Macsurfers's ';live'; Trip Report Part 2

Permit me to return briefly to Wednesday evening our arrival day...

Another eventful part of our journey from Newark was travelling along 12th Ave (next to the river) and being passed by, I kid you not, 50 police cars all with lights and sirens going! (My son counted them) Either there was something big going down, or it was home time at the 1st precint and the dinner was burning!

Well after moving room at the Blakely (because of a noisy AC unit) we got a 5th floor room facing 55th, which was much better. Overlooking the somewhat Moorish City Center venue. Although its noisy here too, I feel like I%26#39;m breathing the city, the yellow cabs, the shouting, the refuse trucks at 4AM...I love it.

We%26#39;ve got a very welcome kitchenette in the room, so we planned to do our own breakfast (partly for money reasons, partly health - the wife is of course, on a diet) Popped to a deli round the corner, for milk cereal and fruit. So much for saving money it seemed really expensive (but we did get a bottle of wine). Where is Tesco when you need it? (UK supermarket)

Still unfortunately raining, we were all feeling a little down (mainly through tiredness) but I%26#39;m always grumpy the first day of a holiday until I adjust!

Ate at Angelo%26#39;s on 57th (famed for its brick oven) which was good if not excellent. Took the long way back to the hotel via Central Park South. When we got to 5th Ave my wife realised why we%26#39;d gone that way! Yes I%26#39;m a self confessed Appleholic (hence Macsurfer). The holy grail of the AppleStore 5th Ave!

Back along 5th Avenue (am I boring you yet) noticed Gap had a sale on. One for another day.

Thursday 5th

As I mentioned before we were up very early, so after the gym and some planning we headed for Time Warner centre at Columbus Circle (past Carnegie Hall and Hearst building) where a friend had told us you get a good view from Borders coffee shop. Actually you don%26#39;t, but there was a coffee franchise which did overlook the 4? storey glass window overlooking the South edge of the park. We enjoyed watching the traffic, the horses and men pulling trailers all competing on the island!

Hey it wasn%26#39;t raining, but then came the snow, OK only flurries. I%26#39;d hoped to see all that blossom in CP but we are obviously too early.

Spring is much futher on at home surprisingly, the trees are bare here. Surprisingly because the NY is on a level with Madrid, but I realise there are lots of other factors than just longitude (or is it latitude?) Excellent whole foods market underneath the shops, we found our supermarket!

We bought our 7 day MetroCards in the subway (excellent value at $24 dollars although Joseph (12) had to pay the same.) Headed off on Line 1 to Downtown. You have to be in the first 5 cars to get off at South Ferry station so we weren%26#39;t the only people doing the ';carriage hop';. Its a bit of a building site around Battery Park, but we found our way to the waterfront, and our first real NY sight (SoL)

We decided to to leave the SI Ferry for another day due to the bitter wind. There was an enormous queue at 10AM for one of the ferries

(Circle Line?) I mean a 2 hour queue! Thats when I hate being a tourist. We headed to the NYPD museum which was modest in size, but paid via donation. Most interesting bit was the old police cars outside which you didn%26#39;t need to pay for!

On the way to GZ we took in the Skyscraper Museum which was very small but interesting. Exhibit about building WTC with lots of old pics and video was good.

Talking about Ground Zero is difficult because of locals on TA will undoubtedly have been directly affected. Well we all were of

course. However I felt the need to go, so we walked around the muddy edge. I thought I%26#39;d be more moved than I was by actually being there, I%26#39;d cried so much previously over peoples stories In the media. The name plaque and the photographs were very poignant, and more so perhaps the graffiti and flowers on the hoardings.

Being a fan of architecture (especially Art Deco) I wanted to look in the foyer of the Woolworth building. Both my 2007 guidebooks said this was possible, so I wasn%26#39;t expecting to be shouted at by an employee ..';No tourists, exit now!';. Love you too hon.

Next, to the Fire Museum on Spring St. Donation entry again. Friendly staff made up for our last New Yorker. Very old fire tenders, and equipment. Best bit was a video of a 9/11 firefighter reflecting on his experience. That WAS moving, we both left the exhibit with tears in our eyes.

Walked to Union Sq via Washington Square Park. A brief detour to Stonewall Place in the Village, because I wanted to see the Stonewall Bar, famous for its place in gay the rights movement due to the Riots there in %26#39;69. My wife on seeing the ';exotic'; shops on the way raised her eyebrows thinking that was why I was there. No, a far more noble and historical reason!

In Union Square it was coffee and a visit to Circuit City to buy a Sony PSP for Joseph. At a dollar for pound price everything is half price to us!

Dinner locally on 7th Ave at the BenAsh Deli. I%26#39;m glad there was a translation page of all the Jewish phrases used in the menu. I stop at Schmuck!

More if you can stand it tomorrow!

Macsurfers's ';live'; Trip Report Part 2

As I was reading about your stocking up on breakfast items, I was going to steer you over to the Whole Foods Market at the Time Warner Center, but you%26#39;ve found it all on your own! Congratulations. It%26#39;s expensive but fantastic.

Now I%26#39;ve got to get you away from Ben Ash and across the street to the shrine of pastrami, the Carnegie Deli.

Too bad about the Woolworth Building. I hate to be sneaky, but if you walk in, and just ask for help of some kind (';I%26#39;ve lost my grand dad, where%26#39;s the nearest police station?';), they%26#39;ll still chase you out, but you will have had that moment to peek at the gorgeous lobby.

Looking forward to more...

Macsurfers's ';live'; Trip Report Part 2

Ha, you stop at schmuck!

Thank goodness you are not one.

Can we stand more? Yes, absolutely.

Thanks - enjoying the %26#39;live%26#39; trip.

Wow, great travelogues! Thanks!

Yes, the wonderful Woolworth Buiding lobby has been officially closed to tourists since at least 2002. Too bad those guide books are incorrent.

If yyou happen to be in the Chelsea area, stop by Tekserve on 23rd Street bwn 6th and 7th Ave. It%26#39;s a Mac/Apple repair shop that is very fun and funky!!!

So, what are you doing tomorrow? Perhaps if we know where you%26#39;re headed we can help you steer clear of pitfalls?

Hoping you%26#39;re getting some sleep and are not dissatisfied with the Blakely.

Since you seem to be a history buff, you should get yourselves across the street to City Center to see the play ';Our Leading Lady'; the story of the actress who was starring in the play at the Booth theater the night that our Pres. Lincoln got shot. The lead is played by Kate Mulgrew (from Startrek). There are discounts on broadwaybox. The play got good reviews.

broadwaybox.com/shows/our_leading_lady_nyc_t鈥?/a>

Thanks for suggestions guys. I%26#39;m not sure what we are doing tomorrow. I%26#39;m absolutely bushed (does that translate?!)

We will probably do TOTR at dusk, not sure i can cope with ESB due to all the negative posts (yes I know, you should do it once)

If you remember an earlier post we may take a train ride somewhere up the Hudson. We have plenty of time, we are here until Thursday.

Also planning on Harlem and Brooklyn.

Part 3 of trip report will be posted tomorrow AM!