Carmody and Company

New York ... New York ?

From June 15 thru 20th, 2005 I had the opportunity to visit New York city on a business trip. It was actually a sort of reward trip guised as a business trip.

We stayed in Times Square and did some time in the local branch office there for a couple days, but had ample time off to go out'n about to check the local scenery and do some sightseeing.

Initially, what can I say? Three days was enough; five was too many!

When leaving the hotel and walking along Time Square, the sights are pretty impressive.

The activity is energizing and you can get swept along pretty easy in the hustle of it all. With hawkers on every corner, and were it not for the cement city surrounding, you might think you were in tourist place in Mexico.

I'm the one sans the coffee; I guess that still leaves 3 people to choose from.

As I said, 5 days was too many, for me anyways. I was tired of the place after a few days. I was looking forward to going home. I'm not adverse to traveling, either. Being Canadian and having travelled from coast to coast, now living in Oregon, travelling frequently around the state, having been to Mexico a few times as well as Hawaii. I found the busy atmosphere and attitude just tiring. It's like there is never any "down" time.

I also concluded that "being out" was what people did. The apartment availabilitye, cost and accomodations forced it to be that way. People went home to their closet sized apartment to change clothes, maybe, then went out to being in their "living room". There was nothing to stay home for. It also means money passes through you hands very quickly.

And the noise! A constant honking and horn blaring and I've never heard so many variations of sirens.

Now on the other hand, it is a great place to sightsee and explore around. I think I might consider going back with just my wife for the two of us to have little get away. I thought getting around was very easy. The subway, although complex, is still quite workable for some new to it's underground dwellings. We manages to walk up to Central Park and completely walk from one end to the other.

After we left Central Park, we walked towards downtown and cruised by Radio City, Trump Tower, the cathederal, the Guggenheim, and the Metropolitan.

I missed the Empire State building as well as getting to ground zero. Sadly that day's walking and our time ran out. We did do the Statton island ferry and drifted by the Statue of Liberty.

Next day we had box seats at the baseball game. So on the subway to the stadium, Tim, one of the work associates in our group, who has streaks of unabashed shamelessness and attention getting, faked a pass-out on the subway...

Gawd! After standing there looking whoosie and wiping his browe, he dropped like a sack of potatoes right there on the subway. I was surprised at the other people who offered their seat to him and symathized. Pardon me for sterotyping new yorkers and uncaring; the ones who were there were nice about it. Shame on Tim for taking advantage of their kindness! Ha; it was worth the days trip, however.

Still managed to get to the game though ...