Then we were all geared up for a few solid hours at the Museum...... but the very helpful and friendly people there let us know that "some" of the exhibits were closed that day and thrust a list at us to read. "How long are they closed?" I asked "Just today" came the flowery tone of the ticket lady. The list had about 15 sections of the museum closed - and they were all the good ones....... so, we would be back another day!
Friday, October 5, 2012
Give Peace A Chance
........ and we sat in Strawberry Fields and watched people react to the John Lennon memorial. Some people laid down around the circle and some took no notice of what was happening around them and just walked over it - sometimes whilst there was somebody laying there!
Dedicated To The One I Love
We strolled along the benches reading the dedication plaques on each one.
The Bethesda Fountain
We watched people come and go whilst sitting on the fountain. This is one of my favourite places in New York.
The Central Park Gospel Choir
We listened to two of the most gorgeous voices singing spiritual harmonies under the acoustic tunnel near the Bethesda Fountain. We wanted to give them some money, but instead bought their CD, which was cheaper than tipping them!
Willy Wonka?
We watched horse and carriages without giving in to the temptation of getting into one!
Central Park
A trip to New York just isn't a trip to New York without a stroll through Central Park...... and that's exactly what we did.
Nice Work If You Can Get It...... And You Can Get it, If You Try!
I love Matthew Broderick. I loved him as Ferris and I loved him in this. He's so talented. He can sing, he can dance, he can act and he still has that special charm that he had in Ferris all those years ago.
This show was just hilarious. One of the funniest musicals I think I've seen. We tried to get in to see The Book of Mormon, the musical by the South Park chaps, but they wanted $400 per ticket and we couldn't even sit together - so screw them!
I was hoping to catch a glimpse of SJ, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably just home with the kids!
Quite Reflection
There is a sign next to the pools that reads "Please don't throw objects into the pools". Right next to that sign a man was holding his child who had picked up a stone from the ground and when he was close enough, through the rock in. The quite reflection was disrupted slightly when the man grabbed the child by the ear and shouted at him in German. I assume the child also spoke German.
9/11
In 2001 I was on my way home from work about the time the first plane hit the world trade centre. I made it home just in time to turn the telly on to see the 2nd plane hit. I thought, as did many people, that it was a movie.
In 2009 the girls from The Girlie Tour and I arrived in New York on September 10th, just in time to get down to Ground Zero for the anniversary.
And in 2012 I went through an enormous amount of security checks to get in to see the new public memorial. 2 pools, a north and south pool in the place where the towers once stood. Next to them is the newest and tallest building in New York - The Freedom Tower.
There's still a lot of building work going on as they are erecting 6 more buildings around the World Trade Centre site...... and nothing is going to ruin it! There are about 6000 police and security guards milling around the site making sure all is right with the world.
Who Is Naming The Streets Around Here?
I'm glad I don't live in that street...... imagine filling out forms!
The Flatrion Building
Last time I was in New York was on the Girlie Tour of 2009 and I distinctly remember telling Madds all about this building called the Flatrion. I didn't know why it was called that, but I was able to give building dimensions etc.... I was quite the guide. It wasn't until Madds read the map herself and said "Um, I think it's called the Flat Iron Building". But I assured her that it was pronounced "Flatrion". Even Madds explaining to me that it's shaped like a flat iron couldn't persuade me.
Ever since, I've called it the Flatrion..... old habits die hard.
Chenglish?
This funny little lady was our tour guide on the hop on hop off bus for the downtown loop. She was of Asian decent and spoke perfect English except her accent was as if she was speaking Chinese. She was so enthusiastic about what she was telling us and was so knowledgeable - you certainly couldn't fault what she was saying...... well that's if we could understand what she was saying! We were on the bus for about 45 minutes and she drew breath about 3 times. There was lots of exaggerated hand movements and pointing, but we pretty much had to work it all out ourselves.
It was an unforgettable experience.
Meet You at Bryant
There's a uni across the road, so there are students sitting in the park reading and writing and studying. There's also people sleeping and relaxing. There is also a mobile library there where you can borrow a newspaper or paperback. Or if table tennis is more your thing, there are 2 tables, ready to go.
Bryant Park
This gorgeous wonder was a park we just stumbled across. We'd heard about Bryant Park and had planned to go there some time over the week, but how great is it when you accidentally walk into it?
Grand Central
This was one place that we wanted to see. Somehow, on my last trip here I missed it, bit not this time. It's such a mammoth building and so easy to get lost in. I'm not saying we got lost...... We knew where we were the whole time.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
We've Got The Tickets To Ride
This picture was taken whilst waiting in the line to have a large security guard rummage through your bag and then pat you down for weapons.... But the excitement was only lost for a brief moment.
Following on from the people in front of us, we high fived each other every couple of minutes just in case something good happened.
New York Yankees
One thing Jen wanted to do on this trip was to go to a sporting event so we tried ice hockey - too early in the season. Basketball - too late, American Football - too something, I'm not sure when they play, but baseball..... well, we got tickets for the very last game of season.
We had hotdogs and beers and marvelled at the talents of Derek Jeter and his pals.
Jeter! Jeter! Jeter!
NYPD Tiny
Something about this doesn't give me much confidence in the police force and if you've seen the police men, in particular, you'd have the same confusion as to how they would fit into these cars! Their arms alone would have to hang out the windows.
Pancakes and Bacon with Maple Syrup
It really is the only way to eat pancakes. Have you tried them? If not make them today - or better still, go out and order them. They taste so much better when someone else cooks them.
Ellen's Stardust Diner
A lovely friend of ours suggested that we try this place for dinner and we're glad she did. It's a cool, retro, slightly tacky - but in a good way diner where all the wait staff are broadway wannabees...... and if these are the people who haven't made it yet - i can't wait to see a show! They were amazing.
Thanks Julia
x
Another Room With Another View
This is the lounge we had a drink in - totally overlooking Times Square. How cool and New Yorky are we?
Times Square
Our first stop - naturally, was Times Square. Our tour group, who we left in Boston were having their farewell dinner so we met them and our gorgeous tour guide, Brent for a drink as a last goodbye.
It was raining, but we were well prepared with gum boots.
Start Spreading the News.......
We're on our way to New York City, New York. I think we're a little bit excited.
On the road again - this time by train from Boston to Penn Station, NY. It was raining when we arrived and there was a heavy fog hanging around the tops of the buildings, so we headed straight for a cab. Now, I can't whistle (Madds, where are you when we need you?) but in the end we didn't need to because there were cabs stopping asking us if we'd like help!!! That's not how it plays out in the movies. However, the cab we chose was apparently in some sort of race and so we bunny hopped behind traffic and then flew (and when I say 'flew' i mean imagine Jen and I in the back seat with our heads laying flat on that flat bit behind the back seat head rests) Luckily we were only going 16 blocks. I think we won the race, I'm not sure but the driver was pretty happy when we got there.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Farewell Boston
Well, that's Boston for you. We walked pretty much the length and breadth of the city over the last few days and it has been lovely.
Next stop - NEW YORK........ start spreading the news!
Caberet!
Whenever there's a China Town we like to do Yum Cha. So we braved the dirty end of Boston to find the Emperor's Gardens. To get there, you walked through some dirty doors with rubbish blown everywhere, then up some dark and dingy stairs, across a landing and then into this magnificent old theatre/ballroom/wedding venue! And this is where they served some very tasty yum cha. I didn't feel sick at all after - which is how I judge if it was good or not.
The Bull and Finch
This pub was originally called the Bull and Finch. It's lost it's identity since the show started, but now has a whole new identity as "The Pub From Cheers"...... there's even a gift shop.
Samuel Adams
We've been trying to drink beers and wines from the country/town/area that we're in, so today's beer was a Samuel Adams - who was a leader in the movement that became the American Revolution.
Cheers Sam - both Adams and Malone!
CHEERS!
It wouldn't be a stop in Boston without making a visit to the famous pub that was the original inspiration for the hit TV show - Cheers.
They have 2 bars - the one downstairs (which doesn't look like the bar, but has the same underground feel) and the "Set Bar" upstairs which is a smaller version of the TV one. It's very popular and hard to get a seat, but we elbowed along with the rest of them and got 3 premium seats at the bar. Our friend, Hilary, from our tour joined us for the day, which, if we were sitting in the seats of the Cheers cast, would make Hilary Norm, Jenny would be Frasier and I, sitting in the middle, would be Cliffy!
What's Going On Norm? The Question is "What's Going IN Norm?" I'll Have A Beer!
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away
Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
The troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
Go Towards The Light
These were the lights in the Grand Hall of the Mapparium - How cool are they? How do think I could get one? and How do you think I could get it home?
The Mapparium
The Mapparium is a fabulous stained glass sphere with panels of glass painted to make up the continents and countries of Earth. There is a foot bridge that you walk across going through the globe. They play a commentary about the Earth whilst each country or continent lights up in time to the story. Another amazing thing that the designer found out once it was completed is that is has amazing acoustics and that you can hear the smallest whisper from the other side of the bridge. This was different to the dome at St Paul's Cathedral in London and different from the Whispering Wall in South Australia's Barossa Valley.... when people whispered it sounded and felt like those whispers were in your own head. I'm guessing this is what it would sound like if you could hear dead people or if you were being advised to kill someone by God..... although all these voices were saying was "Where's Ohio?, I can't see Ohio!"
Fenway Pwark - Home of the Bwoston Red Sox
We were also meant to have a look around Fenway Park, but even though the home games had finished for the Red Sox for the season, there was a football game on, so the roads were closed and we could only get this close. Never mind because in a couple of days we'll be seeing the Red Sox playing the Yankees in NYC, NY.
A Peeping Tom
Mark took us to Harvard and wanted to show us into the Memorial Hall, a big beautiful old building, but tourists and random people aren't allowed to just wander in there and he usually has to wait until a student comes out and he grabs the door and lets people in, but today there were people in there and we could only peak through the window.
This hall - which is actually a cafeteria for the Freshmen was apparently the inspiration for the Great Hall from Harry Potter - even though it was filmed in Oxford. There is a big sign next to this window saying no photography, so this is what I was able to get without being spotted by the diners inside.
Da Tinnest House in all of Bwarston
Mark Solimini showed us the smallest house in Boston - the front door is in the lane way, so when you walk in the front you only need to take 2-3 steps and your at the back of the house! Apparently the owner of the house had an argument with his brother who then built the house to the right so he would block out the view to the bay.
Lesson: Be nice to your siblings!
The Beautiful Brownstones
These gworgeous (this is how I'm going to say gorgeous from now on) buildings are everywhere in Bwoston (Also, how I'm going to say Boston)
4 story walk up
These gworgeous (this is how I'm going to say gorgeous from now on) are everywhere in Bwoston (also, how i'm going to say Boston).
I'm going to start calling my house a white stone 1 story walk trough.
I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse!
The car we swanned around in was a 1940's Cadillac Imperial. The same exact type of car that was in the Godfather.
Mark Antonio Guiseppe Roberto Solimini
A few months ago I accidentally came across a website for an antique limo tour company. A man dressed like a 1940's ganster drives you around the "Shitty of Bwarston", down the back streets and shows you all the interesting things that the big tour companies don't show you. So, I booked him.
Mark arrived at our door in full ganster attire. He told us that if we put a foot out of line we'd be riding in the trunk and constantly made wise guy cracks - that were actually funny. He told us about his father was a cross between Joe Pesci and Indiana Jones - and gave us some impressions - he was hilarious.
He also drove us out to Harvard which was absolutely gworgeous.
Don't Go Changing to Try and Please Me
Because the weather has been warmer than usual for this time of year, the leaves have taken longer to change colour. There were patches that we passed in the buses and trains in certain parts of Canada and Maine that were lovely though. This lovely tree was trying its hardest, but only managed to push out this one little patch of red. Bless.
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