Our Travels to New York City

Take a look at our various trips to the Big Apple:

July 1999- Our First Trip- Lion King, Central Park, Empire State Building

May 2000, Rent, SOL + WTC

New Years' Eve 2000, New Years Day 2001

World Trade Center Pictures, 9/12/01

May 2003 (Anniversary), Cirque Du Soleil, Ground Zero

May 20th 2004, Cirque Du Soleil, Times Square

July 1999- Our First Trip- Lion King, Central Park, Empire State Building

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Our first trip to NYC together (Val had been there briefly once before) we tried to do it all! The main purpose for going was to see the Lion King on Broadway-- what a spectacular show. Had to buy tickets 5 months in advance. We also got around to Central Park, Times Square, World Trade Center (at night time, went to observation platform on South tower), FAO Schwartz, and the Empire State Building. We stayed with our friend Henry, who lived right on the river in New Jersey, with a view of the WTC towers from his 5th floor apartment balcony. We both fell in love with the energy and culture of the city. Right before we left, we visited practically every poster shop in Manhattan, looking for a Lion King poster that was side-of-the-bus-big. The 9th poster shop had a framed version for only $200-- framed. It was a deal, considering it was bigger than 36"X44" frame with plexiglass.

Andy at the Empire State Building observation deck, with the WTC in the background.	The picture does not capture the complete serenity of the park when compared to the traffic-infested chaos just one block behind us.	Valarie looking out over the main fountain of Central Park. This is by the famous footbridge and steps.
Since we were in the area by Central Park, we stopped off at FAO Schwartz. We marveled at the vast array of toys in the store. The place was a spectacle, having a huge robot 25 feet tall in the entrance foyer, and an enormous collection. Since Star Wars I had just come out, they had a whole section of the store devoted to Star Wars.	Click here to see the moving subway train, and Valarie's annoyance that Andy filmed it :)	Here we are at Times Square, right before seeing the Lion King.

May 2000, Rent, Statue of Liberty and WTC

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Having missed the Statue of Liberty on our first visit, we returned with the express purpose of spending some time there. After standing in line for two hours, baking in the heat (thankfully they had a tent canopy to shelter you from the sun), we got to climb inside Lady Liberty. The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the Windows on The World restaurant, in the North tower of the World Trade Center. We marveled at the people on the observation deck on the other tower, and the view of the Statue of Liberty. I personally enjoyed seeing the top side of a small prop plane flying over the Hudson river. Not too often you see a plane flying straight and level and see the top side of it while standing on firm ground yourself! We also bought, per the recommendation of our friend Henry, tickets to see Rent, another Broadway play, on a whim. Turns out we both enjoyed the show a great deal, and Valarie loved it. Included are some pictures taken along the trip down to NYC. We went to the Bear Mountain bridge via Route 17.

Val doing her share of the driving. This was in the Escort	Along the way there on Route 17	The Bear Mountain Bridge	Valarie at the Bear Mountain overlook of the Hudson river
The overlook	A look at the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty as seen from the North tower of the WTC. IT was remarkable to watch the planes fly by over here. Battery Park is at the bottom of the picture.	The Brooklyn Bridge as seen from the WTC.	A look straight down the 1300-foot-tall side of the WTC North tower to the globe sculpture on the ground.
The World Trade Center towers as seen from the courtyard below. A remarkable sight.	Old Lady Liberty as seen from the ferry from Battery Park.

New Years' Eve 2000, New Years Day 2001

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It was Valarie's idea to celebrate New Years' Eve in Times Square.. and what an experience. We dressed up for an arctic excursion, brought camping chairs, food and drink. While everyone around us was wearing stylish pea coats, flared blue jeans, a scarf and thin cotton or leather gloves (and freezing their butts off, standing), we wore our comfy snowsuits with sweatpants over the outside. This was important, because we got there at 6pm, and sat and waited until midnight. And even at 6pm, we could only get situated around 45th street. The place was packed, we got our mullets (that was an adventure in itself), ballon, and streamer, and were showered in confetti at midnight. Mayor Giulianni and Mohammed Ali pressed the button to drop the ball. Their platform was about a block and a half behind us. What a great party!

The crowd gathers	Mullet! Mullet! Valarie wants her mullet!	Only 20 seconds left in 2000...
Only a few seconds left... you can't even see the ball anymore....	HAPPY NEW YEAR!

World Trade Center Pictures, 9/12/01

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Valarie and Andrew were both shocked, sad and angry at the destruction of the World Trade Center. It was an integral part of our memories of our trips to New York City. These pictures were taken on September 12th by the Civil Air Patrol, doing an aerial survey of the damage to buildings in proximity to ground zero. This was the first overhead flight of the wreckage by any aircraft.

NEVER FORGET

May 2003 (Anniversary), Cirque Du Soleil, Ground Zero

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It took us a couple years to get a chance to come back to NYC. We had been watching the Cirque Du Soleil documentary on Bravo about the Varekai show, and they were performing in NYC on our anniversary. We made the trip down to see the show (which was awesome, BTW). We had some time to spare once we got there, so we made it a point to visit ground zero.

The Cirque du Soleil big top
	A symbol of faith out of the wreckage	George Washington Bridge as we drive back

May 20th 2004, Cirque Du Soleil, Times Square

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When Valarie's parents came to visit for her graduation, they offered as a graduation present the opportunity to see the Cirque Du Soleil's Allegria show. Val's parents had never been to NY City, so in the time we had to spare, we took them to Times Square to look around. All in all, it was a fun trip and a good show.

Valarie's parents and Val at Times Square

Val and Andy in the Cirque audience

Here we all are at the Cirque

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