New York - The Big Apple (City Tour continues!)

New York City traffic, congested, loud and noisy!!

Saturday, 13 August 2011

This morning, we were pleased with ourselves at how efficiently we got into the city, namely Times Square, for a good start on what looked like a huge day of sightseeing.  However, once there, to my dismay, I discovered I had left our bus tickets back at the apartment on the bed...  oops!  A very deflating moment as duplicates could not be made, only necessitating a return to retrieve them.  I was prepared to do that to redeem myself, but Rick insisted.  What a good man!

Meanwhile, Tom, Sarah & I killed time by indulging in a Macca's breakfast then set off to see if we could do an NBC Studio Tour while we waited for Rick.  We were not able to at that time, so booked a time for late afternoon.  Instead we went to see the Harry Potter Exhibition.  It really is amazing to see all the props and costumes that were used in all the films.  Interesting to see how small Harry's first costumes were in the original movie.  This exhibition would be quite meaningless to anyone who hasn't seen the movies, but to those enthusiasts who have, it was very impressive! (Thank you again, City Pass!)  Rick joined us as we were about half way through it, so he didn't take as long as we thought.

We were initially going to do the Uptown Tour which passes by Central Park, Harlem and the Temple, but due to the now later time, we boarded the Downtown bus to get to the Statue of Liberty Ferry.  To get there was a repeat for three of us, but great for Tom! 

Bus Tour Downtown passing through SoHo.  This tour guide had an amazing memory for facts and trivia!

Once there, there was a very very long line! Over an hour long! So, Rick & I waited  with our tickets while Tom & Sarah went of to have a look at Ground Zero which wasn't very far away..  The thing about lines, is that you get to become quite well aquainted with someone either in front or behind you.  We have met some very nice and interesting people this way, and we all come from such diverse places but with the common goal of seeing the sights!!  After quite some time, we had made good progress and could see the end in sight, the kids returned and also Rick with a huge box of New York Pizza!  Lunch!  The pizzas are so big! Huge! The slices are not cut in squares as I would expect a 'party' size to be in Australia, but wedges or pies as the New Yorkers call them.!  A bit sloppy to eat, but amazingly delicious, especially out of the box!

The New York 'Pie'

By and by we were 'herded' into the loading bay. Yes, just like sheep!!  But then we were away.  Rick & Tom went out on top, and Sarah & I found ourselves an inside bench to sit on, to rest our weary, standing-in-line legs.  However, we were on the opposite site of the vessel to the Statue of Liberty so didn't see it until we were really close.  We had a great view of the harbour and the Staten Island ferry though!  The Tour boat stopped at the Statue of Liberty, and we could have disembarked and had a good walk around it, but all decided we didn't want to line up again to re-board.  So stayed put at the front and enjoyed the great views.  (If I was more savvy, I would be using nautical terms here!!)  The Statue of Liberty is such a famous landmark, it really is quite something to see first hand! 


I was too busy watching the Staten Is Ferry,
 that I didn't see the Statue of Liberty until we were there! 








   


Georgeous Sarah!

 


Lady Liberty

 


Evidence, I was here!!

 

Next, we anchored at Ellis Island, but we opted again to just view it from the vessel.  To think this is where so many early Americans first spent their time in this new free land.  It must have been a time of great anxiety and insecurity for them..

Here we all are, docked at Ellis Island...

... enjoying the day!!

 

Once back on Manhatten Island, we walked up to see what we could of Ground Zero.  Tom & Sarah were not able to access the Memorial Museum, but with the City Pass, Voila!!  Ground Zero itself, that is, the footprints where the Twim Towers once stood is still fenced off and covered from view from the public, awaiting the dedication of the area this coming 11th September.  But you can see very clearly the new tower that is being built on the same parcel of space, now just taller than all surrounding buildings. About seventy floors are completed so far.  It's a clever octogon shape to represent both towers that fell.  The Memorial Museum is a very poignant reminder with movie clips, testimonials, photos and memoribilia of that fateful day.  It was very sobering to consider the great trauma and loss experienced by so many, without warning that morning ten years ago.   The new area will be a beautiful place for families, friends and the people of New York, as well as visitors, to mourn and remember those that lost their lives that day.. 

Coming into dock at Lower Manhatten. 
The new Trade Centre dominates as it slowly rises above all other buildings.

Ground Zero. 
As much as you can see it until the dedication on September the 11th, the 10th year anniversary.

The wall plaque outside the Memorial Museum dedicated to the Fire Dept of New York.

A Flag of Honour.
The names of the nearly 3,000 people who perished make up the stripes of the flag.

Trivia!  This shows a steam vent from the subway, in a flue due to the construction site.

Back on the bus, it was another hour to finish the tour, before we were back at Times Square.  By this time, it's getting well on in the afternoon.  We decided to take the subway to Central Park.  I really wanted to experience it, and didn't want to leave NY without seeing it!  As we came out of the subway station, we came across someone promoting bike rides.  Well again, thanks to the City Pass, we could do this (but with a different company!)  So, a few streets away, we found the Bike Hire place and were able to spend the next hour riding around some of Central Park.  What a beautiful place.  It always looks appealing on TV and the movies, but it really is!!! And also very busy with lots of people walking, riding, skating.  We stopped and watched a group dancing on skates to Reggae music.  Fantastic!  It was very impressive to watch. 

Riding in Central Park, NYC!! Whoo Hoo!

Tom, Rick & Sarah in front of me.
This is an immensely enjoyable ride!

Stopping for a breather, and to get our bearings..

These park photos were a bit flukey as I was trying to keep
my balance on the bike and hold the camera.  I'm amazed I
even made it into this picture!!

There is something very exhiliarating being on a bike for pure pleasure.  Not because you need to get somewhere, or for exercise, but just for pleasure.  This was great!  We rode around and then guessed when we needed to double back to return the bikes, and realised we had gone further than we thought and got a bit lost as we wound ourselves out of the maze of trail we had made!  We were a few minutes late, but that was ok..  Great Fun!


We decided we needed some real food, so went to Applebees.  Delicious and extremely satisfying, but we did need to rush a bit so we could make the NBC Studio Tour on time, which we did... Just!!

Now this was very interesting!  We were able to see the sets where 'Tonight Live' was taped, also the 'Dr Oz' set, and where the news, weather and sports are broadcast.  The set areas are smaller than I imagined, and I guess that's the magic of film & TV.  The tour went for about one and half hours concluding with a couple of people from the group to have a go at reading the news and presenting the weather.  It seems apt that Tom got to present the weather!  That was funny to watch as he lost sight of the telepromtor and improvised instead!  It was actually taped, but we didn't get a copy.  We were told though, that it was broadcast into the Studio Cafetaria for the entertainment of the diners!!  That was a fun tour!

From here, we were in perfect time to board the Night Tour.  This was a similar tour to the Downtown tour, but with variations, and in particular went over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Brooklyn business area and past 'Project' housing areas of lower Manhatten.  Again, it took about 2 hours, but well worth seeing the city lights at night, especially going over the Brooklyn Bridge and seeing NYC from Brooklyn.  Our tour guides have all been so knowledgable about the city, with lots of trivia facts.  Very worthwhile.


Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, looking back over Manhatten



Us...

Tom ...

 ... and Sarah, with Manhatten behind. 
(My poor photography could only get either the city or us, not both..)

Well, our New York experience was coming to a close, but not before we bought some 'I love NY' t-shirts and had a hand-bag vendor try and sell to us.  The price was too high, and so we spent some time trying to locate some more that we had seen from the bus.  These products are not all above board, and they sell them on the street on large sheets that can be easily gathered up if law enforcement is seen!  Our understanding is that they are not stolen, just 'knock-off's' of the brand name, and therefore not licenced to sell.  What people do to make money, it was interesting to see.  The same activity was in Chinatown..

We finally ran out of steam and headed for the subway 'home'.  I really like New York, and recommend it as a destination.  It's huge, it's busy, it's very crowded and full of life.  It really is the city that never sleeps, and is so easy to negotiate and get around.  We found the people generally friendly and helpful.  I'm not sure if I could live right in the city, but you certainly do not need a car here. 

Travelling back very late on the Subway,  but we never felt unsafe!

 

Our flight was for 7.00am in the morning and the shuttle was coming at the crazy time of 3.30am to pick us up!  What was that I mentioned about the city that never sleeps?!!  It tried hard to rain while we were on the Night Tour, and as a precaution, we were issued with plastic ponchos.  The rain held off, but once back to the apartment, down it came!!  We were indeed very fortunate with the weather, not excessively hot, and not wet! We leisurely packed up, I watched a movie and slept maybe for a couple of hours and then it was time to go.  Consequently, we got to the airport before the airline check ins were opened!  There were a few people sleeping in seats, and I attempted unsuccessfully to join them!!  Eventually, the airport became 'awake' and we found sustinance and were able to board the flight to Denver.  Now, I think we all slept most of the way!! 

A very wet, early morning at Newark Airport

Arriving in Denver is so different to New York.  Here, the Airport, as mentioned previously is in wide open spaces.  Gone are the crowds and the noise.  It's a peaceful, pretty place with the mountains as a backdrop, very soothing for weary sleep devrived travellers..

One final point of trivia! 
This is the train at the Denver International Airport. We are at the very back of it giving us a great view of the tunnel.  The train runs between the Gates and the Baggage areas of the Airport.  It's nice to be home..