23rd - Nerding and ferrying

Today started with waking up at 0939 after an uninterrupted night of sleep. Success!

I left an hour later and started towards Lower Manhattan again. This time with a top priority goal; to visit B&H Photo and Video, a large photo/video/AV/etc. shop with an enormous inventory. Too bad most of the fun stuff (i.e. Nikon lenses – and lenses in general) was stacked/stored behind counters and hard to see. I got to see the Sigma 200-500 f2.8 up close though. No wonder reviewers often compare it to a small anti-armor weapon.

From there I went west and had a stroll through Chelsea Market, a former cookie factory turned into a shopping mall (sorry; concourse) with shops and plenty of eateries. It all seemed generally high-end compared to average in the city, best comparison would be Torvehallerne in Copenhagen. From there I took a walk down the High Line, an elevated set of tracks now decommissioned and been made to a walkway in green surroundings. Unfortunately, due to the time of year there was no green so it felt a bit bare. If I ever came back during the summer this would definitely be a place to revisit.

The High Line.

From there I started heading southeast to see Wall Street which I managed to miss on the way north yesterday. On the way I stopped at a Mexican restaurant and a great burrito. Arriving at Wall Street I realized that it has become a huge tourist attraction – surprise! The stock exchange was there, a couple of historical buildings but otherwise exclusive shops and office buildings (which are probably considered exclusive solely due to the location). None of the business charm/coolness one could have hoped for.

Saw this closed corner shop on the way to Wall St.

New York Stock Exchange.

George Washington in front of Federal Hall.

World Trade Center One with one of the memorials in front 

(there are two placed where the old buildings were located).

I went out and sat at East River for a while, overlooking Brooklyn Bridge, realizing that the day had heated up sufficiently that you could easily walk around without a jacket. Got up and went back west, saw the World Trade Center and the memorial before going down south again and finding the ferry to Staten Island. The ferry is free and gives a great view of the New Jersey, Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines with Lady Liberty in front. I took the first return back to Manhattan, having nothing planned or to do on Staten Island. Standing in the terminal and hearing the announcement that the boarding is to start soon a massive stampede occurs when people rush to the gate. It could have had something to do with it being rush hour, though. It seems like most people are commuters as the outside areas where you can photograph without glass ruining the shot don’t get too filled up – especially considering how many people actually board the ferry.

New Jersey, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Manhattan.

Coming back I saw the Charging Bull, the large bronze bull close to Wall Street standing in Bowling Green Park. Despite its huge size it was hard to see due to the huge mass of people surrounding it. Went back to see the Brooklyn Bridge in the sunset, walked north and saw the Flatiron Building. At this point it had gotten dark and the building wasn’t illuminated which surprised me due to the large amount of PR is connected to it. I ended the walk with passing by the hotel and drop off a couple of things before going to dinner.

The Charging Bull.

Brooklyn Bridge.

I had read a mention in the Lonely Planet guidebook of a small burger place (called Burger Joint) in an otherwise very fancy hotel. When I finally found it I quickly decided to find a different place due to the long queue of people waiting to gain access. Having had had dinner at a small bar/restaurant place I returned “home” and decided to end the day early at 2230.

Saw my first celebrity; passed by BD Wong (the psychologist from Special Victims Unit). Oooooh!

Met up with a friend late tonight who came in from Canada and who’s here the rest of my stay.