I had a chance
to revisit the “BIG APPLE”, attending a world congress for travel agents
beginning November 4th. It coincided with the famous New York
Marathon with over 30,000 runners starting from Staten Island, crossing the
Verrazano Narrows Bridge and ending up at Central Park. Driving into Manhattan,
we saw runners everywhere happily celebrating the completion of their 26 mile
run through the city –athletically speaking, the biggest event of the year. It
raised the spirits of New Yorkers, bringing back some of the energy and
enthusiasm to the people suffering and saddened by the tragic events of
September 11th. It seems almost unthinkable that the sun should
continue to shine; but it does, and New Yorkers go about their business in an
almost soldierly way.
For us to walk
the streets and watch the people was a wonderful experience. What a diverse
culture! Asian, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish, African American, German, etc., etc.
This city is truly uniquely different and, above all, very exciting, vibrant
and alive – 24/7 as they say. We stayed at the HOTEL ROOSEVELT on 45th
and Madison Ave just minutes away from Times Square and Broadway theatres, and
just a few blocks from Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue. Dwight showed me
Grand Central Station, now used for commuter trains only. We walked through the
marbled majestic halls with crystal chandeliers and grabbed a late lunch at the
PERSHING SQUARE CAFÉ - very chic, and
the bagel and lox were delicious.
The JACOB
JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER, built in 1986, is right near 34th and the
Hudson River piers and is an immense glass structure containing over 800,000
square feet of exhibit space. What a great place to attend a convention and see
the Travel Trade Show, which exhibited lots of new ideas, creative displays and
interesting people to talk to, especially in technical fields with innovative
software and new computers.
Our first
night we had a chance to go for a romantic nightcap at the EMPIRE STATE
BUILDING observatory to watch the lights come on in the greatest city in the
world. Whether you are” sleepless in Seattle” or having “an affair to
remember”, it is a marvelous way to start your New York visit. We missed the
“SKYRIDE” on the 2nd floor because it was closed, but I would
suggest including this in your visit. It is an aerial tour of New York that
sends you on a ride around, above, and even below, all that city has to offer.
I would also suggest to buy a CITY PASS, which allows you to visit up to 7
great museums.
Next day,
after attending on opening speech by Mrs. Barbara Bush and participating in
some of the workshops, we had had a chance to sneak away to have lunch at the
famous ‘TAVERN ON THE GREEN’. (We had made reservations almost 2 weeks earlier
so we could be assured a table.) It was truly worth the cost to sit in this
glass enclosed gazebo, a glittering jewel, spectacularly set within Central
Park, with its chandeliers in green and purple colors, straight from the famous
glass blowers of Venice. It truly is an oasis in the middle of otherwise hectic
midtown Manhattan. Afterwards we enjoyed a visit to the METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF
ART on 82nd street with its many world famous European masterpieces.
I lived in New York back in the 60s and that was my very favorite place to go,
although the Frick collection on 68th Street runs a close second.
Entertainment
is virtually limitless, as you may know – LES MISERABLES, THE LION KING, MAMMA
MIA, THE MUSIC MAN, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and yes the PRODUCERS, expensive but
exciting Broadway Shows. Then there is off-Broadway (100 –499 seats) and
OFF-OFF BROADWAY seating less then 100 –experimental, hip, young and so on the
cutting edge. This is not to forget the JAZZ, RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, THE MET,
and all the Comedy Clubs. There is world class shopping and strolling along
Fifth Avenue with TIFFANY’S and SAKS across from Rockefeller Center, not to
mention MACY’S on Herald Square.
I was very
lucky to have a quiet hour in the PLAZA HOTEL, enjoying high tea with a harp
playing soft beautiful music in the ‘GREEN ROOM” - what a place, what ambience
and outstanding service!
Our stay ended
with a NEW YORK HARBOR CRUISE for 90 minutes, enjoying the spectacular views of
the STATUE OF LIBERTY, ELLIS ISLAND, EMPIRE STATE AND CHRYSLER BUILDINGS, and
yes GROUND ZERO which made me cry because everything called THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER is a mess of steel, the site of giant destruction and gaping holes. I
used to work at 65 Broadway near Battery Park and commuted to work on the
STATEN ISLAND FERRY. The World Trade Center had not been built at that time,
but the same streets are there - BATTERY PLACE, CANAL STREET, WHITEHALL, WALL
STREET, and TRINITY CHURCH. I did not want to get any closer, as there is a
great sadness all over but the grandeur of NEW YORK will never diminish. New
Yorkers are all heroes in my eyes.
I urge you to
visit New York on the just published RED WHITE AND BLUE PACKAGE TOURS. Stay in
a beautiful hotel, include a show and a visit to a museum as well as a
sightseeing tour of the City, and a special restaurant for a very DISCOUNTED
PRICE. It will help New York and it is a wonderful experience.
I leave you
with a prayer
IN PRAYER WE FIND STRENGTH
IN STRENGTH WE FIND FORGIVNESS
IN FORGIVENESS WE FIND LOVE
IN LOVE WE FIND PEACE
PRAY FOR AMERICA
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
Farvel og tak Elfi