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Published: January 28th 2007
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Me and Adam and The Statue Of Liberty
Ahh, big Frez and lil' Chez, braving the cold and wind to get to Liberty Island. After just a few days in New York, I have truly come to understand that what everyone says about New York City is true. It is larger than life, really the Big Apple! As you all know, I am quite small anyway, but this city made me fell like I was the smallest little ant, trapsing the streets of the big city, trying not to get crushed by New Yorkers, and tourists alike, and indeed not to forget the yellow cabs. We have got to know this city really well in the past few days, and have managed to navigate ourselves really well through the streets and the underground, Metro, where you have to be on it to be on it, per say.
My inital thoughts were of absolute awe and amazment, everything was larger than life, the buildings, the cars, the food, the department stores (Virgin Megastores was three or four floors high, each covering a larger area than I can possible explain, not to mention the Toys R Us, which had a Big Wheel at the entrance that you could pay to go on), and even the cemetry, on the way to the city, which spanned
an area larger than Central Park. To sum it up, it met, and indeed exceeded, every expectation and stereotype that I had, as a result of what I have seen and heard of from TV, film and other people.
We covered all the major tourist attractions, The Statue of Liberty (although you can only go up the pedastool now, and have to go through airport style checks before getting onto the boat to Liberty Island, and before entering the museum, via means of the air puff scanner), and The Empire State Building (where it was sooo cold at the top, considering it was about (-7) degrees C at ground level!!!). We also visited Ground Zero, and the memoriam, to pay our respects. It really is astounding, to see the aftermath, even 5 years later, the damage that is still evident. It is shocking that there wasn't more damage caused. It is certainly understandable that the security checks going into the other attractions are so strong and invasive.
We saw the Bodies exhibition in South Street Seaport, the same day as Ground Zero, making it quite an intense day. The exhibition is by the German guy that
The Statue Of Liberty
There was a bit of sun in New York! did the autopsy programmes on TV, and uses all actual human specimiens, disected in a variety of different manners, showing the different attributes of the human body, how it works, where each function is exactly, and what it does, and even shows the different stages of disease and the effects of certain attributes, such as smoking and drinking, on the body. It is really thought provoking, and certianly makes me feel happy about the law on smoking in public places that is in place here, how nice it was to go to a gig (Dwarves (the guitarist was naked and wearing a devil mask throughout the whole gig - saucey)) and not leave stinking of smoke. There was even a section on the different stages of pregnancy, with evidence of some birth defects, like spinabifida and conjoined twins. I'm not sure of how many weeks it is possible to have an abortion up to, but even from 8-9 weeks the foetus ressembles the human shape. It was shocking, some of it more than others. There were also specimens showing cancer in various parts of the body. And to believe that this whole exhibition was made up of dead humans. Staring
New York Skyline
From Liberty Island, blue sky in winter, and all! into the faces of some of the specimens was a bit freeky, it made me think whether some part of their spirit was stuck between worlds, unable to find peace because of where they are now. I bet they didn't realise what they would be, as a result of donating their bodies to medical research after death. Thought provoking, for sure, made me even more careful about looking after myself now. We have both been eating our fruit portions, and doing lots of exercise, hard not to with all the walking from one place to another, and around exhibitions.
It feels like I've been rabitting on for ages, and hardly covered a scratch over what we have done and experienced in the past few days, hopefully Adam has covered the areas that I haven't.
I have eaten some good food, we had breakfast in this little deli on Lexington Avenue, what we thought was on the corner of 86th, but it mysteriously disapeared by the next time we went looking for it. We had cheese and egg on a sesame seed bagel, mmmmmm, so good, especially with chocolate milk to top it off. One night we
Times Square
So bright you could see it from outer space! had dinner at Texas BBQ in Times Square, the portions were so big, especially considering the cost. I had a chilli dog, and Adam a cheese and bacon burger, you should have seen the size though, I know I keep going on about it, but really, so big. Last night we ate at Planet Hollywood, where I had some sort of spinnach and ricotta pasta bake, with chicken, also very good, but not a patch on Texas BBQ!!
Times Square is incredible, it is actually shocking, never seen anything quite like it. You must be able to see the bright lights from outer space, or something of the sort. I can't find words to describe it, but the pictures will explain it all. It is constantly busy, bustling with people, the shops are open really late, and the lights man, the lights are mental.
Central Park in amazing, it is crazy to think that it is actually possible to have this relaxing place in the middle of such a hectic city, there is even a zoo, although it was shut when we went past it. There is a huge ice skating rink, there was an ice
Bronx Grafitti
Grafitti around the world, number 1. hockey game going on, as well as people just skatting about, and a few even practicing their dancing routines. We visited Strawberry Fields, in memory of John Lennon, although most of it was closed off for renovation, and I spent most of the time pointing out the places where Friends had been filmed. It was brilliant, would love to be there in the summer, to have a little poi on the rocks.
Forgot to mention the Bronz Zoo!!, How could I forget. It was donation day, so we donated $10 between us, and they reacted like it was the highest donation they had ever got. Everyone here is extra specially polite any how, but it was a little over the top, if not genuine. Most of the zoo was empty, visitor and animal wise, as most of the animals had been moved inside or to warmer climates, as the New York winter is far too harsh for them to take. But the tigers were still there, and the monkeys, giraffes, reptiles, birds and several others. The craziest thing about it was Ecofriendly toilets at the entrance. To save water, the toilets use foam, and all the waste gets compacted and turned into fertiliser, but it all looks like a normal toilet.
We went to the comedy at The Laugh Factory, which was hilarious, Adam said that he has written about it, so won't waffel on, but there was a great loke about calling your daughter Granny, so that no one will want to have sex with her.. (ahh, Granny!!).
There are not many places that you can see a one legged man hop across a free way, and stumble across the film set of Will Smith's new film (didn't see him though), without realising it at the time. I have really loved New York, the brilliant start to our adventure. Luckily we bought a metro card, we walked so much anyway, without that we wouldn't have been able to do as much as we did in the short time we were there. Be in touch you all. Missing and loving you all. XXX
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Christine ( mum )
non-member comment
A brilliant start
Wow Cheryl what a brilliant start to your adventure. It all sounds so hectic and very amazing. I'm so excited for you and Adam . Wish I'd had the nerve to do it when I was young. Go for it sugar and love every minute of it. Love you. Mum xxx