And back again in New York City

This time I stay in Queens, not far from the JFK airport, near Jamaica Ave. Has actually a good connection to JFK, with the AirTrain. I explore a bit the neighborhood of Jamaica Ave.



The NY subway E train goes express to Manhattan, it takes only about 30 minutes. I get off near Central Park at 5th Ave.



In the Central Park there are the "Victorian Gardens" with lots of attractions for children:



I walk down the 5th Avenue, passing the Rockefeller Center:



Further along 5th Avenue. The street has been closed for some event, it is being opened block by block. Later I realise that there just had been the annual Gay Pride Parade.



Near the Empire State Building:



Near 33rd Street:





Near Greeley Square with a view of the Empire State Building:



In the evening, back at the hotel, I enjoy watching TV: Bill Maher, and then the cartoons on Fox: Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill. I also use the free WiFi to upload the first set of pictures to Flickr and Photosynth.

Another Day in New York City

I had gotten a good deal for staying in the Empire Hotel, which is located right across Lincoln Center. But for an extension of the stay the price would go up horrendeously. So I decide to move to another Hotel: the Hudson Hotel. Very strange - this hotel has no sign outside, I almost miss it. There is just "a hole in the wall". Later I learn that the hotel is themed after "Alice in Wonderland".





More walking around the area in Manhattan, Upper West Side.






Views from roof terrace of Hudson Hotel:





58th Street, in front of Hudson Hotel:



And at night:



Dinner at Rosa Mexicano (sic!), a nice Mexican restaurant.

Later I cannot resist going to Times Square, 42nd Street:

New York City: Liberty Island and Ellis Island

I have been in NY many times since 1987, but I never had done one the most important Must-Do-Things for tourists and visitors: visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There was a long line for buying the tickets, and the airport-style security checks also took time. But then I finally was on the boat. Nice opportunity for many pictures of Manhattan.



The weather first was cloudy, but it then turned sunny. The base of the statue was only open for a limited number of visitors with advanced reservation.



Further on to Ellis Island, the first stop of many generations of immigrants.



This is the central registry hall:



After this excursion, a walk through Lower Manhattan.





A visit at the construction scene of the World Trade Center Site.