The city that never sleeps and neither did I. The GOOD, The BAD & The UGLY of NYC.
AUGUST, 2005.
Traveling from Toronto, Ontario Canada to New York, NY USA, by Greyhound bus. Round Trip cost $130-$170.
We Departed Toronto in the afternoon/early evening our estimated traveling time is 12hrs, with stops at the Canada/USA Border for security check and stops inside the USA for food and washroom breaks.
The Toronto Coach Terminal was located at 610 Bay St, Toronto Ontario. The new bus terminal is now called USBT (Union Station Bus Terminal) is at the north east corner of Bay St and Lake Shore Blvd W Toronto Ontario.
Standing waiting on the platform for our bus to arrive, I was approached by tall slender black male who approached me and asked if this was the spot departing for NYC. I said yes, he walked away. The Bus pulls in we show our tickets leave our luggage outside to be loaded in by the driver. We take our seats and away we go. We arrived at the USA border and everyone exits the bus and heads to immigration/passport check/US Customs. Im travelling with 2 friends we all have to be processed separately. It’s my turn to approach the customs window.
US Customs: “What is the purpose of my visit to United States?
Lou: “ Vacation and see a Yankees game.”
He proceeded to ask me if i have tickets and who are the Yankees playing. I said the Los Angeles Angles or the Arizona Diamond Backs.”
US Customs: Would that be the Los Angeles of….. Anahiem?? Where is your ticket?
Lou: “Yes, sorry i got the name mixed up or the Arizona Diamond backs, depends if we can get tickets from scalpers.”
US Customs: Uhh, are you aware buying tickets from scalpers is illegal?
Lou: “ OH!? Or we will buy from the stadium box office my friend is getting the tickets once we get to NYC, Im travelling with those to guys over there (pointed to them).
US customers: (Looks at my pasport, flips a page, punches in a few key strokes on the computer and hands me back my passport.) “Next in line please”.
Back on the Greyhound Bus while in the US night time arrives and through the overnight drive i wake up 5-6am from my seat to hear the voice of the bus driver over the PA. “Good morning everyone, I hope you all enjoy your sleep. I know i sure did, lol.” We are going to stop for a washroom break, have bite to eat and stretch our legs.”
Bus pulled into some McDonalds restaurant somewhere in the state of Pennsylvania. We drive by New Jersey before we enter New York City and arrive at Penn Station got off unloaded the luggage.
We walked with out luggages from Penn Station to the Holiday Inn on Broadway Ave (Little Koreantown) a 3-Star Hotel. A 11 minute walked seemed to take a lot longer than that. As we walked the streets of New York seeing a big billboard of The great one Wayne Gretzky with MSG in the background.
We arrived and check-in desk girl told us the rooms are not ready until 3pm. Front desk girl was not the friendliest of people my friend advised me of her bad attitude, “Well we do work off of tips”. For someone that works in customer service industry see was not that friendly. as the bellman were holding our luggage for us. That was our first encounter with a new yorkers resident attitude (while at work)
Our room was small with 2 double bed room there was 3 of us. i got one of the beds to myself. We did a lot of walking on our trip and took the MTA New York City Subway. Got a map and its a massive transit system both above and below ground trains. You have, Rush Hours, Middays, Evenings,Weekends, Late Nights. Letter Routes Trains A, B,C,D,E,G,S,J,L,M,N,Q R,W, Z etc.. trains. You have Numbered Route Trains 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 color coded trains. Its overwhelming looking at it on a map. We did as much as we could do being in NYC for 3-4 days Canadian long weekend in August.
Day 1: The Empire States Building tour line up of people was very long zigzagging line and out onto the street sidewalk we had to pass through metal detector (after 9/11 rules). Took a picture with King Kong Statue located inside the building once inside up top to observation deck you get some really good views of the city, Took my pictures and walked around the whole roof top. We walked during the day to see New York Stock Exchange, Trump Tower, 5th ave. shopping district and Rockafella centre, Visited some famous delicatessen wait in line. We Visited Time square at night see all the street performers. Went to some souvenir shop bought some NYC Subway T-shirts. Walked to we went through Central Park but i was too tired from walking to keep walking was too much for me. I sat at park bench to catch my breath, We consider doing a Hoarse Carriage ride or Rickshaw ride. We stayed in the park for a bit and left. We ate at The Cheese Factory for dinner across from Late Night Show David Letterman.
After I walked solo up to the chainlink fence that surrounded Ground zero at night. It was such a surreal moment. I could not believe how massive the site is and this huge hole in the ground. Seeing it on TV is totally different up close and personal. I took a moment wiped my eyes as they watered up. Walked back to the hotel and crashed.
Day 2: The next day we took the E train (Manhattan to Queens) to Astoria Greektown in Queens, NY for lunch. Greektown in New York City is nothing compared to Greektown in Toronto on the Danforth. Then came back to hotel in from Mid-town. That night we went to a lounge/club. The club next door to ours (don’t remember the name) Comedian /actor Pauly Shore and Ashley Simpson were there (Jessica Simpson younger sister). As we waited in line to get it. A group of guys from the UK were in front of us and the bouncer advise there is cover charge tonight.
British Guy: “Guess what mate, Will come back in half an hour and if there is no line up, then we ain’t paying no cover.” they left the line. We got in it was small and narrow place with white leather couches and chairs tables to the right of the club all along the backwall. We didnt stay long and left walked back to our hotel and crashed.
Day 3: The Next day we took the train to walk through Little Italy for a slice of pizza. Then took train to “Chinatown” which is Cannal street and as soon as you hit the street from the underground to the sidewalk it was shoulder to shoulder and all you see his peoples head and shoulder. Crowded with so many people. I was looking for knock off Rolex, was approached by some big black guy who was the size of the Notorious BIG. Holding a big black garbage bag. who spoke to my friend who overheard i was looking for a Rolex. He approached and said “I got the good Shit man, i got the good shit” I got scared and I took off running and he ran after me trying to stop me and sell me knock off Rolex watch. I didn’t buy and stoped being interested in buying a fake Rolex after that encounter. While on Cannal street there was a street vendor selling jewellery when something tipped over his table and went crashing to the street when all of the sudden a sworm of people started grabbing stealing what they could. Up the street was NYPD, put on sirens on and lights but by the time she arrive everyone just scatter away. she got out of her vehicle looked around and got back in drove away. We got back to our hotel to go out again. That night we went to this overpriced outdoor patio bar lounge with picnic tables all outside and these silver aluminum light weight chairs to sit on, that you could physically bend with your 2 hands. Your were surrounded by big chainlink fence and large sized forrest type trees. It reminded me like you were in the middle of a forrest surrounded by trees, I didn’t have a good time there was not a fan.(can’t remember the restaurant bar/lounge/ clubs name)
Day 4. The Next day we took the train to go see the Yankee game and we are in line to pay our subway fair and after the second friend paying with $20 bill. The African American female NYC Transit Authority with black gloves, curly hair and black framed glass starts to lecture us: “Are all you three together? We say yes. “Then why y’all keep given me each $20 bills. Just give me 1, $20 dollar bill.” You give me $20 bill, then you give me $20 bills, and you give me $20 bill. Just give me 1 $20 for the three of y’all.” ” i got no change for all that.”
While we were riding the train to go to the Yankee game, there were these guys with black garbage bags full of hats walking into every subway cart. “Yankee hats, $5.00 dollars here!, $20 dollars! at the stadium” as they walk up and down the subway cart. We got a little lost getting to Yankee Stadium which is located in the Bronx, north of Manhattan. We arrived at Yankee Stadium vs Arizona Diamond backs.
It was verizon Yankee hat day, Free Yankee hat and the hat fit like a glove. We had good seats lower level 3rd baseline and it was a slugfest, home run fest. Home run after a home run, yankees won in a romp and fans started to leave early and one Yankee fan behind us starts yelling out. “Where iz all going? Got to go home to beat the traffic, way to go Yankees! (clapping to him self)” He Kept repeating it. An ice cream vendor walks by keeps yelling “ Get your Dagin Hazin!!” (Hagen Dauz ice cream bars) and “Bautista Bomb”.
A friend of mine during the game decided to go for a walk and grab some food in the 3rd inning and he never came back, we thought he got lost. The Game ended and he still has not gotten back to his seat. We found him outside next to a tree smoking. Apparently there are no in and out privelages at Yankee stadium. He tried to re-enter the building and was greeted by security with “GOODBYE SIR”.
Got back to our hotel room looked out the window and all you see is a sea of yellow cabs and red taillights, it never ends. Got up the next morning walked to Penn Station with luggage in hand, took the Greyhound Bus back to Toronto. Arrived at the border. Canada Custom female Agent, was yelling at me for some reason. I didn’t care just glad to be back home. Then we took our local transit TTC back to the closest station to our home was picked up by friends sister and dropped off at home. Home sweet Home.
Next time your thinking of gong to NYC on a budget to save a few bucks by taking a Greyhound bus, DON’T DO IT. 12hrs on bus to Manhattan its just plane brutal is all i can say in the summer time as well with the sweltering heat. Spend the money on airfare for 1hr:45 minute flight.
In closing, there are a few things i didn’t get a chance to do but i would like to visit NYC again and this time take my time exploring the sites.
THE GOOD: There is a lot to see in do in New York City that can’t be covered in one long weekend. It calls for a repeat visit, Short flight times getting there.
THE BAD: The big apple really takes a BIG bite out of your wallet. As most major US tourist cities do. Everything is marked up and overpriced. A densely overpopulated city with building infrastructure so old and so close you can stick your hand out the window and touch the property next door. Finally you will experience the famous New York Attitude buy someone or at least witness and overhear it.
THE UGLY: Spending 12hr on a Greyhound Bus. NEVER AGAIN. The city has a reputation for being a unsafe city, one wrong turn you can end up in a bad part of town.
For more info about New York City, please visit: https://www.nyctourism.com
