New York, New York! Day 6: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park.

4 June 2014

On our final full day in NYC we went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. There was an exhibition of costumes and another highlight was seeing the famous pieces of Vincent van Gogh. The museum was so big and like a maze; so much so that we struggled to find our way out and had to ask several staff members to help us! The rooftop of the museum was also impressive, it had an interesting design and great views over a very green Central Park and Manhattan. You can get a drink, relax and enjoy the view.

The Met

View of Manhattan from the roof of the Met

Rooftop Garden

Vincent van Gogh in the Met

After getting lunch we walked through Central Park to see the parts we hadn't seen properly the day we cycled around. We saw the Alice in Wonderland statue, the Conservatory Water boat pond, the "Imagine" memorial for John Lennon and the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace which we had already seen but wanted to go to again.

Alice in Wonderland Statue, Central Park

Conservatory Water, Central Park

The Boathouse at Central Park

Bethesda Terrace, Central Park

Staircase of Bethesda Terrace

Me in Central Park

Boats

Strawberry Fields "Imagine" Memorial for John Lennon

After Central Park we went to the Empire State Building to go on the SkyRide which was included in our NYPass. It wasn't worth the time it took to go and the experience needs updating so I wouldn't recommend it unless it changes. We then got dinner at a food market nearby where they had really cool street food trucks and I had a great pizza! We headed to Times Square and then back to the apartment to prepare to fly back to Long Beach the next day!

NYC was amazing, one of my favourite places I went to in the USA and I can't wait to get back there one day to see more of the city!

Just one more post and then it is officially the end of my year abroad blog! The next and final one will be on my second trip to San Francisco!

New York, New York! Day 3: The American Museum of Natural History, The Lincoln Center, Riding Bikes around Central Park and Grand Central Station.

1 June 2014

On our third day in NYC we decided to firstly go to the American Museum of Natural History which has one of the largest collections in the world and is right next to Central Park. We didn't spend much time there as we had to have lunch and get to Central Park in time to rent bikes for the afternoon but you can see dinosaur skeletons, fossils and many other artefacts from all parts of the world.

Entrance to The American Museum of Natural History

Dinosaurs

Easter Island Head

The American Museum of Natural History Old Entrance

On our walk from the museum to the Lincoln Center area we spotted Abraham Lincoln on the sidewalk, so I had to get a photo with him!

Hanging with Abraham Lincoln

We grabbed some lunch at a little cafe and walked over to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts which includes; The Avery Fisher Hall (home of the Philharmonic Orchestra), The David H. Koch Theater, (home to the New York City Ballet) and The Metropolitan Opera House. The plaza is very impressive with the water fountain and the variation of shapes incorporated into the architecture of the buildings. You can also see Julliard, school for the performing arts which has a very cool sculpture and raised grass area.

The Lincoln Center Plaza

The Vivian Beaumont Theater

Julliard

Nearby is the Empire Hotel which Chuck purchases in Gossip Girl! It was pretty cool to see being a fan of the show!

The Empire Hotel, Chuck's Hotel in Gossip Girl

We then walked to a bike rental place included in the NYPass to pick up bikes to cycle around Central Park for the afternoon. We stopped to see a few of the main attractions of the park such as the Bethesda Fountain and Terrace, the Boathouse and the reservoir. I was so happy to see the park in Spring when it was so green and the weather so nice! It is quite a distance around the whole park and there are a few hills along the way, but it was a great way of catching the springtime atmosphere of the park. We also saw some people playing Quidditch!

Statue at the entrance to Central Park

Bethesda Terrace, Central Park

Bethesda Fountain

Me with the Bethesda Fountain

Bethesda Terrace

The Boathouse

Central Park Reservoir

After taking the bikes back to the rental shop we walked by the famous Plaza Hotel on 5th Ave and took the subway to Grand Central where we took a look around the impressive building. It was another surreal moment, standing in such an iconic place which has been featured in so many films.

The Plaza Hotel, 5th Ave

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Departure Board

Grand Central Clock

We then headed outside to see the exterior of the building which is overlooked by the Art Deco style Chrysler Building. Opposite the station I spotted the Pershing Square Cafe which is featured at the end of the film, Friends with Benefits.

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building

Cafe opposite the station featured in Friends with Benefits

Thanks for reading! My next post is about our very busy day 4: The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, The Brooklyn Bridge and The Empire State Building!