Wow, what a day.
We had decided we’d go for it today and I think it’s all I can do to lift my fingers and type this up.
First things first, we needed to sort a plan and where else but a Starbucks. It’s already become a running joke about just how many there are. It’s like finding Tesco express in London.
I have decided however, the tube is better than the Metro. It wasn’t expensive for a week long travel card but the whole system could do with a spruce up. And that’s saying something when we’re comparing it to a victorian underground system.
The first aim was to head for the Statue of Liberty. So we ended up at Ground Zero (it was where we got off the train). You couldn’t help but be moved by the sheer scale of the place. The two memorials to the twin towers are vast cube shaped depressions in the ground that consume the water that trickles down each of it’s four sides. We thought about doing the tour but thought the day needed a lighter note. The remaining towers were quite spectacular, particularly with the morning mist that hovered around the middle of the tallest building, One World Trade Centre.
As the could was still lifting, we though we’d head towards the Brooklyn Bridge as I wanted to see it. Don’t know why, had just heard of it and thought it would be something to do. As we made our way there we found ourselves in Wall Street. Another place that sticks in the memory and was full of people in sensible suits talking furiously on mobile phones. Amy and I stopped to admire the spring bulbs being planted in a central square before heading off to the bridge.
As we walked underneath Franklin D Roosevelt express way beside the East River we got some really good photos of the Bridge. I still felt we needed to climb onto it which became quite an expedition when I realised just how high it was above the river bank we were on. Amy took some photos of Pace University before we stumbled across City Hall, a fairly innocuous build compared to the towering skyline around it. I spotted what I considered to be the punishment posting for officers of the NYPD parked at the side of the road before we noticed their equivalent of New Scotland Yard, 1 Police Plaza.
We then climbed the long ascending footway onto the bridge itself. It did lend itself to a few photo opportunities and an observation from Amy that I kept taking photos of the back of her head. Hadn’t spotted that until then but it was true, I was photographing her taking photographs which generally meant blond hair and a spectacular panorama. Noted that I should include her face…..
We were both starting to get peckish and I was determined to sample high quality local cuisine. It had to be a chilli dog. Bought from one of the many local street vendors I was suitably underwhelmed. I remember the scene from Crocodile Dundee where he’s handed the delicacy and told, “you can live on it but it tastes like s***”, it lived up to expectations.
All well laid plans come true and so we headed for the Statue Cruise. As we approached Battery Park where the Ferry departs from I saw what I thought were people enjoying the now bright sunshine. There seemed to be a lot of them. It then became clear that this vast string of people was in fact the queue…. But if you come to New York, I can’t think of any trip more important that visiting Lady Liberty. As I dutifully manned the queue, Amy shot off to take more photos, inevitably at the point at which it moved quickly towards the gate. Returning just in time we passed security and boarded our boat.
The Statue was impressive. Perched on a small island in the middle of the bay and proudly facing the Atlantic. Our boat circled her stance meaning I took in the region of 30 near identical photos (but that’s what digital images are for). We disembarked and walked the skirt of the island taking time to swap photos with other similarly eager tourists.
We moved on to Ellis Island, the historic gateway for immigrants arriving in America. Amy managed to find details of her ancestors that had made the trip in the early part of the 20th Century. We then got some great photos of Manhattan Island as we waited to board our journey back to NYC.
Flagging was by now an understatement. We trudged back to the Metro and took a rattling all stopper back to Columbus Circle. After a brief recharge in the room (both for us and our mobile phones) we went out for dinner. We decided to go for Thai and it was delicious.
We were now in NY’s Theatre Land so we took a stroll along Broadway to see off our food and then took in the bright lights of Times Square. It does remind me of Leicester Square with a hint of Covent Garden but looks amazing at night with it’s numerous flashing screens.
Back in the room now and although Amy is has been tasked with adding images to this blog I think she’s already asleep. In fact, the snoring is definitely giving it away….
Photos to follow in the morning.
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