NEW YORK - STAY FOR LESS "$$"

NEW YORK (City) NEW YORK (State) “So good they named it twice” was first settled in 1625 by Walloon's of the Dutch East India Co, bought Manhattan from the local tribe for a box of tools & trinkets worth $24 &called it New Amsterdam. Then the Brits. arrived in 1664 with 4 Warships & blockaded the Harbour, persuading the Dutch to hand it over, then renamed it New York after James, Duke of York, brother of Charles 2. Today NY is a great place to enjoy the “ American Dream” between the Hudson River, West, & East River , East, & divided by the South/ North old Native American Trail of Broadway. GB has now returned after 11 th September 2001 to put together this new guide for those who want to visit “ The City that Never Sleeps” now a non smoking City

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – BIG APPLE HOSTEL at 119 West 45 th Street , NY 10036 (Just off Times Sq.) tele 212 302 2603 - www.bigapplehostel.com - $36 pn. in 4 x dorms with linen/blanket & air con. on 6 floors. Small well equipped kitchen & dining/ common room with TV & Internet on 1 st (ground) floor. Ideal decked patio area at rear & basement laundry. Well managed Hostel in a brilliant location for the “Wow!” of Times Sq. “Top Class” Theatres & all the “Mega” sights of NY.

Reserve – 1291 Hostel (Swiss Suite) at 337 West 55 th Street NY 10019 (between 8 & 9 Avenue, 15 mins. from T Sq.) tele 212 397 9686 – www.1291.com - $32 pn in 6 x dorms with linen & towel. Fully equipped kitchen & cozy guest dining/ lounge room with cable TV, Internet & a free local telephone. Laundry facilities & a neglected garden to rear. The main Hostel is in a quiet street & has friendly staff & good atmosphere. Warning - avoid being located in “ Swiss Castle ” on 7 Ave & 55 St. , it's too noisy!

FOOD - NY is fast food burger joints, deli's & coffee shops to top class 5 th Avenue restaurants & eateries but for the backpacker there is one cheap supermarkets near to No 1 Hostel - 99c Store – from 6th Avenue on 45 th Street . It has a great food selection at the rear of the store, including frozen ready meals, all for 99c, also good for souvenirs. For fresh fruit the best outlets found in NY are the street vendors where, for example, you can get 4 bananas or 2 Oranges for $1- excellent value.

TRAVELLING AROUND – in NY centre is best on foot to savoir the excitement of this energetic place. Further afield use the famous NY Subway, forget the busses, it's clean - fast & yes, during reasonable times, quite safe. “Metro Tickets” are available from machines at most Station entrances - $2 (one trip) or $10 (six trips) – slide the ticket through the entry gate to validate & you're in, its that simple! The NY Subway system is quite extensive so you'll need “The Map”, provided free by the MTA, all routes shown overlaying a real map of NY , much easier than London 's Underground plan.

1. Times Square – “Heart” of NY, fantastic neon signs, live TV studios, traffic, and the razzmatazz!
2.Central Park – “Lungs” of NY, shady trees, green parkland, Strawberry Fields, joggers & bladers.
3.NY Public Library – “Brains” of NY, vast reading rooms, ornate corridors, free Internet, a Gem!
4.Grand Central Station – “Legs” of NY, trains, the shops, art décor, basement food hall & chairs.
5.Broadway – “Spine” of NY, Battery Park , China Town, Times Sq.Washington Heights & miles N.
6.United Nations Building – “Soul” of NY, considers the World's turmoil's and offers good deeds!
7. Brooklyn Bridge – “Arm”East, first iron Suspension Bridge, great walk & Skyscraper views!
8.Staten Island Ferry – “Arm” South, great passing views of Statue of Liberty & Manhattan vista!
9.Fifth Avenue – ”Style” of NY, Empire State B, Rockefeller C., MET M. & Sex & City lookalikes
10. Metropolitan Museum of Art – “Big MET” donations only so be firm or find a daily entry badge
11. Greenwich Village – “Nightlife” of NY Wash Sq. jam sessions to Jazz Clubs & Bars, CubbyHole
12. Chrysler Building – “ 1930 Décor” dedicated to Motor Vehicle, foyer murals & red marble walls
13. Flatiron Building – “ 1902 Original” 1 st iron girder Skyscraper, sleek & impressive even today.
14. Ground Zero – “Memory” of NY,since 9/11/2001 the World has changed & reconstruction begins.

OTHER ESSENTIAL CHARGE SIGHTS

1. Empire State Building (1931) – “Icon” Skyscraper of NY, fantastic views from the top, day/night
2. Statue of “ Liberty Enlightening the World – 1886 “Icon” of NY & USA, great views over the Bay

*Janet, Edgar – Dani ** -Ben, Matt - Norm, Sandra -Craig, Raed –Nick ** Carrie, Sam, Char, Miran.

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