New York - New York
05 July 2010
Leanne
We have been busy preparing Red Sky and managed to slip in a trip to New York before our shake down sailing begins. It was only for four days, but we managed to pack as much into our time their as possible.
We flew out of Los Angeles LAX International Airport at 6 am 26 June 2010 and arrived New York time 4.30pm (We also had an hour or so stop at Washington Airport in between).
New York was an impressive site to fly into - amass of buildings - stadium full to the brim with people. Small pockets of Trees dotted in strategic places around the city & Central Park.
We were met by our Shuttle and stifling humid heat (we have been cold for so long this was a shock to the system) no air conditioning onboard, tired and looking forward to our Motel. The shuttle ride gave us a glimpse of New York, crazy run down roads, narrow streets & lots of renovations going on in and around the city & awash with Yellow Cabs.
We stayed at Tribeca, which was close to my nephew Richard in SoHo, as we planned to catch up during this stay. We had an Italian Restaurant right across the street from us, so we were happy, fantastic food.
Day 1 (27/6/10) : Exploring New York: Caught Subway right outside our accommodation, a bit daunting! Managed to get to 42nd street for the grayline Double Decker bus service - hop on hop off tour of New York. Our Tour Guide Gerry filled us with information over the next 2 ½ hours. The bright lights of Time Square, 5th avenue sites (including set up of "The Gay Pride Parade" later on that day), where to shop, where to eat etc, etc. We later walked time square and bought tickets to see a Broadway Show "Chicago", Wow! We both loved it. Dinner and then off to the Empire State Building, caught a Tricycle Taxi Ride there, quicker than yellow cabs & safer! Once in The Empire State Building we went on a Helicopter Simulator ride over New York...pretty cool! Then up to the 86th floor for a spectacular view of New York - breathtaking! A Yellow Cab ride back to our Motel...hang on this is a ride in itself - horn blowing, ducking, weaving through traffic, getting lost - wrong Motel, abusing other taxi drivers - glad we arrived in one piece. Phew! What a Day.
Day 2 (28/6/10) : Exploring New York : Subway to Battery Park on Hudson River to catch boat ride to Statue of Liberty. The history behind the Statue of Liberty is pretty cool - the first thing immigrants saw when they arrived by ship to New York and then processed at Governors Island. We had about a 1 ½ -2 hours onboard and then made our way to "Ground Zero". We reflected on the loss of lives in a museum raising funds for the site rectifications. Quite an eerie experience, the silence & sadness in that room was too much for me. The heat again today was exhausting, we explored 5th Avenue (viewing Trump Towers, Armani/Louis Vutton/ Apple & Wall Street) Later spent a few hours at SoHo with Nephew Richard, great to catch up. We caught the Double Decker bus again that night for a 2 hour tour to "Brooklyn" and enjoyed every minute of it. Dinner at Time Square & walked the streets getting caught up with the lights & energy. A Full band was running the street and playing on the street corners drawing huge crowds & applause - they were mostly retiree's who enjoy music & they do this for fun to spread some happiness! Yellow Cab back to our motel - Yikes!
Day 3 (29/6/10) : Exploring New York : Subway to Central Park. Hired Bikes and rode around Central Park for 2 hours. How bizarre was that...It was like you had stepped into another world. The busy bustling city a few streets away and now you are in a tranquil, green environment , dotted with parks for kids, Museums, a castle, baseball parks, tennis courts, Horse & Buggy's trotting along with you. This was pretty cool. John said he could live here - I am not so sure! Subway to explore "Little Italy" & enjoyed lunch while there. Later shopping on Broadway in Soho. The prices of clothing & electronics' etc are amazing....you could shop til you dropped here.
We flew out 30th June 2010 at 6am - had an interesting Shuttle trip to Airport - collecting from various neighbourhoods...transvestites on street corners...bars & clubs spilling onto the sidewalks. A cooler morning - humidity gone! Stopover Washington airport & arrived Los Angeles time 11.30am.
Love to all!
John & Lea xxx