Highlights from the Big Apple

August 19, 2008 - I'm back from spending three days in New York. As always, New York is just an awesome place to visit. It's every urban planner's dream of what a city should be like: the buildings, the crowds, the transit system. What I love most about New York is the fact that there is always something new to do. Despite my many visits to the city, I still have yet to visit the MET, or see a Broadway show, or go to the Bronx Zoo. It's a good thing that NYC is close by eh.

Anyway, Julie and I hit up the city - this time, it was more of a shopping trip. We are both broke now (she bought 3x as much as me though) but we had lots of fun. Here are some highlights:

- Shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue:

Normally I would not go inside this super duper expensive department store, but when you're shopping with someone as rich as Julie, 5th Ave is a must. Anyway, it was still fun looking and touching things that you can't afford. Favourite moment: the purple-suit salesman at the Prada section came up to me and said in a high pitch tone "'excuse me sir, THAT purse is $960". Err - thanks.

- Chanting USA-USA-USA in the middle of Times Square:

Turns out New Yorkers are watching the Olympics too. We were glued to the tv the whole time we were having dinner at Ruby Tuesdays near Times Square (we even cheered when Canada won its first swimming medal). As soon as we left the restaurant, we looked up one of those giant tv screens and saw Michael Phelps was getting ready for his last race (and to win his 8th gold medal). We stopped - and so did everyone: pedestrians, cars, buses - Times Square literally stood still. Amid chants of USA-USA-USA (we joined in too), flag-waving, and boos whenever the other countries were leading, we watched Phelps won his record-breaking 8th gold medal of the games.

- Getting stuck on the E train

We all bitch about the TTC, but honestly is the New York subway system any better? well yes and no - it's better cause it pretty much gets you to anywhere and everywhere that you want to go. Having said that, it's not like it's that much more reliable. There seems to be service changes on each and every single line and getting stuck on the train for whatever reason is part of the NYC subway experience. Then again, if the E train isn't running, you can always ride the A or the C - not like here, where if the Yonge train stops running, transit hell breaks loose.

- Grand Central Terminal

Wow. It's probably the most beautiful train stations I have ever been to (including the ones in Europe!). Absolutely stunning - the grand hall, with the sky ceiling, is breathtaking. It was my first time to Grand Central. The station puts our Union Station to shame.

- View from the Empire State Building

Yeah, I've been up the Empire State many times now, but the view is still spectacular. This time, we went at night to see all the lights. Personally, I thought it was a bit dark, but the view is still very cool.

That's it from NYC this year. Not sure if I will visit again next summer (this summer was the third consecutive summer that I visited NYC), but with so much still left to see, who knows?