I remember the first time I went to NY City back in the mid 80's. A few friends and I decided to take a midnight road trip there on a Saturday in January. We arrived in NY early morning. I had fallen asleep in back and awoke to fogged windows and U2 singing on the radio ....I still haven't found what I'm looking for. As I cleared the windows to look out I was just awed by the size of these enormous skyscrapers and felt so insignificant. Much has changed since then, most noticeably the absence of the twin towers and all the events surrounding 911.
This recent trip Dov and I arrived about 8pm on a Friday night. Though I was just in NY this past August I felt anxiety, ever so briefly but YES I felt it. That August visit was much different as we were in Boston and decided to swing by the Big Apple just for the afternoon. I didn't have much time to think of where I was going because it was totally unplanned but this trip I knew I would be staying for three days in midtown Manhattan.
As we approached NY from NJ the traffic became more congested then slowed to a crawl, then just stopped and every so often it would inch up. It was here that I felt that apprehension of what if there was an attack or an emergency no way would anyone be able to leave this mess.
Instead of fighting the traffic or trying to maneuver through the tangle as some tried I just kicked back and waited for my turn to move up. We exited the Lincoln Tunnel and weren't sure if we were heading in the right direction. But it didn't matter we had to go with the flow of traffic, its impossible to pull over and very difficult to ask for directions, either from people not speaking English, not living in the city or just plain rudeness.
Cars, buses, trucks, cabs, motor cycles, people walking, riding bikes, more cars, more buses, more trucks, more cabs, more motor cycles, more people walking, riding bikes, people people people cars cars cars all over!!
Unless you experienced NY on a Friday night you just won't understand.
We were going the wrong way to the hotel according to the map Dov brought along so I did a U turn on a divided secondary road that was not as busy. But driving to the hotel every street, street corner, and sidewalk was crowded. People lined the sidewalks either walking or dining outside restaurants and coffee shops and of course the cars, buses and cabs everywhere.
Before arriving at our destination at the Roosevelt Hotel we needed to find a place to park the car. Having no luck finding a place under $200 for the three days that was close by we opted to have it parked at the hotel.
As we pulled up and stopped I marveled how the valet handled the madness. The traffic was unbearable, cars pulling in and out of the hotel, parking cars, opening doors, handing out parking passes, through out this craziness they kept their cool and went about their business as if it was a lazy day in small town America. To me it was just plain nuts!
We loaded our gear on the cart they wheeled out for us but to avoid the tip we took our baggage in ourselves. I'm sure they were not use to this as everyone staying at the Roosevelt must of had money and lots of it. Once entering the marbled lobby and viewing the swank decor I thought maybe I will enjoy this trip, I was right as I did.
Carey K. Masci
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