Hi I'm Chris Avery, I'm going to be your guide. If it's your first time in New York, this tour will give you a good snapshot of New York City. We'll begin at Central Park where you'll board the bus. The bus will ride along Broadway for the entire trip and I promise you'll see plenty of tourist attractions along the way. Times Square, Herald Square, Empire State Building, Madison Square Park, Union Square, City Hall, Ground Zero, Wall Street, and finally end at South Ferry Terminal. The final stop is a short walk to the southern tip of Manhattan where you'll get unobstructed views of the statue of Liberty. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even board the Staten Island ferry. It's free. Or I'll guide you to the subway station from where you can get back to your hotel. But we'll get to that later.
An empty bus will arrive at 6th Avenue and 59th Street. 59th Street is also known as Central Park South. The stop is across from the Trump Parc Hotel. Wait at the bus stop. By that I mean the pole with the sign that says M6. from where the driver can see you flagging him down. Even though this is where the bus starts, you need to let the driver know you want to board. Sometimes the hand rickshaw drivers and horse buggies may distract you. Bus drivers aren't used to people boarding at the first stop. Well hobotourism is going to change that isn't it?
Sometimes the bus may be parked at the stop. Ask the driver if it's the M6 and board.
The bus will take a left onto Broadway. The first major landmark is the Andrew Carnegie Hall. The big brown building.Inside it's very ornate. If you can sing at the Andrew carnegie Hall, it means you've made it.
Times Square
This may sound retarded but I never knew this but Times Square was named after New York Times. Their offices used to be at one Times Square. You'd think a New Yorker would know something like that. But I was clueless for many years and so were a lot of my friends.
Herald Square
Empire State Building
I don't think there are too many places from Midtown or Manhattan from where you can't spot this building. If you have a lot of time, feel free to buy passes and make a trip to the observatory. I did that once and promise never to do it again. The lines are long and there are three of them. If you want a birdseye view of Manhattan, go to Rockefeller center instead. Less people.
Madison Square Park
The next will be the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. Broadway is at an angle so it intersects a lot of Avenues. You'll see the Madison Square park to your left and the Flatiron Building to your right or straight ahead from outside the windshield. The best ting about this park is the shake shack. The cheeseburgers are awesome, But there's always a line.
Flatiron Building
A bit about the Flatiron Building. It's a building shaped like an iron. I don't know what moron came up with that. All I want to say is if I if I worked in the Flatiron Building, I wouldn't want the corner office.
Union Square
The bus will take left. The Barnes and Noble to your left. That used to be my favorite Barnes and Noble before I moved. Like a lot of business establishments in New York, you need to request a key to use the toilet. Well Barnes and Noble requires a token. Tough place, New York.
There's the W at Union Square. If you ever need to pee, there's a restroom on the ground florr past the reception to your left. It's a big red door. Just hang out at the lobby for a few minutes. Sit down, act like you're on the phone waiting for a guest, then slip in. Peeing in style. There is a Statue of George Washington. If you ever need a train to go anywhere in Manhattan start at Union Square. Remember that if you ever get lost. Lots of street musicians hang out at Union Square. I suspect a lot of them are from Williamsburg, the artsy fartsy neighborhood in Brooklyn. It's conveniently connected by the L train from Union Sqyare and only 3 stops or 8 minutes away. You'll also see another Virgin Megastore.
Houston
This is Houston. SOHO is South of Houston. So prepare to see art galleries and pretentiously named clothing Stores like Soho Lab or some shit like that.
Canal Street
After SOHO it's Canal Street. This is a busy street. Man look at all those people. South of Canal Street, Broadway cuts the neighborhood into Chinatown to your left and Tribeca to your right. Tribeca is short or Triangle Below Canal Street. There's a huge income disparity between the two neighborhoods. This becomes more apparent when you enter a restaurant. At the Big Wang restaraunt lobster season, you can order two lobsters cantonese style for 18 dollars. 18 dollars. At the Bouley in Tribeca which is a fancy pants French establishment, a lobster is market price which is upwards of 100 dollars. Tribeca is the most expensive real estate in the world. If you are in the mood for lobster, The Big Wang is at Mott and Bayard.
City Hall
This is like the Capitol Hill of New York City. Plenty of courts and government buildings. You'll get a glimpse of the Supreme Court to your right. And then city Hall park. The fountain is nice. Not like a cool European Fountain, but good enough for New York.
Ground Zero
If you look to your right, you'll will get a few glimpses of ground zero. We are one street away so to get a better a better view, you will have to get off and walk to the observatory. If you want the best view,get off and forward to the end of the tour where I'll give you directions to the observatory. Or else lets keep riding. The large glass structure is the Winter Garden.
Trinity Church
To your right is Trinity Church. This church was designated an National Historic landmark for its architectural significance. When it was built in 1846, it's neo gotic spire dominated Manhattan's Skyline. Now it's the trump tower.
Wall Street
To your left right after the Borders bookstore is Wall Street. Cars aren't allowed. 15 trillion dollars are exchanged on this street evertday. Soon you will see the Wall Street bull which is the symbol of capitalist America. It's fun to watch tourists pose with the bull. Some people sit on it's back. I've seen people taking pictures while tickling its balls.
South Ferry Terminal
Once we clear of all the buildings, you'll get a glmpse of the Huson. We are at South Ferry Terminal which is our last stop. This is where the Atlantic divides into the Hudson to your right and the East rives to your left. South Ferry Terminal is where you can catch the ferry to Staten island.
You can also go to the Bolwing Green station from here. Its inside the the South Ferry Terminal so keep walking south. The metra card you used on the bus will allow one transfer.
Other notes
You may feel the temptation to get off at a few places
The bus will slow down to a crawl a few times. Have patience. Just relax and enjoy the slowess. It's easier to get pictures from a slow moving bus
Better still keep that camera away. You're not gonna get any pictures too different from whats on the Hobotourism website.
Crossing the street.
