New York, NY (USA)

[Bob came up with the idea to visit New York City (for the Belmont Stakes) this week - I was up for the trip! - we woke up really early to catch a bus (pretty cheap, actually) - it was my first trip to the Big Apple since Spring Break during college (see MAR 1988) - right before we left, I found information on the Internet about the World Trade Center (9/11) Memorial and managed to print tickets (the site said entry would be quicker that way) - we drove over to Eisenhower Avenue and caught the Metro into Washington, DC - we arrived a Gallery Place around 0900L, the time when the bus was supposed to leave - it was actually closing up its doors, but I managed to catch it and hold it long enough for us to get on - we made pretty good time out of the city, using I-95 almost all the way - the bus had wireless, but no plug for charging... - we saw some good scenery, something I haven't seen for a long time (since I avoid NYC, typically) - the view we got when we arrived in West New York (for the Tunnel) was tremendous (could see the new World Trade Center) - after getting dropped off at Penn Station, we made our way into the Subway System - Bob had a ticket already, but I tried to buy one (with "help" from a local) - we got on a train headed downtown and got off right near the site of the old World Trade Center - before we went in at our scheduled time (1400L), we both got some great hot dogs and sausages (pretty pricy) - we then went into the WTC complex - having a ticket made it really easy (there was a huge line waiting to get them onsite) - we walked around the Memorial for about an hour - it was very moving, seeing the old "footprints" of the tall buildings, now filled up with cascading waterfalls and pools with walls around the top that listed each of the names of the people who died - we missed a chance to see inside the new museum, which won't open for a few more months - making our way back to the subway, we headed back to Penn Station - there, we bought tickets for the Long Island Expressway - when we got on, headed for Belmont, we were joined by thousands of festive fans - it wasn't as good as Churchill Downs, but it made my second leg of the Triple Crown Race Sites memorable (see MAY 1991) - it was great to see the life in the Boroughs, since it was warm and the train went through several pretty neighborhoods - we had to switch trains as we approached Belmont - and we saw even more fans while we waited on the platform - the special train emptied out at Belmont and we walked in with everyone else - we bought cheap general entry tickets and then found some beer - by this point, my phone was almost dead, so I charged it at a convenient outlet while eating and drinking - we had learned a few days before that "I'll Have Another" (who was flirting with history) had scratched from the race, so it was a little anti-climactic - still, we tried to bet (lines were HUGE) and found a good place to watch some of the earlier races - there were sprinkles throughout the afternoon, but the rain held off until the main event - our return bus trip was set for 2000L and we didn't want to be late - so, we watched the call to post and then headed towards the train after they departed the starting gate - we could hear the roar of the crowd, but avoided the rush that occurred right after the race ended - the train made good time (even with the switch again) and we arrived a Penn Station around 1900L - there was actually an earlier bus (from the same company we used this morning) so we inquired if we could use it - we were in luck, not only did they say yes, but we left immediately - traffic was horrible on the way home, so we were happy we made the earlier ride... - Nicky called me and we talked about our day in the City - but then my phone died completely - we arrived back in Chinatown around midnight - there was a huge line for the return trip to NYC (this bus does cycles, I guess) - I haven't hung out near the Verizon Center after midnight: whew! - lots of drunks and seedy characters - but Bob and I made it on the Metro and arrived back at our car without much trouble - what a day!]