HERE WE GO........

From epic skyscrapers to electrically charged ambience, initial experience of New York City can leave you utterly overwhelmed. Romance radiates from every street corner as film sets burst into life. New York is the city of the future.
Originally named New Amsterdam by Dutch colonists, it wasn’t until British occupation in 1664 it became recognized as present day New York. The creation of the Erie Canal in 1825 was the mechanism for trade and industrial growth that bought about the thriving city of today.
For visitors travelling via boat, opening port of call is the majestic Statue of Liberty. This illustrious emblem of the American Dream was designed by Gustave Eiffel – he of Eiffel Tower notoriety – and erected in 1886. For security purposes the Statue no longer offers public admission, however access to Liberty Island is still permitted, providing an exceptional picture of the elegant lady.
Opposite the Statue rests Ellis Island, an immigration station until the midpoint of last century. Formerly used by the English for disciplining buccaneers, Ellis Island supervised the influx of millions of European immigrants during the first half of the twentieth-century. The museum – open daily with free admission – is well worth a couple of hours of your time.
Straddling East River, Brooklyn Bridge is recognizable to anyone who has been to the movies. Affording some of the most breathtaking sights of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge was constructed in 1883, and at time of completion was the worlds biggest suspension bridge and earliest to utilize steel cables.
Off 42nd Street sits the vast, cathedral-like Grand Central Station. At one hundred and fifty feet tall, the stylishly decorated starry sky ceiling is a magnificent spectacle to behold. You may explore the station yourself, however best alternative is to seize advantage of the frequent free tours. If seafood is your thing, the Oyster Bar is a must, offering exceptional cuisine and a cool view.
In the heart of Manhattan lies Central Park, providing immense contrast to demanding urban life. Conceived in 1876, a recreational area was developed to afford the citizens a respite from modern living. By now New York was a flourishing town and authorities felt individuals required a contrast to bricks and mortar. Central Park Zoo is continually popular, as is the Wollman Rink, a delight in winter. Shakespeare in the Park – an admirable production – is located at the Delacorte Theatre and is free, however obtain your tickets in advance.

DO YOU KNOW ??

New York has just been ranked as the safest of America’s ten biggest cities in 2005, where, according to the FBI, about one crime was reported for every 37 people. This is the second year in a row that New York has been named America’s safest big city. How scary is that? While Mayor Michael Bloomberg was quick to say the report ''shows that our innovative efforts to reduce crime and increase New Yorkers' quality of life are working,'' the bigger question is, just what is going on in our other nine biggest cities? Easygoing murder? Robbery as a workaday job? Really bad in and out of marriage spats? And guess what city among the leading offenders has the highest crime rate? You guessed it: the apparently unruly metropolis of Dallas, where the FBI checks in with about one crime for every 12 people. One in 12 people is involved in a crime within the space of a year? Does that make you scared to go to the mall or what? Just in case you thought you were living in a city that’s safer than New York, here’s the spooky rundown: San Jose came in second safest. LA came in at number three. San Diego was fourth. Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, San Antonio and Phoenix followed in that order. Now, here’s the kicker. On a national basis, violent crime went up by 2.3% last year, but in Gotham violent crimes – including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – fell by 1.9%. So, in case you’re paranoid about living in a big city, head for New York, where you can feel safer than ever. Just don’t do two things: Do not, whatever you do, go for a run in Central Park after dark. You can’t run fast enough. And at night stay on the avenues as much as possible and, whatever you do, don’t enter dark tunnels or side streets that give you the creeps just looking at them. You don’t want to ruin New York’s safest-city reputation, do you?