The Concrete Jungle

Today was the Penn Summer Discovery's first Saturday and large scale field trip of the summer.  We went to Manhattan in New York where we visited Columbia University, Times Square, and the Rockefeller Center.  The weather was hot and sunny with only a slight breeze.  Although the heat may have been intense, it provided for a great opportunity for pictures in perfect lighting.  Despite the fact that the ILC Penn cohort had just went to Manhattan last Saturday, it was still a great opportunity to explore more into the heart of the city that we couldn't explore before.

We began our New York visit with a trip to Columbia University.  There was no actual tour given by the University or by anyone for that matter, so instead most people wandered around the area.  The "Home Area" as it is called, was the area in which we were allowed to visit freely as long as we stayed in groups of four.  The group that I was in only had the time to stop for brunch at nearby restaurant and take a visit to a local library.  After that it was right back on the bus to go to Times Square.  After two visits to the area and I still couldn't find the restaurant from Seinfeld.    

Times Square

Once again in Times Square there wasn't a lot of time for us to explore before it was time to go to the Rockefeller Center.  Despite the lack of time, many of us went into the shops and explored.  Not many people had actually signed up for the Rockefeller Center visit so it was almost impossible to coordinate a group to travel together to the designated meeting area.  Because the "Home Area" in Times Square was so massive, it was even harder to get to the building on time to make it to our two-forty appointment. Unfortunately, I was the only one in my group that was going to the Top of the Rock, so I had to walk there alone.  Not only did I have to walk alone but I had to run alone, because the meeting zone for the group was eight blocks away and two more blocks to the side.  With only moments to spare, I managed to reach the group after running for ten minutes straight in the ninety-five degrees heat, while fighting off those pesky street vendors at the same time.

Rockefeller Center Observation Deck

On the bright side, the Rockefeller Center was an amazing experience.  Sixty-seven floors up with a perfect 360 degree view of all of Manhattan.  It was a great experience and an even better opportunity to see the scale of the city in real life.  After seeing the city from the Top of the Rock, the city still didn't look very big to me.  Maybe I've been spoiled by all of the big scale talk that everyone gives New York that provides for a false impression. 

View from the Top of the Rock

Central Park

Once we left the Rockefeller Center, a few friends and I wondered around the city.  While wondering around, there was a brief moment when it seemed that it was 9/11 again.  A news report of a plane crash at the San Francisco Airport in California rattled the crowds on the streets.  Many people misinterpreted the information and thought that it had happened in New York.  The moment of confusion and panic only lasted for maybe one minute or two, but it was still an intense moment.    I think that I may have been the only one who noticed that everyone was starting to panic because no one in my group seemed to react.  Myself, and the people in my group had heard the story at the NBC Experience store and knew that there was no imminent danger or serious damage, so maybe that's why they didn't pay much attention.

After a few hours of walking through stores like the Lego Store and other random stores, we finally returned to the bus.   Once on the bus, it was a nice two hour long bus ride back to Philadelphia.  I think that I will enjoy sleeping in tomorrow morning and thankfully there are no mandatory trips.