Five days in New York City

By Karin Kranabethleitner, Leo Vandijck

Imagine your pen friend from New York City has invited you to stay with him/her for five days. The flight is already booked and you are really looking forward to finally seeing NYC. Two weeks before your trip you get an email in which your friend asks you to prepare for the stay in NYC by getting information about the city using the internet. Here are some extracts from this email. Use the links below to find the answers!

... Of course, we will pick you up at the airport. There are three important airports in New York and New Jersey.
What are they called?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_New_York_City
#Airports

You will arrive at the airport where most planes from Europe (and from other countries around the world) land. Which one is it?

Then we will go to our apartment. It is not far away from the Empire State Building. Use the link below for a New York City Map. If you want to see where I live, just click on "Empire State Building". Our apartment is only three minutes from this famous building.

http://www.aviewoncities.com/maps/nyc.htm

Now I want you to find out a bit about this sight, which is the tallest building in NYC. Use this link and you'll be able to answer my questions:

http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_empire.htm

1. In which films can you see scenes that show the top of the building? Find at least two.

2. How much do you have to pay to visit the Empire State Building?

3. When is it open for visitors?

4. Now have a look at the Photo Tour. Where do you have to go to be "surrounded by New York City"?

5. Name three sights that can be seen from there!

6. Why is it not always possible to go up to the 102nd floor?

Now click on the next link to get a panoramic view of NYC from the Empire State Building:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_state_building#Observati
on_decks

NYC is the largest city in the US, so we won't walk all the time, but use the subway a lot. With the help of the next link get information about single tickets and the Metro Card.
http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm

1. What's the price of a single ticket?

2. What's the best Metro Card for you? Remember: You'll stay with me for five days!

I'm sure you know a bit about Central Park. There are lots of attractions, and I want you to find out about my favourite ones:
http://www.centralpark.com/pages/attractions.html

1. What is another name for the Obelisk, and what is special about it?

2. Name three animals that can be seen in Central Park Zoo.

3. What is Wollman Rink?

There is so much to see in New York! Use the links below and decide on at least four other sights you don't want to miss. Get information about ticket prices, opening hours, interesting facts,...
http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_alltime.htm
http://www.ny.com/sights/misc.html

http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/nycattractions.htm

If you want to, we can also see a Broadway musical. Click on the link and find two musicals you are interested in! Then I'll try to get tickets. Please tell me why you'd like to see them.
http://www.broadway.com/

FOLLOW-UP:

Write an adventurous story in which one of the sights plays an important role. Then find a title for it. Post it in your blog. The deadline is May 11, 2009.