Image from WikipediaIt has been years since I was in New York city – almost 10 years to be more exact. Of all the things to do in New York, I found the best way to start a day is by visiting the New York Stock Exchange for the opening bell. If you get in at the right time, you can stand in the viewing area and see all the traders begin their day at 9:30. The day I went, it was a warmer than usual spring day in the city and I was staying in a hotel in Times Square for a conference. The conference was over, so it was time to explore the city.

I arrived at the NYSE with plenty of time to spare, having taken a cab ride from my hotel. It has been ten years, so I think the security in the financial district is much more strict than it was back in the 90′s. After a quick visit to the NYSE and seeing the opening bell, I took a walk – a long walk. Eventually, I ended up on a double decker bus for a quick ride – it was especially nice, as the top was open and even with the sun getting hot it was refreshing sitting in the open air as the bus moved through late morning traffic. The ride was one of the shorter sightseeing tours, which left me with much more time on my hands.

Eventually, I ended up at Central Park. I got some ice cream – which was a bit over priced – but it was a welcome relief, because of the weather. Central Park was pretty interesting – I am sure many other people have been more eloquent in their descriptions of the seemingly odd juxtaposition of such a concentration of nature in the midst of the chaos that is NYC, but I imagine most everyone gets the same feeling.

Cutting through Central Park, my next stop was the Metropolitan Museum of Art; however, when I started up the stairs – things were oddly quiet. Quiet, as in – it looked like it was closed. And indeed it was – the museum is closed on Mondays. I will have to save that one for another day and another trip.

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