We went to Seasme Place

[Paul B]

This weekend my Wife and I took our Grand Daughter to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania which is about 100 miles from our house on Long Island. We had to pick up Greta in Downtown Manhattan where she lives. So we leave our house on Friday way before rush hour at 1:30 in the afternoon. (Greta is four and we had to wait for her to get out of pre school)

So it is raining and we get Grata an hour late because we were stuck in traffic for 2 hours for the 20 mile ride from our house.

We go 3 blocks in Manhattan and stop in traffic. And when I mean "stop" I mean literally stop, for one hour and forty minutes on one block. We didn't move an inch in that time. People were barbecuing, changing their oil, Shaving and washing their clothes on the side of the street.

After that time, we finally move. A foot.

Yes, a foot. I get out and ask a Cop what the problem is. He says, "What problem, it is always like this". Seriously!

Another hour goes by we finally get into the Holland Tunnel which goes to Jersey.

The traffic was "moving" through the tunnel about as fast as a lettuce slug runs on ice or about 2 mph.

Now we spent about 5 hours "driving" and we are only a half a mile from Greta's house.

We get into New Jersey on the New Jersey Turnpike which is like a 10 lane highway and "cruse" along at about 5mph for most of the remainder of the trip.

We arrived there at 8:00pm.

7 1/2 hours in the car. To put that into perspective a few weeks ago we went to the Caribbean in 5 hours, Europe is just a little longer and we went to Hawaii in 16 hours which is on the other side of the earth (almost) Now I know why they don't let you install torpedoes in cars.



I worked in Manhattan for 40 years and hated every minute of it. I know people come from all over the world to see Manhattan and I am at a loss to know why. There is nothing there but buildings, filthy subways filled with rats and as I mentioned, traffic. I personally feel they should put a fence around it and burn it. After they relocate all the people of course.



So we stay the night in a hotel and the next day go to Sesame Place.



Yaaa. She is all excited in her Annie costume.





I crammed myself into all the rides with her and I did not exactly fit in any of them. My expression tells it all.

 

[helen ann]

Great story and love your expression!!!! ;):p:D

 

[Paul B]

Thanks, that was Oscars, Rotten, Rusty Rockets and it was built for 4 year olds but Greta wasn't tall enough to go on by herself (like many of the rides there) so PopPop had to also ride. As you can see my knees are jammed up against the seat in front of me and I can't sit down. It was about as comfortable as the ride up there.

 

[helen ann]

LOL LOL LOL ... so funny!
Such a good PopPop!!!
We just lost our Papa and we have a ton of these memories with him and our lil' one ... They always remember these lil' things!;)

 

[Paul B]

I will also remember it. The last time we went was when our Daughter was young 35 years ago. I still have a Grand Son to take.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Paul, I had a chance back in the late 80's to visit New York while I was in the army. Was not impressed. Too many people and traffic was the worst I've ever seen to date. Have not been back since.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Paul the grouch.

Thanks, that was Oscars, Rotten, Rusty Rockets and it was built for 4 year olds but Greta wasn't tall enough to go on by herself (like many of the rides there) so PopPop had to also ride. As you can see my knees are jammed up against the seat in front of me and I can't sit down. It was about as comfortable as the ride up there.

 

[Paul B]

Paul, I had a chance back in the late 80's to visit New York while I was in the army. Was not impressed. Too many people and traffic was the worst I've ever seen to date. Have not been back since.

There was no one there in the 80s. Go there now but take some heavy drugs first.
Cromag08. I have been to Arizona also. There are more people here in a Starbucks than in the entire state of Arizona. You are lucky that you can drive 100 miles and see nothing but maybe a cactus. I can't even see 100 feet in Manhattan unless I tell 47 Taxi's and tourists to move over. Horrible place. :eek:

 

[reefwiser]

The things you do for Grand Kids.:)

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I have been to NYC many times, as well as Jersey, and I have driven back in forth. And I also used to live in west Hollywood (LA). I'll take the AZ traffic, although it is more dangerous to drive here. your drivers license expires when you're like 70!!!

I do love NYC though, and I was in red bank, nj and that was nice as well.

There was no one there in the 80s. Go there now but take some heavy drugs first.
Cromag08. I have been to Arizona also. There are more people here in a Starbucks than in the entire state of Arizona. You are lucky that you can drive 100 miles and see nothing but maybe a cactus. I can't even see 100 feet in Manhattan unless I tell 47 Taxi's and tourists to move over. Horrible place. :eek:

 

[Paul B]

I live right on the border of NYC in Nassau which is 23 miles from midtown Manhattan and if my Daughter didn't live there, I would not even want to fly over the place. As I said, I worked there for 40 years so I know it well.
We occasionally go there by boat, but there is no dock (that you can afford to stay at) so we never get off the boat there.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I remember kne time I took a ferry from red bank to NY because I had a flight out of jfk (?). When we docked there was no place to get a cab. I just jumped into one while he was waiting in traffic. he didn't like that too much, but oh well.

The parking garages in NYC were crazy. Around $1k per month?::::

 

[Paul B]

I know, my Daughter pays $400.00 a month to store a $200.00 bicycle. I told her to just leave the bicycle where ever she goes and buy a new one when she needs it. I mean, is it me?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

12 x $400 = $4800/year

Vs

2 (maybe?) x $200 = $400/year

 

[AdamNC]

I remember going there as a kid when I lived in Philly. I'm turning 43 this year, I'm honestly surprised it's still open.

 

[DracoKat]

I went 2 years ago to Sesame Place for halloween with my nieces. Most of the park was closed, only like 3 rides were opened. it stunk, IMO. I am glad your grandaughter had fun! She made the perfect little Annie!

 

[erinmegan85]

What a good PopPop you are! I went to Sesame Place when I was little, and while I don't remember it at all I'm sure that I had a blast and my parents had about as much fun as you did on the rides. Haha. As for NYC, I grew up about an hour and a half north of the city. I love to visit the city, but I would never in a million years live there. I'm a theater nerd, so that was always the draw for me, Broadway shows and operas. What's amazing to me is how many don't realize that not all of New York looks like the city. I grew up in a small town with one stop light and plenty of farms. As for driving in NYC you are a brave, brave man. I would never in 1,000 years drive there. Also, I despise the Jersey Turnpike. Worst. Road. Ever.

 

[aaron23]

I'd agree I'm only in NYC for several more years then I want out!! I don't like the crowded everything dirty air trash everywhere. It's only good cause I can walk to work in 15 minutes lol

 

[chefjpaul]

I remember kne time I took a ferry from red bank to NY because I had a flight out of jfk (?). When we docked there was no place to get a cab. I just jumped into one while he was waiting in traffic. he didn't like that too much, but oh well.

The parking garages in NYC were crazy. Around $1k per month?::::

I just got a new job next door to world trade center and my parking will be $500/ month.[emoji22] since I can't take train in that early anymore.

 

[Paul B]

I know the area well. I worked on the construction of the original Trade Center and there was a huge fish store in the 60s a few blocks away on Chambers Street.
Crowded area.