Since I was staying in Harlem I wanted to explore further than just 125th street and the walk to the subway. I headed up Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd to the Abyssinian Baptist Church which is a beauty.
Abyssinian Baptist Church
The streets of Harlem are very different to Downtown and the differences in income are very apparent by the number of run down buildings. That said there is a good community vibe here; sitting in local cafes I could see how important people are to each other and the part they take in the community.
I also strolled past the Apollo Theatre where such legends as Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker played.
As it was the first sunny afternoon this week I decided to tackle the Empire State Building in the afternoon. Unfortunately so did everyone else! The queue to the airport-like security, then to the ticket counters then to the elevator took an hour and half so be prepared. The elevator whizzes you to the 80th floor and then it’s another queue for the second elevator to take you to the 86th floor.
The view is amazing, even if the people in front of it are 3 or 4 deep. You need to be patient walking around if you want to get the best views.
Central Park
