h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey Cafram ... I thought I'd let you know that things are going to get rather chilly here in NY over the next few days! It's only going to be a high of 48°F/8.8°C and a low of 28°F/-2°C on Saturday, and even colder the next day! It's expected to warm up to a high of 50°F/10°C by the middle of next week. Be sure to bring something warm!

Yowch! I had no idea it was that cold already! Thanks Shea!!

Have you got any ideas of things we absolutely *must* see while in NYC? We're only there 2 days - seeing Rent on Broadway and my man wants to go to ground zero and the Met - any other suggestions? We were kinda thinking just a wander through Central Park'd be nice, although if it's that cold, maybe not!!

It's easy enough to wander a short distance in Central Park ... especially if you're going to the Met! I assume you mean the Metropolitan Museum of Art ... it's nestled right into the park. You only have to walk a very short way to see Cleopatra's Needle, for example.

If you're going to Ground Zero, I suggest making your way to Battery Park. You can see the Statue of Liberty very well from there, and since you're only there a couple of days, you might not want to waste the time it takes to get the ferry there! Besides ... it's cold!

If you're seeing Rent, head up a block to 42 St. and check out Times Square. You won't be sorry, especially if you go there at night! It's very, very cool, and looks like it came out of an old science fiction movie, and it's what someone guessed the future would look like! If you're in Times Square, pop into the Toys R Us store, because that's also cool, and you can even ride in a ferris wheel in the building!

I hope you get to see this before you're there ... I didn't come online this weekend, sorry.

The city that never sleeps sure as hell never sleeps! It's so alive, although I didn't get to see any muggings or drug deals or anything - very disappointing. TV has lied to me!

So, talk about dodgy hostels! I hunted around for ages to find a cheap one, and it sure showed! We kept getting locked in the room and having to go down the fire escape - it felt very authentically New York-ian.

I didn't get your post until today, when I'm already up in NH, but that's ok cos we did pretty much what you suggested anyway! Wandered down through central park, discovered bagels for breakfast (how good are bagels?! ), down through Times Square and Toys R Us, through Macys and down to Barnes and Noble where we hung out for a while before heading back up to see Rent - all very much worth it! Didn't make it down to battery park - I was all jet lagged out.

It's such a strange city - the Tri state area has the same population as Australia - it amazes me that so many people can live in such a small space! It just goes on and on and on...definately one of those places you have to see to believe!

I hate staying in NYC overnight just for the reason that it doesn't ever sleep! One of the noisiest places around! I'm so sorry you didn't get to see any muggings or drug deals! Next time let me know, and I'll direct you to the perfect spots for that! You should know that Times Square has been "Disney-fied" ... you should have seen it before!

I suppose you get what you pay for, but I'm glad you had the truly New York-type experience climbing in and out of your window!

I'm betting that it's pretty cold in NH! I'm sorry you missed the autumn colors there. It's absolutely breath-taking, especially in the mountains! My family used to vacation in NH when I was a kid, and we always had a wonderful time! The whole state has that great woodsy smell!

It's funny that you say NYC is one of those places you have to see to believe ... TJ had a funny reaction the first time I brought him into the City. It was around Christmas time, and we went in to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and all the store windows. When we got to the top of the stairs from the train station, he stopped and looked around with a big smile on his face. He said it looked exactly the way he thought it would, but he just didn't imagine it with all the people. That surprised him ... still does, actually.

I hope you're having a great trip. You'll have to come back sometime when the weather's nice.