Spring Break in New York - Part 2

(You can check out "Part 1" below. I'm trying to keep these posts from getting too long by breaking them up, but I'm pretty sure I will fail because this trip was epic.)

After touring Long Island for 3 days, it was a bit shocking to hit New York City! At this point, we were just driving through the city to get to Newark, NJ, where our next hockey game awaited. But this proves to be a challenge when you have the incredible foresight to hit the heart of NYC during 5:00 rush hour. *palm slaps forehead*

In one section of town, we drove 4 blocks in 45 minutes, I kid you not.

All to the sweet, sweet sound of car horns blaring. Double awesome.

We finally made it to Newark just in time (okay, a few minutes late) for the New Jersey Devils game. They were playing the Islanders, so we got to cheer for Dan's team twice!

Dan took his life into his own hands and sported enemy colors at the Devil's arena. We got fewer rude comments than we expected when it was all said & done.

Since the hotels in NJ were much cheaper (by $150-$200/night!) than the hotels in NYC, we stayed in Newark for a couple of nights. I'm not going to lie, Newark is not a pretty place. But our hotel had free parking and was within walking distance of the Devils arena and Penn Station, where we could catch a train to NYC.

I broadened Dan's horizons - this was the first time he'd taken a train from NJ to NY. It was cheap ($4.50 round-trip) and only took 25 mins. each way. Much faster & cheaper than driving a car and parking for the day!

My brother Steve was spending a couple of weeks at the Hastings Center (a bioethics research institute) in Garrison, NY, so he drove the 1 1/2 hours to NYC to meet us! It was great to spend the afternoon with him.

The three of us walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and back, which gave us great views of the city.

Dan had been raving about the Sicilian pizza in New York, so Steve & I had to try it.

As we were walking towards Wall Street, we saw Alexander Hamilton's grave at Trinity Churchyard.

A famous Wall Street sight: The New York Stock Exchange

I recently read that George Washington took his oath in NYC as the first President of the United States, and we found the site where the moment took place! I guess this was considered the capital for a while before Washington D.C. was established.

Steve (being infinitely wiser than Dan & I) decided to head back to the Hastings Center before rush hour, so we said goodbye. Then Dan & I hopped on the Staten Island Ferry, which is a free commuter ferry that gives you great views of the city & the Statue of Liberty from the harbor.

Heading away from NYC!

It was about a half hour ride each way. We had to get off when we landed on Staten Island, but we immediately jumped back on the same boat to head back.

A view of Lady Liberty from the water

We stopped for a few moments in Battery Park, because when you see a bathroom in NYC that you don't have to pay for, you use it. Plus the park was pretty.

Castle Clinton at Battery Park

We had made reservations to view the 9/11 Memorial, so we headed there next. They built two identical fountains where the Twin Towers formerly stood.

The names of everyone who lost their lives were inscribed around the fountains. It was sad to see how many there were.

The new One World Trade Center is still under construction. It'll stand even taller than the Twin Towers.

We stopped again at Battery Park for the aforementioned free bathrooms, and also to call Mom Jester & wish her a happy birthday! :)

Then we were on the move again, seeing some classic NYC sights along the way - like the subway station at rush hour.

And men playing chess in Bryant Park

And the Chrysler Building

And Times Square!

We ended our evening by seeing a Broadway Musical, "Memphis." It's the true story of an interracial relationship in Memphis, TN during the 50s or 60s. The white man was a radio personality who played R&B music on his station. He fell in love with a black lady who sang the style of music he loved. It wasn't a happily-ever-after kind of story, but the music & dancing were phenomenal! Clearly my hair was blown away. :)

The next day, we took a side trip to Philadelphia for our 3rd hockey game. It was a 1 1/2 hour drive, so not too far.

Dan met up with some old friends, Roy, Arthur, and Nathan on the way :) But we were waiting to get to Philadelphia to eat lunch, because we had to have Philly Cheesesteaks! They were sooo good and big enough that we wrapped up the leftovers & finished them off for dinner. Because there's no such thing as eating too many cheesesteaks when you're in Philadelphia!

We saw the Liberty Bell (and Independence Hall in the background)

And those famous Rocky Balboa steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (cue "Eye of the Tiger")

I don't know this guy, but he totally stole my cheesy pose with the Rocky statue!

At the Wells Fargo Arena to watch the Philadelphia Flyers play

We got famous on the Fan Cam that night! There was a cute little girl in front of us holding a poster that said "My first Flyers game...but not my last!" She got the camera man's attention, and Dan snapped a photo of us on the screen. I'm the one in the mint-colored sweater, and you can see Dan's bald head beside me.

After a fun day & night in Philadelphia, we headed back to NYC for my favorite day of the trip! (to be continued...)