realskiers

That is a LOT of walking.? Take your bikes on the train next time??

I will say that some aspects of New York have really grown on me as well.?

There is a bike path (and numerous parks) along the Hudson all the way from the George Washington bridge down and around the southern tip of the island, and then back up the East river side nearly to Yankee stadium. Lots of people on the path, but still a lovely easy ride.? Lynn and I have ridden down a couple of times to a restuarant at the tip of the island and around much of the area you were walking around.? We did eventually find a boarded catwalk that gave a bit of a view of the WTC ground site, but you are right that there is a quietness there that is a bit surreal. They now have bike lanes on Broadway all the way from somewhere north of Times Square.? We took that down to the pedestrain crossing on the Brooklyn Bridge (and you are absolutely right about the traffic on the bridge and the pedestrian obstacles on the bridge).? Central Park is a jewel, 6 mile paved loop that is closed to traffic except during rush hours (the only challenge is dodging the horse droppings).? The other memory I treasure was going to see South Pacific at the Lincoln Center.? I am sure that there are areas that are the seamier side, but certainly Manhattan itself is well done in a lot of ways. The view when riding a bike across the GW bridge is wonderful, especially on the one trip where there was a thunderstorm over downtown as a backdrop.? And, of course, there is always my favorite eating place, Gray's Papaya hot dog stand.

Lynn is on the upper West side, one block from Central Park.? It still boggles my mind that it is FAR easier for her to go for a bike ride or a run around the lake than it is for me here in the suburbs.? That and the friendliness of the people was probably the biggest surprise.