NYC ...Soaring over the East River!
So, you've seen the view from the top of the Empire State building.
Or been on the 70th floor at "Top Of The Rock."
Guess you've seen it all from above in New York City.
Hey, not so fast. There's the RIAT.
That's the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram.
It wil whisk you up, up and away over and above the famed East River.
I think of trams like this at ski resorts but it's June in The City and we tourists are all about getting lots of views.
The Tramway Plaza is at East 60th and the foot of the Queensborough Bridge.
Lots of small children in the "car" when I soared up on cables.
We all were heading past the Queensborough which, I noticed, has two layers of auto traffic.
Hey, when you build a bridge, get the most out of it that you can.
When I walked the Brooklyn Bridge, I was surprised to see it had a wooden pedestrian deck.
Actually, I had seen the green gecko in the GEICO television insurance ads, walking along, talking while dodging bikers and walkers.
It was a quiet day on the East River.
Saw a tour boat come under the bridge while we looked down as we sailed overhead.
Bet the tourists craned their necks and took pictures of us. I would have.
Didn't realize until later that the glass all around us was great for viewing but also reflected back and I had to be careful which photo I selected to visually share the adventure.
You can get to Roosevelt Island by bus and, I suppose, by subway. But why would you?
Walked around, stopped at the Visitors Center and a nice New Yorker told us where to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich.
Both were good and the place was not crowded at all.
The ride back was also delightful.
Here's a
link to a video a person put together to share the sights he or she saw. Did a lot of additional shooting as "cut-ins" showing different points of view. Very well done.
Be sure to make a note to take the tram during your next visit to NYC. It's a nice offbeat trip.
Another "different" experience is around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater where I saw the Late Show with David Letterman.
"Rupert G." was behind the counter at his
Hello Deli that Dave likes to have pop up on his show.
He was kind enough to pose for this picture so I felt obligated to buy something.
He is bagging the dark blue t-shirt I bought. It's like the one displayed on the wall.
I did not realize until now his name is Rupert
Jee.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Thanks for tagging along today.
Well,
J-E-E is pronounced Gee.
Labels: East 60th, East River, Empire State Building, GEICO gecko, Hello Deli, Queensborough Bridge, RIAT, Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram, Rupert Jee, Top of the Rock Observation decks, Tramway Plaza
NYC - Yankee Bridge Traffic....
Just back from a quick mini-vacation up to Boston and New York.
Flew Delta to Boston non-stop. A few days later, came down to New York City on Amtrak and, after two days there, flew home non-stop.
Yes, no going through Atlanta.
In Boston, after some days of sightseeing, took a ferry to the end of the Cape to spend the day in P-Town (Provincetown).
Walked my legs off in New York and, despite some cloudy weather, decided to cross over the Brooklyn Bridge. Lots of people do that. About 150,000 cars and pedestrians cross every day.
Just as on our Ravenel Bridge, there is a clear walking path for hikers and a separate space for bikers.
Divided by a white painted stripe.
Each lane has a symbol repeated often showing which lane is to be used by either one.
But, neither path by both.
These three young ladies did not speak English but the biker's bark was clear to anyone within 20 feet.
"Hey! Git outta da way," is what I heard as my camera captured the moment.
Thankfully, there was no impact and he continued his speedy pace down the bridge.
I had stopped a few moments before - well inside my lane - and snapped a shot of cars racing along below us.
Obviously our bridge looks better than the
Brooklyn Bridge, but then ours is only 9 years while this one was built in 1883. Yikes.
131 years old and counting, it had a solid feel on the wooden deck that covers the surface of the center span.
Naturally, as with all things open to the public, some feel the urge to add to the urban graffiti.
This is an interesting use of rivets.
I don't think that "
Rosie" from WWII would have been amused.
People have attached small locks to parts of the bridge and thrown the key into the East River below.
This, I am told, symbolizes the love romantics have for each other.
As the clouds broke up briefly, we were treated to a view of the famed New York skyline.
Not hard at all to spot was the iconic
Empire State building.
I know its companion, the Chrysler building, is huddled nearby in there too.
So, in addition to a 1.1 mile exercise walk, there is beautiful scenery as well.
Looking toward the New York end of the bridge, the new
One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) is nearing completion. At 1776 feet high, it is the tallest building in America.
On the left as you head back to the city, Lady Liberty is easy to spot in the harbor.
Well, with binoculars perhaps.
My small easy-to-carry Canon sx260HS camera has an excellent 20x optical lens.
But I also cranked in digital zoom to make the lens effect even longer to gather this image.
You can even see the flame in her torch if you look closely.
Instead of taking the subway to a stop in Brooklyn and walking all the way back to New York, I started on the City side.
Up the sloping ramp leading to the bridge, I then walked a bit more than halfway across, snapped pictures, then returned.
I had no car to worry about. (A car in the City? Are you crazy?)
(Click on the photos for more details.)
I had interrupted a new 2-week crash diet for this trip and am pleased I regained only two pounds in an amazing place, surrounded by food of every description.
Well, sure I ate a slice of Pizza.
New York style.
Labels: Brooklyn Bridge, Chrysler building, East River, Empire State Building, Freedom Tower, Lady Liberty, New York City, One World Trade Center, WWII Rosie The Riveter
A Photo I Missed.....
This is a photo posted on the internet.
The beautiful panoramic view from
Windows On The World restaurant.
There is no picture like this in my files.
I never got to the top of the
World Trade Center.
(In Chicago I went up to the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center. There was no cost to go up, it had a bar and offered a great view of the Sears Tower.
Guess that's called the Willis Tower now.)
I spotted a mural featuring the WTC towers while I was riding the subway in New York a few years ago.
More than once, while watching a movie filmed in The City before 2001, I've seen the sparkling high rise distinctive landmarks.
I did stand in line for a tour at the
Empire State Building most of a day during the Christmas holidays a few years ago.
Eventually we went up to the top and I looked over Central Park at a patch of sunshine that broke through the gray overcast.
Not quite the same.
Labels: Empire State Building, Hancock Center, NYC Subways, Windows On The World, WTC
