IMDonehere

Today we went for a Global Entry interview at Bowling Green in the same building as the Museum of the American Indian. The Beaux Arts building designed by Cass Gilbert demonstrates the grandeur of the era and the romance as only five continents are represented by sculptures in front of the building.

The It was not so much an interview as much as being scanned by semi-human eyes. The Border officers were totally without humor, patience, or interest. Think of the DMV with guns.

We then started walking home heading up Broadway. We passed the famous brass bull, who balls are all shiny from tourists rubbing them for good luck.

As you may recall there are rectangular plaques embedded in the sidewalk commemorating the all the parades that rode in the wrong direction up Broadway. There were war heroes, sports champions, little known heads of state, well know heads of state and dictators. It was a combination of Meet the Press and Ellen.

The new Fulton Street Station is spectacular. The use of light, open space, and the juxtaposition of stairways and escalators, make it the most elegantly designed subway station in the City, reminiscent of some of the more modern train stations in Europe.

We stopped at Di Palo, one the City's great, great provision stores. Smoked mozzarella, Sicilian pepper cheese, fresh sausage, semolina bread, and marinated artichokes. Well we are only two people.

Gwendolynn

Is traffic as bad downtown as in midtown? (The Walk in your title brought that to mind -
I haven't been in that area in years... used to work
at One Wall Street. I think I've heard it's a condo now.

IMDonehere

I worked downtown for almost 30 years. As usual Broadway from the Bull to courthouses were extremely tangled. Then from there it breaks up until Canal, gets messy again for a few blocks and then thins out again.

The Cityscape has changed dramatically in the last few years with the conversion of many buildings to condos, more decent restaurants, and the Path and Fulton Street stations, which are both very dramatic.

The building in which I spent many years and was there on 9/11 is also being converted into a mixed use building.

We were in Times Square recently to meet cousins for a meal and the crush is greater there as it extends onto the side streets and continues for many hours.

maitaitom

We go in early September for our interview at LAX (not quite as lovely a spot as your interview). Did they approve you on the spot?

IMDonehere

Yes, we were. Originally in NYC the interviews were at JFK but they expanded that.

In fact the waiting area is a few seats in the lobby after you go through security. They send down one of the tin soldiers and they bring you to another floor.

maitaitom

Did they tell you how long it would be until you received your card?

IMDonehere

My Pre-check will be valid in two days, I do not recall if they mentioned when the card would arrive.

HappyTrvlr

I live 20 minutes from Global Entry interview site and received notice of my approval by the time I got home and signed on to my account. Card took another ten days or so. I have never needed to use the card anywhere but carry it when traveling internationally just in case.it is the best $100 I have ever spent!

ekscrunchy

Please tell me why I should get Global Entry. Is it valid just for entry into the US, so you can avoid the long lines at immigration? Thanks!!

I love DiPalo's, too! I just read that Tony Danza was a part owner of Alleva Dairy, a few doors to the west on Grand Street. Read that he often works at the counter there. (Not sure if this would be of interest to anyone except rabid Tony Danza fans in the mood for Scanorza or prepared ravioli, but there it is, just the same!)

IMDonehere

Allevia is pretty damn good also. But Di Palo is a shade better.

We now have a permanent pre-check on domestic flights also. Some people have said, that without the formal pre-check, on occasions, they have been herded with unfortunate masses.

Ironically I have found the casual traveler to be more agitated by the TSA than the experienced traveler. (I am not speaking of ridiculous line due to incompetence, just the standard annoyance.)

HappyTrvlr

Eks, Global Entry sends to you a machine where you insert your passport, put your fingerprints on it, answer a few questions regarding items for customs, takes a quick photo. It prints out a slip of paper and you show it to the immigration officer and by pass customs too. We have used it for several years and it saves so much time and have never waited for a machine.We also have to connect to a couple of more domestic flights afterwards and never would have made them looking at the long lines at JFK, EWR or ORD. Global Entry includes TSA preCheck. You add your GE number when booking flights and I also added it to my profile on all my airline frequent flyer accounts and you'll get TSA pre Check every time.

mes2525

I think Global Entry is great. It saves lots of time coming into the US from abroad and you get the Pre-Check number as well. I also did my interview at Bowling Green and agree the walk up to Chinatown and Little Italy is a good one.\

When I was in the UK in May, the immigration officer was trying to sell me on getting the British version, but it costs 75 pounds and is only good for a year - not a good deal.

IMDonehere

Good news, I received my photo Global Entry card yesterday. Bad news, I look like a terrorist.