New York: city and upstate

Having traveled 4,500 miles across this country, having tackled state capitals,  interstate truckers, the metro systems of several major cities and the icy Plains of I-80, we thought we had this tourist thing pretty well handled. But then we tried to take on the metro system of New York City.

65% of our photo album contains photos taken in the subway.  This is due to spending 85% of our time there*                                                    

At least we were entertained

While we do not rejoice at the misfortunes of others, there is something gratifying in observing the confusion of locals as demonstrated by the following dialog, shouted by trio of New Yorkers, all standing on different platforms in the subway. "Is this the E train?"

              "No.  The E train only runs during the week.  You have to cross over here to this side and take the F train uptown and then get off on Jay Street and connect with the M."

              "The M train won't take me downtown."

              "The M train only runs downtown."

              "No it don't!  I'm trying to go Brooklyn and I know I can't take the M train."

              "If you're trying to go to Brooklyn then you need the J train and you have to catch it at the Sutphen station."

              "The J train will take me uptown!"
              "Look, buddy, where you trying to go?  You wanna go downtown, you gotta take the J."

              "You don't know where I'm trying to go!  I know I can't take the J cause this is Sunday!  I know where I'm going and you don't have to tell me anything!"

During this exchange we witness numerous other passengers alternately stand up and then sit back down, whispering to each other "I knew it was the M!  We're in wrong spot!" and "I told you we can only take the E!"  

Is it a wonder it took us, on average, 2 hours to enter and exit Manhattan each day?  

So what did we see in New York City?  Um...buildings.  Oh, wait, we found Rockefeller Center and we were all able to do our Liz Lemon/Jack Donaghey/Tracy Morgan impressions on the streets outside 30 Rock.  

And we found our way to Time's Square at last.

"Family, where are you?"                                    

                                             

"We are here!  We are here!"

                 And we ate at very, very, very, very crowded eateries but Mihai and Mircea got Katz's Deli at last

And then Genea saved us by taking us to Patterson!  It was so great to be with her and spend a day in the quietness of Patterson and meet some great friends.

Ribs: its what's for lunch.  Apparently we struck the Mother Lode, arriving on RIB DAY (although my personal favorite was the mashed sweet potatoes)

                                                

Simon: Tour Guide Extraordinare

Lucian and Raphael practicing recording

Mircea recording his reading: listen for him in the next issue!

                            

 Lucian swears he was not sleeping on the drive back into the city.

          

Genea picked out this fantastic restaurant in her neighborhood in Brooklyn.  Buttermilk Channel for all of those who might be traveling there and interested in some good eats.

Thanks, Genea for our best day in New York!  We had a wonderful time with you!

*It is not our intention to disparage New York City; when we booked our hotel by the airport in Queens we did so with the knowledge that we were placing ourselves far outside the city and that we would have a significant commute to see and eat anything interesting but this was a necessary comprise given the fact that otherwise we would have had to haul 9 pieces of luggage through the New York City subway system.  (see above narrative for proof that this would not have been a good idea).