trade Centre collapsed.
The ferry ride is free and runs on the half hour. The terminal was already packed with people and you can kinda make a bet with yourself that almost everyone there was just going for the ride and don’t actually live on Staten Island.
Sean and I snagged ourselves a spot on the deck and watched the skyscrapers recede as we sailed past Liberty, Ellis and Governors Island. Although the Statue of Liberty stands at 301 feet tall, from ground to torch, Sean thought it looked mighty puny. In his mind and from all the movies he’s seen with the Statue of Liberty, he envisioned it as being as tall as the Empire State Building! That’s Hollywood for you.
Course, I was right. As soon as the ferry docked and we disembarked, almost every single rider was headed back to the city. And not in a slow and orderly fashion, either. As the returning ferry was already boarding its passengers and it would be another half hour before another came in, everyone started sprinting, in hopes of catching it.
As did we. But with one difference. Sean and I were fake screaming and fake acting hysterical a la the scene from War of the Worlds. You remember that scene… where Tom Cruise, his children and what seems like the whole community, wait around to board the ferry that would take them away. And then the 3 legged alien tripod arrives, gives off that loud, blaring sound and pandemonium erupts. Everyone screams and runs for the ferry.
We were acting that out. And making that nasally blaring noise. And laughing hysterically while doing it. We’re such dorks.
But we all ended up missing the ferry. It wasn’t too bad though. While we were waiting, an a capella group showed up and entertained the crowd with their renditions of Motown songs. That’s what I love about New York – entertainment pop-up style.
When we got back to Manhattan, we headed to the East Village for lunch at Jebon Sushi and Noodle. We got some miso soup, sushi, vegetable spring rolls and the scallop skewer served with Malaysian satay peanut sauce.
After lunch, we walked up St Marks Place and I noticed the Asian-fication of the street. There was Jebon, Grand Sichaun, Natori Sushi, Ramen Setagaya, Kenka Izakaya, Yakitori Taisho, Udon West and a Japadog. But to name a few.
I even made friends with a panda. Who incidentally did not try to harass or extort money out of me like Elmo or Cookie Monster at Times Square.
We saw a little bit of the Lower East Side, then back up to Soho where I bought a couple of things from Dean and Deluca. LOVE that store. Then to Greene Street to take pics of the rows of lofts with cast-iron facades.
Then it was onto 5th Avenue for our last hurrah before leaving for the airport that night. We stopped in at FAO Schwartz – cuz you got to, right? And did a little last minute shopping at Uniqlo.
We called for car service to drive us to JFK.
Pro Tip: The cost of taking car service is almost the same as taking a cab. But much more of a luxurious ride! And worth it! The drivers are way more personable and the interior is clean. Next time, I’ll have to remember to book car service when arriving in New York too.
Everything ran smoothly. We got to JFK in plenty of time. Got through security with no fuss and no lines. Feasted on very delicious 4 cheese pizza at Wolfgang Puck Express.
Side note: We really lucked out in the food department. Everywhere we ate was super tasty. But then again, this is New York. You have to be good in order to stay in business.
So, bellies fed and all our senses more than satisfied, we headed home on the red-eye.
So many things that we’ve seen. So many things we still missed out on. And because of that, we will be back, for we heart New York.
View more photos of my trip on my Flickr album.
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