Today
This morning I went on JICNY's tour of the Lower East Side. We walked all over (think Delancey Street) visiting synagogues and other aspects of older Jewish life in the city. I took plenty of pictures--check them out in the photo gallery.
There's a guy who wrote a book about the tracking of the New York subway system. It's sold at the bookstore in Grand Central next to the Transit Museum shop. The simplest way seemed to be to take the (F) to the (6). But that particular station is weird, because at Bleecker St. you can only go downtown. So I took the (F) to the (6) downtown, and I was about to get off at the next stop to the uptown train when I thought, “why not go see the old IRT City Hall station?”
So I sat on the train. Spring St., Canal St., Brooklyn Bridge. “Last stop; everyone off.” I just sat there, rehearsing in my mind what I'd say to the MTA employee who was sure to ask me to get off. But after about half a minute, the doors just closed, and the train rolled on.
I got a pang of nervous excitement, as I was now committed. There was no getting off the train, so I moved to the outside and looked through the window.
The boarding area isn't very long. I had my camera with me from the walking tour, but was too nervous to use it. I looked at the station, and it's still very impressive and pretty. And then it was over.
The (6) was still in the loop, but just stopped. I was still stuck in the train. I just sat there, and had pulled out my Palm to play some games, but the train started up again, and started its uptown run. As it pulled into the Brooklyn Bridge station, I jumped to a waiting (5) for a trip to Grand Central.
There was no exhibit at the Museum annex, and I picked up the book at the Posman shop nearby.
Tonight is packing time. I'm going to back up my PowerBook, and then pack up. Three days back in Michigan await me.