Journals 1
Impressions of New York
Although I have lived only a train ride away from New York City my entire life I have never spent much time there. I always thought that the city was very methodical in the way the streets are numbered and the directions that all the subways run. It is one of the greatest melting pots in the world due to the wonderful Ellis Island that would be the first entrance of immigrants into the United States. There is so much history buried deep inside the city; whether it is deep underground with the subways or above ground soaring high into the skies with all the skyscrapers. When I complete this class I want to be able to go into the city and not completely look and feel like a tourist, not knowing where to really go or anything.
Although I have lived only a train ride away from New York City my entire life I have never spent much time there. I always thought that the city was very methodical in the way the streets are numbered and the directions that all the subways run. It is one of the greatest melting pots in the world due to the wonderful Ellis Island that would be the first entrance of immigrants into the United States. There is so much history buried deep inside the city; whether it is deep underground with the subways or above ground soaring high into the skies with all the skyscrapers. When I complete this class I want to be able to go into the city and not completely look and feel like a tourist, not knowing where to really go or anything.
Journal 1: Queens The first day of class, I wake up and am just excited to start this class. I have always wanted a new look into New York City and everything it has to bring me. I get on the train and head to Penn Station to meet the class, so eager to get it started.
The first place that we stopped was Grand Central Terminal. I had never been to Grand Central and saying I was blown away is an understatement. The absolute massiveness of the Terminal was incredible. I had never seen anything like it. A train station with a detailed painting on the ceiling who would have ever thought this could be imaginable. The one brick size spot left on the ceiling that was left from the cleaning shows how much pollution we let into the air not only now but always have.
After the Terminal we ended up in a building that had the worlds largest globe in its lobby. Not an ordinary lobby to say the least. the best part about this was how you walked around the globe and the floor told you how many miles you were from other parts of the world.
Next we went onto the Museum of Moving Images. This museum was great to see all the behind the scene looks of so many famous movies and t.v. shows. Whether it was some of the costumes and make up works of the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” to all of the collectibles of Star Wars that they had. I am not a huge Star Wars buff as some other people but it was just cool to see such a large assortment of collectibles that truly showed how iconic of a movie it was.
Our last stop of the day was along the East River where the train cars used to come and unload containers onto barges to send to the city. To most this is a boring sight but to a person like me who aspires to own his own container freight station one day these artifacts are the most Interesting.
The first place that we stopped was Grand Central Terminal. I had never been to Grand Central and saying I was blown away is an understatement. The absolute massiveness of the Terminal was incredible. I had never seen anything like it. A train station with a detailed painting on the ceiling who would have ever thought this could be imaginable. The one brick size spot left on the ceiling that was left from the cleaning shows how much pollution we let into the air not only now but always have.
After the Terminal we ended up in a building that had the worlds largest globe in its lobby. Not an ordinary lobby to say the least. the best part about this was how you walked around the globe and the floor told you how many miles you were from other parts of the world.
Next we went onto the Museum of Moving Images. This museum was great to see all the behind the scene looks of so many famous movies and t.v. shows. Whether it was some of the costumes and make up works of the movie “Mrs. Doubtfire” to all of the collectibles of Star Wars that they had. I am not a huge Star Wars buff as some other people but it was just cool to see such a large assortment of collectibles that truly showed how iconic of a movie it was.
Our last stop of the day was along the East River where the train cars used to come and unload containers onto barges to send to the city. To most this is a boring sight but to a person like me who aspires to own his own container freight station one day these artifacts are the most Interesting.
Journal 2: Brooklyn
The second meeting and we are headed to such an iconic location, Coney Island. Known for “The Cyclone”, a wooden rollercoaster that was the first of its kind, and also the home of the original Nathan’s which every 4th of July hosts the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
We departed from Penn and headed on about a 45-minute ride to Coney Island. As we got down from the platform the first thing that caught my eye on was the original Nathan’s and being a huge baseball fan there is nothing better than a Nathan’s hot dog and I could not wait until I got a chance to go get one, but ended up getting a Philly cheesesteak instead. We were given an hour to do anything we want. We met back up with the whole group and the time just flew by, the hour went by so quickly. We all gathered for a great picture with the beach behind us and we were off to out next destination.
Our next stop was at the New York Transit Museum. The museum holds a great collection of artifacts and pictures dating back to when all of the underground subways were being built. The museum is underground in an unused subway station that in 1976 was deemed too popular to close. It was crazy to hear and see what all those construction workers had to go for, and for such a small pay. There lives were in danger in more ways than just one. It was so cool to go the lower floor and look at all the different types of train cars through the years. The coolest part of the old train cars was the fact that they still had all the old advertising up; it was awesome looking at the old posters and reading the old slogans.
After the tour we walked through the Brooklyn Heights and the gorgeous Brownstones. Who knew exactly who might have lived there at one point because the buildings dated back so far. We got to the East River and enjoyed a walk along it, looking across the river at the skyline. We continued to walk down the East River to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is always going to be one of those memories that I will cherish for life.
The second meeting and we are headed to such an iconic location, Coney Island. Known for “The Cyclone”, a wooden rollercoaster that was the first of its kind, and also the home of the original Nathan’s which every 4th of July hosts the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
We departed from Penn and headed on about a 45-minute ride to Coney Island. As we got down from the platform the first thing that caught my eye on was the original Nathan’s and being a huge baseball fan there is nothing better than a Nathan’s hot dog and I could not wait until I got a chance to go get one, but ended up getting a Philly cheesesteak instead. We were given an hour to do anything we want. We met back up with the whole group and the time just flew by, the hour went by so quickly. We all gathered for a great picture with the beach behind us and we were off to out next destination.
Our next stop was at the New York Transit Museum. The museum holds a great collection of artifacts and pictures dating back to when all of the underground subways were being built. The museum is underground in an unused subway station that in 1976 was deemed too popular to close. It was crazy to hear and see what all those construction workers had to go for, and for such a small pay. There lives were in danger in more ways than just one. It was so cool to go the lower floor and look at all the different types of train cars through the years. The coolest part of the old train cars was the fact that they still had all the old advertising up; it was awesome looking at the old posters and reading the old slogans.
After the tour we walked through the Brooklyn Heights and the gorgeous Brownstones. Who knew exactly who might have lived there at one point because the buildings dated back so far. We got to the East River and enjoyed a walk along it, looking across the river at the skyline. We continued to walk down the East River to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is always going to be one of those memories that I will cherish for life.
Journal 3: The Village