Let me just start by saying, New York is awesome.
A few weeks ago, a friend (also named Catherine, but note the C), my mom and I went to New York for a long weekend girls trip before the summer ended and our lives got hectic again. We did everything from Times Square at night to a Broadway play (the Lion King) to stand-up comedy shows to the Museum of Modern Art. We ate like royalty. We covered a lot of ground in just three-and-a-half days.
Though we planned this trip in about a month, it was not at all spontaneous. Because I need so many special accommodations to travel, everything from the hotel room to transportation to and from the airport has to be meticulously mapped out and checked for handicapped access. We got lucky and found a luxury apartment to rent in a prime location at 7th and 53rd for less than any hotel room we could find. For those of you not familiar with New York, that’s within walking distance of Times Square, Central Park, the Theater District, and my favorite, MoMA. There were a dozen great restaurants near us as well. We had a small kitchen, two bedrooms, and one and a half bathrooms. We were very comfortable and had plenty of space for my wheelchair, oxygen machine (that I sleep with at night), and all of the crap that three women must travel with.
As far as transportation, we decided to hire a private shuttle service to get us to and from the airport. Though it was expensive, it was much easier than flagging down a handicapped accessible taxi. There are hundreds of taxis in New York, but very, very few handicapped ones. They are very difficult to find, are usually in bad condition, and have to be booked at least two days in advance. That makes getting around a little challenging for the disabled. The subways are also, for the most part, not handicapped accessible. The shuttle was well worth it.
However, the great thing that New York has that I think every city should invest in are handicapped accessible buses. Yep, every single bus in New York City is 100% handicapped accessible, equipped with a fold down wheelchair ramp. The buses run on practically every street in the city too. It makes getting around a lot easier, though you do have to plan out where you are going ahead of time and allot enough time to switch buses if you need to. It’s not the fastest mode of transportation, but the ride is smooth and air-conditioned, so who’s complaining?
Each time we visit New York we get a little more familiar with the layout, the bus system, where to stay, how to get around, etc, etc. If you ever find yourself in the middle of Manhattan, make sure you eat at Le Maison Brasserie on 7th and 53rd. Great French food and it’s open all night. We saw the Lion King on Broadway and it was amazing and highly recommended. Also, if you’re into art, you can’t miss MoMA. It is amazing and overwhelming. I was in New York for four days and the only thing I bought was exactly fourteen pounds of art and design books from the museum. Yep, I’m a nerd.
But seriously, New York is so cool. There is so much to do. I’d never want to live there…it’s a little too busy and expensive for me on a daily basis. As a vacation though, so much fun! And I learned it’s a city I can get around in! Bonus!
