FREE in NYC: DAY 1 – UPTOWN – via PORT AUTHORITY

The following is  Part 1 of a documentary about the week I am spending in NYC.  I have a free place to stay in exchange for watching a couple of pleasant kitty cats.  With almost no money (literally) and enough food to last for about three more days, I am set on having a great week by working through these obstacles.  It’s not going to be easy, but if it works out, it could be fun…  Check out the official page of this NYC journal to get a better understanding of the factors going into this week.  NYCBLOG[portal]

DAY 1: The arrival

The journey started last night, Monday July26th, 2010.  I arrived at Port Authority from New Jersey at around 7:30. I decided on the bus that the first thing I see when I exit the station, I will snap a photo and post it here.

The first thing I saw when exiting the Port Authority.

Ok, for what its worth, I have no interest in becoming a journalist for a publication like the New York Times, but I found it ironic that this would be the photo I would take first and post to an article that I would be writing, for my own publication.  Well NY Times, I may not know what goes on  inside your offices, but may I say that you do have a uniquely beautiful looking building from the outside…

So, uptown is where I am heading.  Upper East to be precise.  The apartment is in a nice neighborhood and is close to the MET and of course, Central Park.  I am going to be spending some ample time in the park this week, so I figured that instead of strolling through the park, I would walk a bit further west instead, to maybe catch some scenery that was less familiar to me.  8^th avenue was not providing me with such thrills. I suppose that I grew up going to this area, especially when we would go to Broadway shows, so I had seen these storefronts before, none of which struck me as too exciting.  So I ventured a bit further west.

Passing Broadway, I looked to the right and saw Times Square.  Ok, yeah, its way touristy, but no matter how many times I have seen it, it never stops amazing me.  And the energy that exists in this area is unrivaled.  People from all over the world, flock to this familiar looking area.  Can you imagine if you were from some tiny European city and this was your first trip to anywhere, can you even estimate what it would feel like to see all of these brightly lit marquis and fast moving people?  Can you grasp how intimidating that would be for someone from such a place?  We take it for granted, and even though I am a person who tends to be attracted to the less mainstream arts, there is no denying the enormity of Times Square, and I am glad I chose that route to be reminded of its grandeur.

However excited I was to see this area, I was not about to walk up Broadway at this time of day with a backpack and rolling luggage; just way too crowded and I wanted my pace to be faster than slow.  So I continued up 50^th street and ended up passing 6^th avenue, 5^th avenue, and eventually I arrived at Madison.

I am a strange person with peculiar habits.  One of these habits is to walk in the direction that the flow of traffic is moving.   If it’s a one-way street heading downtown, I wasn’t going to get on it and walk uptown.  So even though 5^th avenue was ideal for where I was going, Madison was the one heading uptown.  And since I hadn’t really ever explored this part of Madison Ave, I figured, why not.

So left on Madison and uptown we go.  To be honest with you, I liked the energy here, but there really isn’t much scenery to absorb.  Its mostly shops, many of which are out of my means, and considering that my funds are really limited even for the dollar store, seeing places to purchase goods here is a waste of time.  However, it was less crowded and easier to maneuver here than 8^th so I would stay on this route until I got to the neighborhood.

At certain intersections, you could see way east or west down the adjoining streets.  So it was here, on maybe 65^th street or so that I caught this view.

Around 65th and Madison.

I don’t know what struck me about it, but it did.  Maybe the concoction of generational architectures meeting in one unified location.  Or maybe it was just different looking.  Needless to say, I took the photo, and I am sharing it with you.

Continuing  on up Madison, I couldn’t help but wonder where it was that they filmed that scene in the movie “SPLASH” staring Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah.  It is the scene where she climbs to the top of the street pole and sees the sign that reads: MADISON AVE.  Because of this moment, Tom Hanks’ character names the charming Mermaid Madison and thus a legend was born.  So what street is this filmed on, or should I say, what intersection?  Well, I haven’t found out yet, but it is a goal of mine I intend on achieving by the conclusion of this documentary.

As I continued uptown, all I could do was observe the area, and notice the distinct personality, focusing more on high end clothing and food, and less on mainstream or abstract subjects.  I notice a distinct look on the people who roam here, and although I did not feel unwelcome, I didn’t feel quite at home.  The city is plush full of unique areas; each with its own feeling.  I myself enjoy areas like the village and chelsea, but have an appreciation for all of it.  I felt as if this was a good introduction to the varied week I was about to journey on, but not an area I would be spending much of my time in.

So I eventually arrived at the apartment, I greeted the kitties, I fed them some food, fed myself some leftover pizza from Jersey and a few other tidbits, and then I relaxed on the patio.  An hour later, I was asleep.  It was a long trek uptown and a long trip just to get into the city.  I for one am glad to be here again and I look forward to Day 2.  Day 1, complete.

ONE LINE OBSERVATION: In NYC, even a lame day can be filled with beauty and excitement.

this story continues with DAY 2: Shakespeare in the park…