Our first evening, after arriving (driving around in the shuttle van, dropping off other guests), checking in to our hotel, we had supper at an Irish Pub just down the street. It was good, not great or fantastic, just good. We then strolled up the avenue (6th) to Time Square to check out the scenery. People everywhere, lights, sounds completely opposite of our country home. We were even persuaded to attend a Comedy Night, which we rather enjoyed (although it was in some dark basement room). Many times we were asked by the various comedians if we were married and if so how long. When we said 25 years (it will be in December) they were all surprised. Why, you might ask? Well, because we both look so young of course.
Jokes were made, by the comedians - depending on their race, regarding other races. It is so true how each race or culture has their own "things". Be that foods they prefer, or are native to them or things they do or ways they live or act. It was never to belittle another culture but just to laugh at ones own way of living and taking delight in others. I rather enjoyed the evening.
Day two - the weather was a little cloudy, still warm though, and it did spit (rain slightly) at various times throughout the day. Tony Lorenzo was our walking tour guide for the day. We had booked a Big Apple Private Tour through Real New York Tours after reading their great reviews on Trip Advisor. We were not dissappointed. Before beginning our tour we had gone down into the Subway (Herald Street Station - 34th St), which was right beside our hotel - The Hilton Garden Inn to purchase a Metro Card. We decided, for our best value, to purchase the 7 day unlimited pass for $29/person. It was money well spent and money well saved. Taxis, we discovered, cost $3.00 just to get in the door, and then $.40 per minute after that.
We began our tour by taking the Subway and heading uptown toward Central Park. We walked past Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, a beautiful old church, Trump Tower (this poor man puts his name on everything - is he compensating for something?), Tiffany's, The Plaza Hotel (Corner of 5th Avenue & Central Park - amazing beautiful! From here we entered in the beautiful, glorious, delightful, grandeur of Central Park in New York City. Can you tell I enjoyed the park very much, so much in fact that we went back another 2 times and yet we still we not able to capture every area of the park - it is that big. The park is 843 acres (we were told 640), it is 2.5 miles long and .5 miles wide. For more info visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park.
This is Tim & Elizabeth in Central Park, New York.
We walked through the park, stopping at various points of interest along the way. Many of the locations were already in my memory from the multitude of movies that have been filmed in this great park. After walking through Strawberry Fields we walked around the apartment where John Lennon was killed and where his wife Yoko Ono still lives to this very day.
I had wanted to see some of the famous (they are to me) brownstone houses, so our tour guide Tony took us along a street filled with them. I think they are beautiful and if I had enough money and lived in New York this is where I would want to live. Of couse I will include a photo.
We sauntered through Grenwich Village, passed by the first Off Broadway Theatre, saw the narrowest home (only 12 feet wide), had lunch at a Noodle Bar - it was different but very delicious. Took the bus and drove past the fire station that was used for the Ghost Busters Movie (I think we must have also seen one of the old buildings they used in that movie as well), and ended up near Ground Zero. There is much contruction going on and we were able to see the Peace Tower - currently at around 65 stories but when completed will be 104 stores high. It will be interesting to see when all this work has been completed. Such a sad story that so many had to lose their lives, but it was also encouraging to see how the people of New York came together to help one another.
There were many old buildings to admire, and then there was Chinatown. Not thinking I would want to live there - too busy/unorganized/please buy (lady, lady, purse, chanel, watch - although the way they said it, it took me a while to figure out what they were saying). We purchased discounted tickets for Phantom of the Opera as well as a matinee for Cirque du Soel. Ambled past Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, peeked instide Trinity Church - very beautiful, plus much more.
An enjoyable supper was had, but at this time I cannot recall where. That is all for today, more of our holiday to come.
