Answer: The Grand Central Station was growing like a tree pushing out the endless corridors, doorways and stairs like roots. It had intricate and tangled pathways. Network of passages was so complicated that instead of reaching his destination, one did tend to move up and down to look for entries and exits.

The idea of Grand Central Station "growing like a tree" is a famous literary metaphor from Jack Finney’s short story The Third Level. In the story, the protagonist, Charley, describes the terminal as a living, organic entity that is constantly "pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots." This imagery perfectly captures the bewildering, labyrinthine nature of the world's largest train station. Historically and architecturally, the terminal has indeed undergone numerous subterranean expansions and renovations since it opened in 1913, including the massive "East Side Access" project that added deep-level platforms for the Long Island Rail Road. The metaphor reflects the feeling of being lost in a space that seems to be perpetually evolving and extending its reach deeper into the bedrock of Manhattan. To many commuters and visitors, the station’s intricate network of tunnels, hidden tracks (like the famous Track 61), and multiple levels can feel like a vast, branching forest of steel and stone, reinforcing the idea that the building is an ever-expanding organism rather than a static piece of infrastructure.

If you are transiting through Abu Dhabi and wish to explore the city for a few days, you can obtain a transit visa quite easily, especially if you are flying with Etihad Airways. The UAE offers two types of transit visas: a 48-hour visa, which is free of charge, and a 96-hour visa, which typically costs around 50 AED (approx. $14 USD). To apply, you must have a confirmed onward flight ticket to a third destination and a passport that is valid for at least six months. In 2026, the process is predominantly digital; you can apply through the Etihad website under the "Manage My Booking" section or through the official Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) portal. Many nationalities are eligible for a "visa on arrival" or "visa-free" entry, so it is crucial to check your specific passport requirements first. For those who do need the transit visa, it is usually processed within 24 to 72 hours. This system is designed to encourage stopover tourism, allowing travelers to visit landmarks like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque or the Louvre Abu Dhabi during their journey between the East and the West, making Abu Dhabi a popular and accessible transit hub.