New York New York - So good they named it twice

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We caught the train easy enough and were soon whizzing out of Canada and back into the United States. Lins was a bit worried about crossing the border again, since when we last crossed the border we are not entirely sure what happened with our departure card. We were soon to find out as US immigration boarded the train to sort out everyone’s paperwork. We got the usual interrogation about where we were from and where we were going and where we were from - they really do need to mix it up a bit if they are going catch you out. Satisfied that we weren’t illegal immigrant or terrorists we were asked to go down to the dinning car to fill in some more paperwork. After a few more questions (“So where do you come from?”) he stamped our passports “That will be $12 please” he said. Ah… it was this moment that I remembered why it was a bad idea to travel without any local currency. We had Canadian dollars but that wasn’t going to wash. I explained our predicament and they suggested I change my Canadian dollars to US with the train company. They gave me a few US dollars which was just enough to pay the border guards. I returned with the money and gave it to the guard. “If you flew into the US before the fee would have been part of your plane ticket but on the train you need to pay it separate - I’m not trying to hustle you.” “ I didn’t think you were” I replied.

Our train pulled into Penn Station over two hours late so after 11 hours on a train we were ready to get to the hotel. We caught the subway up to the upper west side where we we’re staying. We got out at the station suggested by the hotel but we weren’t sure which way to go. “Where you guys going?” asked a helpful subway worker. “107th street” we replied “Ah you need take that exit and then walk three blocks, the turn left for number 237.” Hey, how did he know where we were going?

We found the hotel really easily - though we wished we hadn’t. Lets just say it wasn’t nice. But we were tired and it was time to sleep.

The next day we headed out excited to see the city. We wanted to grab a ‘cwoffee’ so headed for a café we had heard of by Central Park. Unfortunately we managed to walk in the wrong direction and end up in the wrong park. We finally found our café and ordered a medium coffee. I was handed what can only be described as a bucket of coffee. Since the café had free wi-fi we decided to stay and enjoy our drinks.

Finally out in the big city we started the essential shopping that Lins had wanted to do. Well I say shopping it was mostly window shopping but we went to Blomingdales and along Lexington. We (read I) were bored of shopping so we started our sight seeing. First stop Grand Central Station. Gifted to New York by the Vanderbilts apparently the huge expanse of the main hall is immediately recognisable. You could just imagine the mob there a la Hollywood style complete with pram coming down the stairs. Just outside the station is my favourite building in New York - The Chrysler Building. The majestic building shoots up to its silver spire with the ever watchful eagles on the top. It was the tallest building in New York once and was actually in competition with another building for the title. The two guys building them had big egos and were determined to have the highest building. During construction floors were added to the original plans as they tried to out do each other. Eventually it seemed Mr Chrysler gave up as the other building (which no even remembers anymore) was completed just a few feet higher than the Chrysler building. But unknown to everyone bar Mr. Chrysler and the contractor he had a trick up his sleeve. He had built a tall spire inside the roof space of the building that was not visible from the outside. When construction was finally declared over at his rivals building he had the spire raised and claimed the prize of tallest building in the world. A few months later the Empire State Building was completed and beat both buildings by miles.

From there we headed for Time Square and have to say I was a bit disappointed not to find an actual square there. They are in the middle of renovating it so it was sealed off. Still we managed to get a pretty good photo of the iconic bill boards.

We shopped our way from Time Square until we found ourselves next to the Empire State building. The sun was beginning to set so we thought we would catch a view of it from the top. Unfortunately I hadn’t reckoned on the queues. By the time we finally got to the top it was already dark and blowing an absolute gale but the views were amazing. We got ourselves an audio tour of the view from the top which was cool too. The lights just go on for ages. But before we froze we decided to head home.

The next day we had to get out and about as there is just so much to see in NYC. Our first stop was Ground Zero, the previous site of the twin towers. I was kind of expecting some sort of memorial but it seems that reconstruction has taken over and the place is a major building site. Construction is way behind schedule as they continue to argue about the replacement for the towers - the freedom tower. But with nothing to see we moved on to Wall Street so we could get the inevitable picture next to the raging bull. Well if anyone knows where that bull statue is you’ll have to let me know because we couldn’t find it anywhere. Having missed two sights we headed for one of the big ones - Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty.

We lined up for tickets and I assumed we would be called to catch the next ferry which wasn’t for 15 minutes so I looked around the exhibits at the castle which had been everything from a fort to an opera venue. A few minutes before the ferry was due to leave we walked around to where it left only to find a queue for the inevitable security check. As usual it was a bit of a mess so we had to queue so long that we missed the ferry. In fact we only just managed to catch the next one but we were soon on the water (Lins’ favourite) heading for the statue. The fair lady herself is an amazing sight and must have just stunned people as the emigrated to the states at the end of the 19th century. The statute stands just a short way from Ellis Island where over 2 million people entered a new life in the states.

We walked around the island and learnt all about its construction and history before boarding the ferry and heading back to Manhattan Island. It is actually quite weird to think of New York as a collection of islands - it’s no Cook Islands that’s for sure. Our next stop was a bit of an idol for Lins - the Brooklyn Bridge. When it was built it was the largest suspension bridge in the world. Whole new engineering techniques were developed for its construction and many many people died. Some of those deaths were due to the bends, caused by having to work in a pressurised environment below the water line. In fact until the bridge was built no one even knew what the bends were. It is still impressive today though it is dwarfed by some of the newer bridges. It really is a beautiful structure.

From one passion of Lins’ to another - our next stop was Tiffany’s. Sadly we left it a little too late and only arrived 5 minutes before they were due to close - damn! Ah well we had a quick look around the ground floor and said we would be back.

Soon it was time for dinner and time to sample some more of the world class food the city has too offer. Today it was Chinatown’s turn. We caught the subway downtown and found a likely restaurant and filled our faces heading home with very full bellies…

The next day was our last full day in New York and indeed the last full day of the trip. We were up and out early and headed for Central Park. Being a Saturday there were plenty of people around and we enjoyed a coffee whilst watching all the joggers pushing the prams around and racing their dogs. We strolled across the park to the east side to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Met is vast and has some great exhibits. We weren’t able to see all the of it so had to pick a few galleries to look at. We checked out the local American art and the colonial architecture, European sculpture, Japanese art - there was something for all tastes. There was a particularly good photography exhibition on which showed pictures of the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina in New Orleans earlier in the year.

After our dose of culture it was time for a bit more shopping, including a return visit to Tiffany’s. It is certainly a big place though I have to say I just don’t like most of their designs! We shopped until we were hungry and decided we would sample some of the famous Italian food from Little Italy. Little Italy is actually right next door to Chinatown and in fact it is slowly being taken over by it which is causing some tension I believe. The flags were out and we chose our restaurant for some great Italian American food. Huge portions of pasta and meatballs with Italian wine to wash it down. Hmmmm It was really an excellent though it was sad thinking it was our last meal before we left for home. We just couldn’t help reminiscing on what we had seen over the last year. The best this, the worst that. Everyone will be asking us what as your favourite place and we just couldn’t come up with any one place. There has been so many.

Our last day dawned and we checked out of hotel as soon as possible, depositing our cases in the lockers. That is one hotel we won’t be recommending! Our flight wasn’t until the evening so we had a few hours left. There was so much to do we decided we had to come back some day soon. There was some last minute shopping to be done so that Lins had a nice suit for job interviews. With a little time left we returned to Central Park to enjoy the fall rays and a last moments in the US. Central Park really is a beautiful place away from the bustle of the city and we couldn’t resist a few more pictures in the park.

Finally it was time to head for the airport and our way home. We took the subway to catch the sky train to JFK. As usual for American airports security was a bit of a mess. We had to queue for 40 minutes just to reach the queue! The no liquid rule was in force and when we reached the end of the queue the guy in front was arguing with the guards about whether his wife’s mascara was liquid or not. He didn’t win. (It wasn’t even nice mascara! - Lins) Soon we were seated on the plane for the ride home. This was it. The end. The ultimate circle complete. We arrived at Heathrow at 6am in the morning to be oicked up by the amazing Vicky who had got up in the middle of the night and taken the morning off just to pick us up. But we had done it - we had finally proved that the world is round after all.

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Photos

Cityscape 1
It is an amazing city

Grand Central Station
So where is the pram?

Chrysler Building
Once the tallest building

Time Square
Well near Time Square anyway

Empire State Building
Cue Large Gorilla

Night scape 1
Oooohhh

Night scape
Aahhhh!

The top of Empire State
The monkey perch

Cityscape 2
Can you imagine arriving here by boat!

Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty herself

Brooklyn Bridge
Amazing Engineering

Central Park
The place to chill out in the city

Comments

[Katherine]

Back in Blighty!
Seems strange to read this when I've seen you in Leeds! Fab photos! See you soon xx