Start spreading the news... I want to be a part of it, New York, New York!
I hear that song and I can already imagine the skyscrapers all around me. Most of the famous New York buildings and landmarks are mostly found in Midtown Manhattan and we felt it would be best to book a free walking tour again in the afternoon.
From the confirmation email we received, the tour starts 2PM.
This time we won't be late! The email has everything you need to know on how to get to the meeting point complete with maps and a picture of the place and your guide.
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| The guy with the red umbrella, Garrett |
The tour started at Bryant Park which is unfortunately on a transition period between fall and winter. Half of the park is under construction with lots of pop-up locations for shops and a skating rink. We spent a few minutes here where our guide, Garrett, shared some very interesting stories about the park from its shady history to the story of Nikola Tesla, Bryant Park's birdman.
Below Bryant Park are books.
Thousands of them. Just a few steps away was the New York Public Library.
A treat for the wife! However, the walking tour does not include going inside the library so we just bookmarked the place in our heads and decided to come back after the tour.
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| The New York Public Library |
After a few trivia on the sculptures and markings of the library building, we headed across Fifth Avenue then later stopped at a construction site.
Yes, a construction site. Garrett says that we are witnessing the beginning of what would be one of the tallest building in New York, One Vanderbilt.
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| One Vanderbilt construction |
The construction site hid our next stop, The Grand Central Terminal.
One of the most iconic buildings in New York City, the Grand Central Terminal both the interior and exterior is familiar to tourists around the world being featured in several films.
Inside the terminal, you might notice chandeliers with exposed bulbs.
These chandeliers are a showcase of the Vanderbilt family. You have to remember that at the turn of the 20th century, electric light bulbs were novelties.
A must visit landmark as it is, the Grand Central Terminal is still a working terminal serving over 250,000 passengers everyday.
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| Main Concourse Information Booth Clock |
The Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, and Broadway on the next misadventure!
