Big Apple

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As you can see from the pictures, we had a very full couple of days in New York City! The first few pics, though, were still from Cape Cod....the resort had a little putt-putt golf course, and Tom finally got me out there on our last day. The Wampoanag tribe, the Pilgrims' Indians, still have a strong presence in Mashpee, with a cemetery, meeting house and museum, and Tom was especially interested in that. Back to New York....driving in we were feeling quite smug...we'd crossed the bridge, got off FDR drive at the right place, and were one street away from the hotel, but then a police officer made us turn left when we wanted to go straight. The reason? The high-level meeting that was taking place at the UN, with all the attendant security measures. We didn't get to see the UN building until Sunday from the Circle Line boat tour, and even then there was a Coast Guard boat patrolling. But obviously we eventually made it to our hotel, the Mariott Marquis right in the heart of Times Square-----very sweet. Never would have spent the kind of money needed to stay there, but this is one example of the Mariott points Tom accumulated over ten years put to good use. Where to start in describing this city? Let's use an analogy. On our city tour we stopped at Katz's Deli for lunch, and there was a line out the door. "Don't worry," our guide Steve said, "there are as many people coming out as going in." OK. The line did move quickly, but once you got in it was CHAOS.
Noisy, people jockeying for position for one of the sandwich makers (that's a polite way of saying pushing and shoving) then another line to get drinks, then trying to find a place to sit. Whew! Even the restroom stalls weren't large enough to turn around in. But oh, that pastrami sandwich......three-quarters of a pound of pastrami on rye, succulent with a wonderful crust on the edges.....totally worth all the effort to get it. Kind of like the city; SO many people all trying to get somewhere or something, noisy, departmentalized, but yielding something worthwhile in the end. Our tour was awesome. There were only 14 of us in a van-type vehicle (yeah--no huge steps), with a wonderful guide for seven hours. Besides all the factual information, Steve gave us the larger picture of life in this city. Some of the highlights were our visit to St. Paul's chapel, the church next to ground zero that was miraculously unscathed and served as refuge for the rescue/clean-up workers for nine months following the disaster, of course ground zero itself, Central Park, Harlem, and of course, Katz's. We were both exhausted after the tour, not physically but just from processing all that we'd seen. There's been alot of that on this trip! As you can seen from the pictures, that day was clear and beautiful. However, when we got up on Sunday, it was gray and raining, and we were set to do the Circle Line boat tour around the island. We had a short taxi ride to the pier (exciting in its own right) to get to the boat. We were under cover, although Tom took most of the picures from the open deck.....that Maid of the Mist ponch really came in handy. The tour narrator was excellent, and it was great seeing the island from a totally different perspective. Seen that way, it's amazing how much of the island's edges are green and undeveloped. After lunch (we shared that piece of wonderful NY cheesecake) and a restful afternoon, we walked across the street to the theater for the Lion King. Great seats, and an incredible production.....sure that those of you that have seen it will agree. It was a wonderful climax to our time here. Next stop: Atlantic City (free room) so we can tour Philadelphia. Next entry from there. Tom & Nancy

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Photos

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Marriot Times Square

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Looking out our Hotel window on the 30th floor