New York

Leaving Boston Friday morning

Friday – A cab ride from the station to our hotel and we were fortunate enough to be able to check in early so it didn’t take long to be on the streets again for our first taste of New York. We are staying right next to the Rockefeller Centre and Plaza, a vibrant area full of outdoor eateries and shopping. Made our way to Times Square and took in all the sights and sounds.

Rounded off the evening with Pam taking a trip up to the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Centre viewing platform) to capture the views!

Top of the Rock looking over Central Park

View of Empire State Building and Downtown Manhattan to Freedom Tower (One World Trade)

 

Rockefeller Plaza

Saturday – A day pass for the water taxi provided us with our means of transport for the day. First stop was downtown Manhattan and a wander through the financial district, eventually making our way to the 09/11 memorial site and museum.

Remembrance Pools at Ground Zero

We had time to spend wandering around the area, gardens and displays before the more harrowing museum which depicted the event in its full awfulness. A well worthwhile two hours and extremely moving. The water taxi took us under the Brooklyn Bridge and then out to the Statue of Liberty, and we passed by Ellis Island, before returning to dry land.

A much lighter and entertaining evening on Broadway when we saw “Hello Dolly” with Bette Midler.

Sunday – A raincoat day to start with, the downpour soon turned to showers and dried into a lovely afternoon. We started the day taking a walk to Grand Central Station and some shopping before heading to the east side and the United Nations building.

Tudor City Greens close to United Nations building

We then walked right across to the west side and the High Line walkway. This meant stopping at a number of shops which we would have missed if we had used public transport. By the end of the walkway we were at 13^th St and finished the day walking back along 5^th Avenue to our accommodation on 51^st St. We did a lot of walking!

Monday – Today’s main objective was Central Park on a warm sunny Labor Day holiday. We wandered round taking in the sights and found a quiet place to sit and enjoy the passing multitudes.

Central Park

We have seen (and photographed!) a number of iconic buildings along the way and neck strain from looking upwards was a definite possibility!

Trump Tower 5th Avenue (Yes, we did go inside!)

Barbara

In Nu York ya gotta look out and LOOK UP – so A) you don’t get run over and B) you don’t miss seeing the best bits. 

To be honest I wasn’t at all sure if New York was going to be kind to us.  Even though I had been reassured by a number of people that we would love it.  Yes it’s bold, brassy & busy, but I’ve also found it beautiful in a horn-tooting, bohemian, gun-toting, money- money, friendly sort of way. Sitting in Central Park on a warm Labour Day holiday Monday afternoon, watching people play chess and two older Jewish men next to us chatting about their health, school days, TV and life in general.  Horse drawn carriages are doing a roaring trade as are the boats on the lake. New York is exactly what is says on the box.  Watching the Divine Miss M, Bette Midler in Hello Dolly was fantastic.  She’s still got it.  We have managed to do all the things we had planned, and had fun with the unplanned stuff as well, such as being told by a local who lived near the United Nations just which steps to go up to  get a  great view, and that we “must go into the small greenspace over the bridge”, which we did.  And today an unplanned  free facial makeover in Bloomingdales ( we really had only popped in to “use their facilities”!). We have felt safe here.  The big apple has appealed to us.  We’re very pleased to have been part of it’s life for a few days.

Pam

Upside down! Terrace drinks