Our Latest Evenings in Manhattan

On our last journey to Ohio on Amtrak with Lukey and Kenzie, we spent a little bit of time in Manhattan, both coming and going on our journey.  We had a layover in Manhattan going each way so we could transfer from one Amtrak route to another.  This allowed us to walk around a little bit and to get some "real" pizza each time we were there.  Honestly, the pizza alone is worth the nightlong layover!

This first photo, below, shows us in Penn Station's subway corridors.  This part of Penn Station has not yet been renovated (Penn Station is undergoing a decade-long, much-needed renovation) so it is still the same dark and dirty place it has been for many decades.  We also encountered some problems here at the beginning of our trip.  

Naturally, we had planned for either Sheila or me to pay for the subway tickets so we had both of our phones all set up already in anticipation of having to pay.  The current way you pay for the subway is electronically through your phone which sounds great...  if it works.  You simply tap right at the turnstile to pay rather than having to access a kiosk.  We thought this would be awesome but we couldn't get it to work for us.

Sheila scanned the first of us to go through the turnstile...  Lukey passed through.  Then Sheila tried to scan again to allow Kenzie to go through the turnstile...  it wouldn't allow her to scan again.  I quickly pulled out my phone to charge it to my account instead.  I tapped...  Kenzie was now allowed through.  I tapped again to allow Sheila through...  it wouldn't work.  

Now we were frustrated because people are trying to access these turnstiles as we're trying to figure out how to resolve this problem.  Subway riders in New York city are not known for their patience so I knew we were pissing people off.  One person just yelled toward us (in a helpful way, not angry) to just go around the turnstile and forget about paying.  I didn't want to do that though.  

Then a woman asked if she could help.  When we explained our problem she quickly explained that you can only tap once and that this new payment system is terrible.  She actually tapped for another one of us to go through and then I by-passed the turnstile by going through the gate without paying.

What are families visiting Manhattan supposed to do?  Each kid needs to have a payment system on their own phones?  What kind of short-sighted nonsense is that?  Who approved of this nonsense?  Worse yet, I wanted to actually pay for additional fares but this new and ridiculous system wouldn't allow me to pay for more than a single fare!  This is simply asinine.  At this point, I decided this would be our last subway mode of transportation in Manhattan for good.  For all future trips we will either walk or hail an Uber.  

The subway has always been a pain in the butt anyway.  Years ago you had to purchase tokens from an agent.  Then they started selling tokens in kiosks.  Then you purchased a ticket from a kiosk and inserted the ticket at a turnstile.  I remember times when we couldn't even find a kiosk with any tickets left...  all the kiosks were sold out!  Now, with this new system, although it could make this terrible experience a bit easier and slightly more pleasant, you can't even pay for yourself and another fare, traveling buddy or family!    

I'm so done with the subway at this point.  The stations are smelly and filthy anyway.  The train cars are filthy.  Crime is worse in the subway system.  Sometimes stations are closed for various reasons and you don't find out until the subway has passed your station or you can't even get into a station from the street because it is closed for some unknown reason.  It has never been a pleasure to use the subway system in New York City but it is even worse today.  So, this photo, below, was our last time in the subway system.  

When we returned to Manhattan on our return trip, we completely avoided the subway.  We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the cost was no different above ground yet it was faster, easier and far more convenient.

Incidentally, I've traveled on many subway mass transit systems around the country...  New York City has always been among the worst.  

Now we are walking the block from the subway station to our hotel.  Lukey and Kenzie have been here a few times now so they are leading the way...

After we checked into our hotel room, we cleaned up a bit and then headed out for a short walk as we always do...

Hey, I managed to get myself into one of the photos!  That doesn't happen often.

This view, below, is looking toward Sak's Fifth Avenue from the location of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.  We are standing right behind the Prometheus sculpture.  The umbrellas in the foreground are at tables that are on what is the ice rink in winter.  

Lukey is all set up at Rockefeller Center to sell lobster!  

Things happen quickly in Manhattan.  We heard a siren approaching quickly so, while I was turning around the face the direction of the approaching vehicle, I changed my camera settings quickly so I could capture some motion.  I slowed my shutter speed significantly and then panned with the fast moving ambulance...

Inside St Patrick's Cathedral...

Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped to pick up a large pepperoni pie, garlic knots and some drinks and then walked the block back to the hotel so we could eat.

Our visits to Manhattan are always nice even when just passing through with a single night layover.  I know Sheila, Kenzie and Lukey enjoy these short layovers.  And, the pizza makes it worth the short visit!