21,802 steps and a visit to Ellis Island (and Liberty Island) today.
And let's say this, despite the weather being nice and sunny, it was nonetheless, rather chilly. Think it hit the heights of about 5 degrees.
The line was long to get to the security folk and they even got annoyed when I switched lines, ah well...but once we were through security we were on our way across to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
Ellis Island is where a huge amount of European immigrants arrived in the USA. It's situated near New Jersey, on the Hudson River and looking back towards Manhattan is quite a view.
Samantha and I spent a good few hours wandering Ellis Island and reading about the stories. Very interesting.
The afternoon was more relaxed and after lining up for our Daily Show Tickets at about 2.30, we headed back at 4.30 to watch Jon Stewart record his show.
Shaquille O'Neall was the guest tonight and we are big fans of the show...and it was really funny stuff.
All good fun.
Following the show we had dinner again at the Lime Jungle...mexican again, but again, very tasty.
Monday, 26 March 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
And today, 29,882 steps!
So, pretty much the same as yesterday.
Today however, we had intended to head down to Ellis Island but it was raining a bit, so we walked up to the Upper West Side, past the mighty fine American Museum of Natural History and across Central Park to the Metropolitan Musem of Art.
This is our third trip to New York but we had never been to the Met. This time, why not?
Why not indeed, the Met was excellent. There is only some much art you can take but we checked out the fine architecture, the Egyptian artefacts were fascinating, the American art interesting enough and to add icing to the cake, there were some really good impressionart pieces by Vinnie Van G, Degas and others.
So, that was cool and glad we went to the Met.
A wander through Central Park was in order and with some low cloud or mist, combined with the beautiful blossoms on the trees, this was really cool.
We checked out FAO Schwartz, the toy purveyors and then onwards to Tiffany's, for our (seemingly) annual trip to the jewellers.
St Pats Cathedral required a quick stop off and then across the road to Rockefeller Building(s).
For dinner, tonight, we ate at a great Mexican restaurant on 9th Avenue, Lime Jungle. Really good food, very fresh and tasty...plus, cheap. Way cheaper than Australia where locals and tourists alike are ripped off on a daily basis.
A quick wander down to Times Square to view the omnipresent Sean John billboard, massive as always and then back to Shake Shack for a delicious frozen custard. Sounds average, tastes brilliant!
So, pretty much the same as yesterday.
Today however, we had intended to head down to Ellis Island but it was raining a bit, so we walked up to the Upper West Side, past the mighty fine American Museum of Natural History and across Central Park to the Metropolitan Musem of Art.
This is our third trip to New York but we had never been to the Met. This time, why not?
Why not indeed, the Met was excellent. There is only some much art you can take but we checked out the fine architecture, the Egyptian artefacts were fascinating, the American art interesting enough and to add icing to the cake, there were some really good impressionart pieces by Vinnie Van G, Degas and others.
So, that was cool and glad we went to the Met.
A wander through Central Park was in order and with some low cloud or mist, combined with the beautiful blossoms on the trees, this was really cool.
We checked out FAO Schwartz, the toy purveyors and then onwards to Tiffany's, for our (seemingly) annual trip to the jewellers.
St Pats Cathedral required a quick stop off and then across the road to Rockefeller Building(s).
For dinner, tonight, we ate at a great Mexican restaurant on 9th Avenue, Lime Jungle. Really good food, very fresh and tasty...plus, cheap. Way cheaper than Australia where locals and tourists alike are ripped off on a daily basis.
A quick wander down to Times Square to view the omnipresent Sean John billboard, massive as always and then back to Shake Shack for a delicious frozen custard. Sounds average, tastes brilliant!
Saturday, 24 March 2012
New York - Brooklyn, Financial District, Battery Park & Daisy May's BBQ
29,880 steps today...all good fun!
Today we ventured across to Brooklyn...visiting the Brooklyn Flea Market. We had been last year and it was pretty cool...still is. The market is held in an old bank and the old bars and vaults with huge doors remain - just with loads of stalls now.
After a look-see and some food, hot dog, brisket, we headed back towards Manhattan, stopping to look at Manhattan's buildings at Brooklyn Heights. The view back across the East River is class.
Nearby, we checked out a brilliant, fenced dog enclosure where dogs can run and play with other dogs from the are. Very funny to watch the dogs having a laugh with each other.
Onwards to the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. Both very cool bridges. Style and practicality, exactly what you need in a bridge.
We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, something we have done on every trip and this is always really interesting. Again, some superb views of Manhattan from the bridge.
Some new buildings are going up at Ground Zero. Sure, there's a debate about it all but for me, it's good that the New Yorkers are acknowledging those who died on 9-11 but it's also good to see them giving the terrorists the big finger by building some new, and it has to be said, stylish buildings. Fair play to them, I say.
Battery Park is just down the road and after a hot chocolate at Starbucks Bowling Green, quite nice too I must say...we then walked back up the promenade at Battery Park, alongside the Hudson River.
Finally for the evening we went for a great meal at Daisy May's BBQ. We went last year and for me, the BBQ is bloody good. Very tasty, filling and not too bad pricewise all in all. Really good.
Today we ventured across to Brooklyn...visiting the Brooklyn Flea Market. We had been last year and it was pretty cool...still is. The market is held in an old bank and the old bars and vaults with huge doors remain - just with loads of stalls now.
After a look-see and some food, hot dog, brisket, we headed back towards Manhattan, stopping to look at Manhattan's buildings at Brooklyn Heights. The view back across the East River is class.
Nearby, we checked out a brilliant, fenced dog enclosure where dogs can run and play with other dogs from the are. Very funny to watch the dogs having a laugh with each other.
Onwards to the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. Both very cool bridges. Style and practicality, exactly what you need in a bridge.
We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, something we have done on every trip and this is always really interesting. Again, some superb views of Manhattan from the bridge.
Some new buildings are going up at Ground Zero. Sure, there's a debate about it all but for me, it's good that the New Yorkers are acknowledging those who died on 9-11 but it's also good to see them giving the terrorists the big finger by building some new, and it has to be said, stylish buildings. Fair play to them, I say.
Battery Park is just down the road and after a hot chocolate at Starbucks Bowling Green, quite nice too I must say...we then walked back up the promenade at Battery Park, alongside the Hudson River.
Finally for the evening we went for a great meal at Daisy May's BBQ. We went last year and for me, the BBQ is bloody good. Very tasty, filling and not too bad pricewise all in all. Really good.
Friday, 23 March 2012
New York - Highline, West Village, SoHo
Well, 30,740 steps according to my trusty pedometer. Feet feel somewhat tired but not as tired as they have been...so probably not the most steps we have taken but some solid exercise nonetheless.
Started the day off with a move of rooms...our first room was a frag on the noisy side as we were facing the road and there was some jackhammering and street noise. So, our friendly hotel people changed us to a room facing the interior of the building.
Once that was sorted, we headed down to W34th street, about 20 minutes and a breakfast was waiting for us at the Skylight Diner. I had steak - not often I have steak in the morning but what the hey, and it was the rawest steak I have eaten...well, I ate most of it. Not the best, but the veg and toast was really nice. Samantha had corn beef hash, which was similar to the northern corn beef and potatoe pies that are made, and bloody delicious.
After filling up we headed to the start of the new section of the Highline. The Highline used to be an elevated rail line for freight in New York. For years it had stood idle and wasted, and ugly no doubt. Some creative folk have breathed new life into the rail line and they have made it a brilliant walking path filled with great plants and interesting and rarely seen elevated views of New York's lower west side's streets and apartments.
It was a really nice day today and after discovering that I had forgotten a hat, it was determined that I needed to purchase a hat. Some part of the day was spent searching half-heartedly for a hat. In the midst of this searching, Samantha and I made some purchases at Kate Spade, Old Navy, Brooklyn Industries and Victoria's Secret.
Finally, after walking up to the Flatiron building, and waiting in line for the Shake Shack, we decided the line was a touch too long and we walked instead back to our hotel with the intention of finding the Shake Shack's second establishment closer to Times Square on 8th.
We found it and enjoyed a couple of burgers, fries and Samantha had a drink she likes, named after Arnold Palmer.
Started the day off with a move of rooms...our first room was a frag on the noisy side as we were facing the road and there was some jackhammering and street noise. So, our friendly hotel people changed us to a room facing the interior of the building.
Once that was sorted, we headed down to W34th street, about 20 minutes and a breakfast was waiting for us at the Skylight Diner. I had steak - not often I have steak in the morning but what the hey, and it was the rawest steak I have eaten...well, I ate most of it. Not the best, but the veg and toast was really nice. Samantha had corn beef hash, which was similar to the northern corn beef and potatoe pies that are made, and bloody delicious.
After filling up we headed to the start of the new section of the Highline. The Highline used to be an elevated rail line for freight in New York. For years it had stood idle and wasted, and ugly no doubt. Some creative folk have breathed new life into the rail line and they have made it a brilliant walking path filled with great plants and interesting and rarely seen elevated views of New York's lower west side's streets and apartments.
It was a really nice day today and after discovering that I had forgotten a hat, it was determined that I needed to purchase a hat. Some part of the day was spent searching half-heartedly for a hat. In the midst of this searching, Samantha and I made some purchases at Kate Spade, Old Navy, Brooklyn Industries and Victoria's Secret.
Finally, after walking up to the Flatiron building, and waiting in line for the Shake Shack, we decided the line was a touch too long and we walked instead back to our hotel with the intention of finding the Shake Shack's second establishment closer to Times Square on 8th.
We found it and enjoyed a couple of burgers, fries and Samantha had a drink she likes, named after Arnold Palmer.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Melbourne to New York
Well, quicker than last year - just a casual 30 hours from home to hotel, but all good, arrived safe and sound.
Virgin Australia from Melbourne to Los Angeles - a brief stop there - nice sandwiches and salad from Wolfgang Puck, fair play to you Wolfgang. Then onwards to New York via Delta. No long delay waiting for a plane part this year, so that was good!
New York, interesting and busy, as always. More to see tomorrow.
Virgin Australia from Melbourne to Los Angeles - a brief stop there - nice sandwiches and salad from Wolfgang Puck, fair play to you Wolfgang. Then onwards to New York via Delta. No long delay waiting for a plane part this year, so that was good!
New York, interesting and busy, as always. More to see tomorrow.
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