Midtown New York

Grand Central Station Main Concourse

Saturday, after a day of rest on Friday, we went back to New York City. This was a real “big city” experience. We got up and hit the road early for the 35 minute drive to Poughkeepsie Station to catch the 6:30 AM train to Grand Central Station. This trip was a little less expensive because it was not a “peak” time train and parking was free. It was not an express train so it was nearly a 2 hour ride.

Doorway to tracks

Bryant Park

Grand Central Station is a marvel in and of itself. It is a huge place and takes some getting used to, especially during rush hour. But Saturday we were just tourists like so many others there with camera in hand exploring the passageways, admiring the chandeliers and ceiling in the main concourse, and hunting for the bathroom. We were also in need of a cup of coffee so we took a short break in the food court. One can satisfy any food craving here with foods ranging from pretzels, bagels, and muffins to full course meals in a number of ethnic flavors. Not only are there fast foods, but there is also a full scale bakery and the famous Oyster Bar Restaurant. For the number of eating places there is at least an equal number of shops offering everything from a newspaper to cashmere sweaters. This is a “train” station, after all, and it is the hub for 2 different types of trains—the subway and the Metro North commuter train. There are 117 tracks to accommodate these trains. To get to the city we rode the Metro North Hudson line, then would come up from the tunnel, cross to the other side of the station, and go back underground to get the subway to our ultimate destination.

In Time Square

New York Public Library

After seeing the sights in Grand Central we decided to see the rest of the neighborhood so we walked instead of taking the subway. Our first stop was the Public Library. It was too early for it to be open so we were unable to see the magnificent Reading Room. On our way to Time Square we passed Bryant Park, an oasis of green in this desert of concrete and steel. In the Time Square area we saw Radio City Music Hall and the historic Embassy Theater which was opened in 1925 by MGM to cater to high society. It is now an Information Center and undergoing renovation. We stepped inside the Toys-R-Us just to take a picture of the Ferris Wheel. We couldn’t leave Time Square without seeing the old New York Times Building and imagine the ball dropping to usher in each New Year.

St Mary's Church

As we turned back east, we stepped into St. Mary’s Church. I love seeing the elaborate alters and stained glass that are so prominent, especially in Catholic Churches.

Old New York Times building

That’s all for this posting. Stay tuned for the rest of the story tomorrow.