barely fatal

Breakfast: Waffles with syrup
Weather: Sticky at first, a shower at lunchtime, warm & sunny later
Tag line: “I don’t know about you, but I’m so going up there”

We had saved the most obvious route for one of the last days: Midtown. After breakfast, we went straight for the MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art. So early in the morning there were quite a few (high)school classes waiting in line and we decided to come back later, hoping we could skip the long wait. We found the Disney Store on 5th Avenue by accident and were simply amazed.

We had a good look at St Patrick’s Cathedral which really looks a little bit misplaced in between the skyscrapers – although it’s by far not the only neo-Gothic church in Manhattan, just the most famous. Around the corner there was a public golfing event going on in the shadow of the GE building which is part of Rockefeller Center and which hosts the NBC studios. After some walking about I decided to pay the $18 fee to get to the Top Of The Rock, the observation platform. My guide didn’t say anything about it so it must’ve been somewhat new.

They had some cool video effects in the high-speed elevator. There were like six or eight people with us up there. The view was open, no fence, no waiting, Central Park right in front of us – it was extremely amazing. The out the panoramas. The weather wasn’t so great but that didn’t hurt us much. Go there when you visit NY.

When we came down it was about lunchtime, so we went back a few blocks and tried the MoMA again, with more luck this time. We got in without waiting and split up. The exhibition is excellent, the good reputation is well-earned. I enjoyed the architecture section most.

On 42nd Street East, we risked a quick peek into Grand Central Station. It was pretty busy, naturally. We wondered where all the trains went – obviously not in the streets but all underground. Quite odd when you think about it. A short shower caught us when we left heading east and so we hurried past (and through) the Chrysler Building and had lunch. You know, when you order food and you’re not too sure what you want and you struggle with a foreign language you don’t always end up with what you actually wanted. My dad was surprised quite a few times on our trip. I had problems with the American slang in two occasions, too – but at least I always got what I wanted. Well, it took me a week to find out what blintzes are, I admit (Wikipedia rocks).

We did the tour (last of the day) in the United Nations Headquarters on East River. It was cool, I learned a lot that I probably should have known before I got there. We were allowed in the chamber of the Security Council, neat. Our guide was from France and her English was enjoyable. Walking around in that building, the big U.N. didn’t seem so big anymore. So many countries and so few delegates making so important decisions that affect all of us – a weird thought, and feeling.

Later that night we wandered around Midtown and ended up at Rockefeller Center again. We decided to stay and had a very nice – pricy – meal on the beautifully lit Outdoor Plaza. We had absolutely no idea what to the next day, I just wanted to see Bloomingdale’s. One more day, on Sunday we would have to fly back.