First Glimpse of the Big Apple

Nighttime NYC from the car on our drive in to Jersey

Daytime NYC
The view of the Manhattan skyline from nearby Jersey City--just across the Hudson.
We briefly saw the skyline on our drive in Friday night...
let me tell you, this place looks a whole heck of a lot bigger in the daylight!

We made sure we were up "Jake McSurdy early" so we could watch the sun rise over the city on our walk
to the PATH station...pretty sure we couldn't have asked for better weather!

Refugee camp take #2--six adults getting ready in one bathroom; it's a good thing we all get along so well
...and we were still out the door by 7:00 AM

This tourist was ready to hit the streets and explore every last inch of the city (it would have taken me months)!

Heading underground, only to emerge on the streets of New York City!!

First stop...COFFEE.  We consulted a pedestrian safety officer for a breakfast recommendation, he steered us towards this little shop...part bakery, part grocery, part sandwich shop--just what you expect to see on the streets of NYC.
The breakfast sandwiches and wraps were fab...the coffee was HOT but that's about it.  Let's just say we hit up the Starbucks down the street for a bathroom and more coffee!

Not long after breakfast we saw some of the Occupy protesters and their makeshift tent city

Complete with lots of security and barricades

Kind of pissed that I missed the opportunity to take a photo of the random old dude walking by the protesters
who decided to start a verbal confrontation from the other side of the barricade...what he failed to realize is that while he
was moving from side-to-side arguing, the NINE FOOT POLE he was carrying (not sure why) was almost impaling us!

After getting fueled up with breakfast and caffeine, we spent Saturday seeing the sights...the 9/11 Memorial, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park, SoHo, etc., etc., etc.  I can't give you all the lowdown in just one blog post, so you'll have to stay tuned!  I can't believe it's already been over a week since our trip...that just means I have some major blogging to do so I can share all of our experiences! Don't worry, they're coming...