The Subway to Brooklyn

Today we decided to extend our range by learning how to take the train.  The line nearest us, the "Green" line, runs south right down to the end of Manhattan, then underwater across the harbour to Brooklyn, so Sue suggested we ride to there and walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge - which is one of the recommended things for visitors to experience!  So we started again at Grand Central Station where we first ate lunch (we started out late today) along with hundreds of others in the dining concourse underneath the main concourse.  It is an impressive building - built 100 years ago but in very good condition.  At the lower level there are dozens of foot outlets with tables at which to eat from one end to the other.  The trains come here from all over the country, so all sorts of people are constantly wandering through.

We bought tickets ("Metro Cards") from a machine and waited for the train on a crowded platform, in oppressive heat.  It was cooler today outside - quite nice really - but down there was very hot.  When the train came it was crowded with people, so we took a deep breath and pushed our way aboard, glad we hadn't attempted this during rush hour!  Fortunately the train was nice and cool inside, and over the next station or two the carriage emptied out.  We emerged across the water in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is a large city in its own right.  I think I pictured it as full of rap artists and drug dealers, for reasons I cannot remember.  We emerged from the subway opposite a huge town hall (the Brooklyn Borough Hall), and walked a kilometer or so back to the Brooklyn Bridge through a park and past other major public buildings.

Some big building in Brooklyn

WW II Memorial in Brooklyn

This being New York, a few thousand other people were also walking or cycling across Brooklyn Bridge.

Sue on Brooklyn Bridge

They are in the middle of some major maintenance on the bridge, so the view was blocked for a lot of the way, but further along the view cleared and we could see up and down the East River (which is very big and wide).  It was a beautiful sunny day (see photo above) and by the time we reached the other side we were feeling a quite hot and a bit scorched.  Returned home on the train, with a stop for a cool drink on the way at one of the 171 Starbucks in Manhattan.

We thought we would have a drink in the famous rooftop bar of our hotel, so took the elevator to the top floor.  It is indeed a great spot to view the surrounding city from, but unfortunately almost the whole area was booked out by a number of private parties, so we had to stand in the only unoccupied corner and drink our wine.  We left soon after - but will go back during the day, when the bar is closed and it would be a nice spot to relax in the sun.  Tonight we walked the streets until we were near exhaustion, when we stumbled upon a really nice restaurant which was NOT packed with drinkers, where we had a lovely meal.