Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Looking up, beckoning and urban jungle

So much happened on Friday, that it will be divided into two posts. Remember - you can click on the photos to enlarge and see more detail. Friday, part 1:

- On Friday, we gamely slogged through some rain to go to the top of the Empire State Building. I've always had a thing for this building, beginning with a favorite film, "An Affair to Remember." I thought about Deborah Kerr running across the street toward it, "looking up", as I carefully watched traffic signals. According to David Letterman: "Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines." It would seem so!

- The Statue of Liberty beckoning in the harbor. There was no wait to get up to the top (maybe because of the rain) - although that took awhile. A guard wanted to know where I am from - I guess my accent gave me away. :) Standing there - I thought of another favorite film, "Sleepless in Seattle" and the young actor who played Tom Hank's little boy looking through the viewfinder.

- The Brooklyn Bridge is up to the left. Something I read in the map I purchased seems to be true: "We are told that Manhattan is an island, but we experience it as a jungle. One can be here for weeks and never get near the water. Manhattan, you see, was built looking inward, with its back to the water."

14 comments:

desk49 said...

Up early and getting ready to head out. be back in two days so will be late on next few post. It did seem like you hade a great time. Lots of nice photos.

happygirl said...

Oh I love NYC. Great pics and I love those movies, too. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I think you do have a gratitude blog. I am inspired by you. xo

Fireblossom said...

I've never been to NYC, but I love to see pictures of it. These are great!

Louvregirl said...

Wow. It certainly was a foggy, cloudy day there Lynn! Through the viewfinder, could you see much? Did you find any backpacks up there?

Louvregirl said...

The Statue of Liberty looked lonely in that shot.

TALON said...

Awesome shots! I think the rain and the mist add a whole other element to the city.

Lynn said...

Ellis -

I hope you are off doing something fun!

happygirl -

Thanks, my friend, that makes me want to keep doing it! I always enjoy your blog posts, too. xo

FB -

Thank you - there are lots more. You should go! I think you would love it. Delta has a fare special almost all the time for $99 each way.

lg -

It was foggy and cloudy, but you could see everything. I didn't look through the viewfinder - I had a handy narration device recorded by Ed Koch to aid in my viewing.

No backpack. Didn't you love that film? I own it and still watch it when I'm flipping channels.

I still haven't been out to see Lady Liberty - maybe next time...

Talon -

Me, too. And we still had fun - no matter what the weather.

Sparkling Red said...

I'm very impressed by the building with the golden roof!

LL Cool Joe said...

Ah, we did the same trip, and took nearly the same shots Christmas 2009! It was freezing cold then, but dry.

G. B. Miller said...

Its always neat to see how people from the real world (i.e. anywhere outside of NYC) view and experience NYC.

Nice pics.

Riot Kitty said...

I love going up to the observation deck. The first time I went, it was February and freezing, but it was a clear night with the best view.

Snaggle Tooth said...

I first saw the Empire State building in the film, King Kong! Haven't actually been there yet tho- Lucky you, Liberty too! I thought of that Meg Ryan film too- have it here on VHS. Very interesting map quote- I once drove over that bridge in 1985 on the way to Long Island. Wonder what building the gold cone is... great view!

Louvregirl said...

Sigh. No backpack.

Lynn said...

Sparkling Red -

That is the New York Life Building - they still sell insurance in there. It's lovely, isn't it? According to Wikipedia, "The gold pyramid at the top consists of 25,000 gold-leaf tiles."

Joe -

I think I remember when you posted about that.

G -

Thank you - I took a ton of pics. There will be more this week, as well as Monday.

Riot Kitty -

I still felt that I could see forever - even with the mist.

Snaggle -

That gold dome building is The New York Life Building - built in 1926. Gorgeous.

I forgot about King Kong! :)

lg -

Still wonderful though. :)