Back in the bus & onward for NY, arriving around 3ish, hotel in midtown, Pat & I realised how close we were to Macys, 10 minute walk, so quick dash to have a look around, managed to get a bit of the Mac makeup requestedby goddaughter, Gabby. Lots of sales, so little time as we had to be back at 5pm to leave for the baseball at the Yankee Stadium for 7.30pm. Few dramas for girls working out which subway to get on, down stairs , up stairs, more walking & shepherding 17 people this way & that & it was rushhour, frantically busy , luckily leeway was left for this fannying around as it was a good half hour before we were on the train headed in the right direction.
Comment on the New York subway....the Paris Metro it ain't! Hot, dirty, chocas & so confusing...probably would be able to work it out if I concentrated, but you do need to know where you are in relation to where you want to go - uptown, downtown etc.
When we got to Yankee Stadium just a sea of people all converging on the doors, headed up the bleachers (now I know what they are) to our seats in the gods. Very exciting atmosphere, roaring etc, Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays, Yankees won -not that I could tell what was going on in any way, especially as Yankees white uniform & Toronto pale grey, hard to tell apart. We did the requisite hot dog, maybe we were hungry but delicious.
Left before end to get to the Empire State Building for the night view from the 86th floor, along with about another 1 million peeps, the queues were horrendous, (if I ever come again to NY will have to research carefully for less busy time -if such a time exists in a city of 15 million) as NY in general was heaving) In total we were upping & downing & viewing for two & a half b hours. The viewing time was about 15 minutes!!!!! Anyway it was good views -Chrysler building lit up like xmas tree most recognizable to me & all the flashing neon of Times Square -but one had to use elbows to get to the front, if you were a bit hesitant when a place was freed up, in like flynn went another more ruthless swine. Dragged sorry as...s back to hotel which was in midtown, & the street looked decidedly seedy,but apparently was a good location! Room about 1/3 the size of some previous, alright for me solo, but squeezy for those sharing.
There is a real sense of the difference in the people here compared to the southern states - obviously the saying about southern hospitality is based in fact - here it is rush, busy etc.
Next day group braved the subway again & all the way downtown to Battery Park (named after the old battery defences used when seeing off the English) to catch the ferry to Statue of Liberty. Trip went round Ellis Island, the migration quarantine island, very gracious old buildings. More waiting around & queuing, but we did not go up into the statue as would have taken to long...that's OK.
This end is where the financial district is, walked up Broadway, passed Wall St, very ordinary looking & onward to the 9/11 memorial on the site of the twin towers. It is 2 large deep reflection pools, once again place heaving..
By then nearing lunch, so Pat & I set off by ourselves for the Carnegie Deli - right uptown toward Central Park - necessitated the subway & we romped it in, no probs. Carnegie Deli - near Carnegie Hall - is famed for Pastrami sandwiches, chicken soup & matzah balls & CHEESECAKE. Seemed like sort of jewish flavour, although I noticed BLT on the menu. Again there was a queue but we got in in 2-3 minutes, we ordered the Pastrami on rye to share, & when it came, huge, enough meat for a family of 4. We ploughed through it & then ordered the NY cheesecake - baked cheesecake - for me & it really was delicious, best ever. Pat helped me with it & although not a sweet tooth like me, loved it also. Great atmosphere & you can se why these places get to be institutions, the walls covered with pictures of all the celebs who have eaten there. Of course we are in NY & should be people watching & celeb spotting but keep forgetting, busy trying not to step on rubbish & dodge the plastic bags of festering rubbish piled on the sidewalk. SOund attractive? Nearest we came was a few stretch limos, blackened windows of course so we can pretend it was Leo or Mick!
Subway again -like old pros
That night out again to Time Square for our show, Chicago, old Theatre like Princess Theatre in Melbourne. I know I have seen the movie but .... seemed interpretation was slightly different perhaps, could be the allies of course. Anyway great show & staggered back to hotel & collapsed into bed.
Photos will have to come later as heading off for
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