USA and Caribbean 2012 Day 18, 19-21 NYC – Highline, Broadway Musical and Home Sweet Home

The last day of our NYC holiday led us to the Highline in Chelsea area. This was a converted old overhead railway into a park where people could go walk and sit around. It was quite a distance but since the route was pretty straight except for a few gentle ups and downs, it was pretty nice. There we saw the skyline of Chelsea, being further away from main Manhattan area which was surrounded with skyscrapers, shorter buildings lined the streets of this quiet town.

The Highline
The Highline
Converted railway line to a nice walkway with benches.
Converted railway line to a nice walkway with benches.
Tracks grown with foliage.
Tracks grown with foliage.
Huge portrait painted on side of the building.
Huge portrait painted on side of the building.
Nice quiet street near the Highline.
Nice quiet street near the Highline.

After walking, we happened to chance upon a restaurant was looked really nice from the outside. The food was even more outstanding. The Cookshop – great place for breakfast.

Of course we had to go shopping, Chelsea area being one of nice places for shopping. Tory Burch was somewhere near the Highline and they had some nice handbags that were on sale. There were some other malls that we went walk around in, sometimes great place to hide away from the cold.

Shopping place in Chelsea.
Shopping place in Chelsea.
Modern design within older exterior.
Modern design within older exterior.

We visited the Bath and Body works to purchase small stuffs that were both on sale and made great souvenirs, since this brand wasn’t really available in Singapore. As we left the shop and was crossing the road, we noticed that there were unusually many police officers and a crowd nearby. We saw one of the officers hosing down the road, which we suspected was blood. An accident perhaps?

While we missed the Abercrombie & Fitch the day earlier, we had to visit that megastore in NYC. As usual, there was a line outside the store waiting just to to enter. Good thing was, the weather was unlike Singapore, so it wasn’t too bad lining up though it took a while to get in. Of course, we spent a quite some time there too, the price was lower (though not necessarily cheap). The place was like a disco and with the crowd in a store with 4 floors, we had to plan to meet after we got our stuff.

Night fell soon and the last item on our to do list for NYC was to catch a broadway musical. We purchased the tickets to the musical on the day itself though much earlier in the day, supposedly cheaper but had to put in some effort in queuing at the ticket booth at Times Square. Bought the tickets to the Jersey Boys and walked to the theatre itself. The streets were pretty crowded with many like minded audience going to various theatres dotted along Broadway.

Got ourselves some small bites to bring into the theatre (something like a cinema). The ushers were pretty strict with photography and as I was about to snap a quick pic of the stage, which was the time the show about to start, I was warned sternly by the usher by the aisle in which I apologised quickly while keeping the camera.

The musical was pretty good and to catch it in a old style theatre was really the highlight of this experience. Definitely a must do in NYC.

August Wilson theatre
August Wilson theatre
Stage of Jersey Boys Musical
Stage of Jersey Boys Musical

After the show, we left theatre thoroughly entertained, we walked back to the hotel with a heavy heart. Good night Big Apple, we enjoyed the city but we had to leave the next day. Packed the bags, filled with American products and rested for the long way home.

Day 19-20-21 – Home Sweet Home

This time around, going back was pretty straight forward, no drama. We made the connecting and 24 hrs, we were home, tired, jetlagged but one bucket list down.

The whole US experience was really expected since we came from a city going to anther city, for the most part of the USA trip. The really nice experience that stood out was the cruise where it was really island hopping where we got to see many beautiful islands, and that there were minimum pack and go times that it was great enjoyment. We enjoyed the Island of Adventure more than Epcot in Orlando. The countdown in NYC was overrated but other than that, it was great place for shopping. A trip of ups and downs that summed up an awesome time in USA.