NYC - the 6 hour layover

Having about a six-hour layover, I decided to make the best of my time in the Big Apple. After traversing my way through the rail shuttle system with the help of a local or two I found my way to the NYC subway. Where to go? My first thoughts were to retrace my steps from when I was here several years ago. I wanted to see the WTC ground zero. On the flight in, it was rather cloudy and I only saw a vague outline of the city. So I traveled down the sub trying to find my way to Manhattan. I found the people very nice here, opposite of common misconception that they are rude. Finding myself on the map in the railcar I saw that this trainline passes by 42nd, Broadway, and Times Square. Having never seen this part of the city, it was an obvious stop to pass my 6 hours. I climbed the stairs from the underground, coming up to see myself surrounded by mammouth buldings of bustling NY life, what looked like from the air but tiny toys. It was cool to see where thousands of people gather to watch a ball drop, all of the signs and lights, and the theaters. The majestic, Shubert, Netherlander, etc., etc., etc. Rent and NASDAQ-quite the last minute stop. I know I had limited time so I got back on the subway, feeling like a pro this time...
Turns out I got on the wrong line--so a quick fix and a switch, I jumped back on to the E line to lower Manhattan. Coming up directly in from of Ground Zero and St. Paul's Cathedral wa just mixed emotions. Looking through the temporary memorial of pictuers and all of the names of those who died left me numb. Seeing the sign for the Freedom Tower to open in 2010 left me with a good feeling. I saw on the surrounding buldings, especially in the World Financial Center to the west, many chips and burns in the stone and marble.
Making my way back to JFK was a bit tricky because the transit authority had a temporary weekend schedule, which directly affected my train route, causing me to go from station to station and back until I found the right one. I checked into security aobut an hour before my flight (oops). It wa a good flight, after an hour delay because of "mechanical issues," which I watched the mechanics fix right outside my window. I sat with about 8 attractive latinos from Porta Rico, a french guy behind me, and a french lady in front--so needless to say, my conversation was zilch. With a nice meal of lazagna about an hour or two in, and only a glimpse at Providence's lights, I was asleep for the ride across the North Atlantic.

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NYC