Brooklyn,
New York, Thursday, May 5, 2005, 9:55 am
Hello from New York City (1) - First Impressions
of the Big Apple
So yesterday morning our American Airways flight (booked for free
with my Airmiles)
left at 7:13 am to bring us to the Big Apple, a place I had always
had a fascination with, but only had visited twice very briefly
in my life,and that more than 10 years ago.
Just flying in over NYC was an experience itself, seeing all the
Unbuilding (Sandpiper)skyscrapers of Manhattan, the various bridges linking the mainland
with the island, and shortly after flying over the Rykers Island
prison we landed at La Guardia Airport, a rather small airport actually,
when compared to Toronto.
Our luggage was out in no time and we grabbed a couple of week
long transit passes (a pretty good deal at US$24 for unlimited travel
for a whole week) and we started our trip to Brooklyn. One bus (through
a mostly Latin area in Queens) and one subway ride (through Manhattan)
later, we ended up in our lovely bed and breakfast in a gorgeous
neighbourhood, just south of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Our lovely street in Brooklyn.
Since we didn't know the area and the website of our B&B had
provided just a tiny little map, we had chosen the wrong subway
line to get off from and we had to walk about 1/2 hour to find the
B&B, but it gave us a good first look at this part of Brooklyn: A State of MindBrooklyn.
It is an area with stately homes and houses that are about a century
old. Magnolia and cherry trees are blooming everywhere and gardens
are meticulously kept around here. Our Brookly neighbourhood feels
very safe and we got to meet our bed and breakfast hosts: a very
hospitable and outgoing couple in their 40s by the name of Harry
and Bibi. They showed us to our room, a nice room on the third floor
of this spacious house, with a shared bathroom.
Everybody in front of the B&B.
Actually the whole house has been turned into a B&B and there
are 8 bedrooms, the 2nd and 3rd floor of the house each have their
own kitchen and bedroom areas and it actually makes for a really
comfortable stay since it feels more like having your own apartment,
rather than just renting a room.
Before leaving I thoroughly researched accommodation options in
New York City, and after looking at all the options (hotels, hostels,
B&Bs), I decided the B&B option would be the most comfortable
route to go. And at US$90.00 a night it's definitely turned out
to be one of the most affordable options and a great base to start
exploring New York City...
Useful books for travel to New York City:
Related articles:
"Hello from New York City (1) -
First Impressions of the Big Apple"
"Hello from New York City (2) - Exploring
Mid-Town Manhattan"
"Hello from New York City (3) - Brooklyn
Bridge, Ground Zero, Downtown"
"Hello from New York City (4) - Staten
Island and a Random Act of Violence"
"Hello from New York City (5) - A
Local Expert Takes Us Through Queens"
"Hello from New York City (6) - Checking
Out Coney Island and Harlem"
"Hello from New York City (7) - Prospect
Park & Washington Square Park"
Here is my New York City budget accommodation guide - small
hotels.
Here is my New York City budget accommodation guide - hostels.
Here is my New York City budget accommodation guide - bed
and breakfasts.
|