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Published: September 12th 2009
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Central Park
Lizzy on the rowing boats New York!
Day 1
We land in Newark Airport on Monday 7th September, 18:30 local time. Both Rick and I took advantage of the free alcohol on the plane so didn't get much sleep! The queue for customs went surprising quickly considering we all had to have our fingerprints taken (something I hadn't seen before). Once we got through we were just praying our bags were there and luckily they were!! Once we started heading off with our rucksacks I remember thinking that they were really heavy! We were the only ones around at the time with big rucksacks on our backs and I did feel a bit silly at the time. Still not used to it...
We had to get the shuttle and luckily we managed to find it and get tickets quite easily. From the shuttle we then had to get the NJ Transit to take us to NYC! It was pretty packed and we still weren't used to getting about quickly with the rucksacks. We ended up getting a seat and just put the bags on our laps as we were too exhausted to even think about doing anything else. The journey was about 30
mins and by the end I could barely feel my legs!
So from the shuttle we're thrown straight in the deep end and arrive at the metro (subway). At the time I felt really vulnerable as it was obvious we were tourists and there were loads of gangs around but we just walked really quickly through it all and luckily managed to stumble across our line quite quickly. Phew!
Sitting on the tube (must of been at least 10pm by this point local time and 5am our time) we knew when we got to our stop we still had to walk 2 blocks to reach the hostel and didn't know in which direction!
We started walking in what we thought was the right direction and soon enough we saw a big group of travellers all huddled outside a building so we figured we were in the right place!
We checked in all okay but then realised we were up on the 5th floor...and we couldn't see a lift. I was already knackered from getting to this point in the first place and at the time I think I'd have preferred to have just curled up on the floor rather
than tackle the stairs but we kept the momentum going and got up there. My heart felt like it was jumping out of my chest at the top...felt like I'd had a proper work out!
Day 2
We had breakfast at a nearby diner and I had pancakes! We jumped on the tube and decided to have a wander round Central Park. We walked to the Guggenheim Museum and the MET but didn't go in either as they cost around $20 entry each and we already knew we would prefer to do the Natural History Museum. We went back to Central Park and found a spot where you could hire a rowing boat for $12 an hour so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day!
We got off the boat and stumbled across a jazz band just setting up in the middle of the park. They were called Tin Pan and were recently featured in the New York Times.
Started to get peckish so got our first New York hotdog while walking to Strawberry Fields (John Lennon tribute). We then checked out Times Square in the afternoon and went to a couple of bars.
In the evening we managed to fit in seeing Grand Central Station (Rick was excited about seeing where Madagascar was filmed), Chrysler Building, News Building (where Superman worked) and saving the best for last....The Empire State Building! We were up there for 3 hours so we could see the view in daylight as well as in the evening when all the lights come on.
Afterwards we went to Madison Square Gardens and finished the night off in another bar.
Day 3
Had a lay-in and went straight to the Natural History Museum. They had an exhibition about Extreme Mammals which was interesting. We also got tickets to a Space show which Rick wanted to see.
Afterwards Rick wanted to watch the England game so we went round a few recommended bars which were likely to show it. Out of the 3 given only 1 was showing it and had the cheek to charge $20 entry! Needless to say we didn't go in. So..once Rick had accepted defeat that we weren't going to catch it we jumped on the tube to 5th Avenue so I could check out the shops.
As we got off the tube we
noticed loads of crowds everywhere and outside the plaza was a film crew with cranes with lights on everywhere. I laughed and wondered if it was Sex and the City being filmed but didn't really believe it... it wasn't until we went to cross the road and realised it was all blocked off and this guy was pushing the crowds away. I asked him what it was all about and he was like "We're filming Sex and the City Movie 2". I was amazed that we found it and the guy said where the best view was so we rushed there...got some good photos! I couldn't believe we were watching it all happening! That was the cherry on the cake for me!!!!!
We stayed until they stopped filming and we started to leave down 5th Avenue when I saw the writer just standing there so I went up to him and asked for his autograph which he gave me and we had a quick chat about London...I was slightly starstruck!
In the evening (once I'd recovered from all the excitement) we went to Broadway to a Comedy Club which we had tickets for. There were about 6 comedians
on and the headliner was Jacky Mason's daughter (I hadn't heard of him but Rick said he used to be good in his day). We ended up getting pretty drunk on the cocktails!!
Day 4
Day started off even later...needed a lay in after the cocktails the night before! In the morning we went to Greenwich Village and sat by the fountain. Afterwards we walked through Soho to Little Italy where they were preparing for their Italian festival which started the following weekend. We had lunch in a place called PUGLIA and for desert we had cannolinis! All very good value.
From Little Italy you literally walked across the street into Chinatown. Not much going on but was good to see it. We then checked out the Financial District...including the World Trade Centre site. It was very moving being there...as the next day would be the anniversary there were loads of film crews setting up.
We then took the Staten Island Ferry as it was free and you got a good view of the Statue of Liberty. We wandered to Brooklyn Bridge when we got back.
In the evening we headed back to Soho as all
Statue of Liberty
on the Staten Island Ferry the shops (Bloomingdales etc) were having a Fashion Party as it was the night before Fashion Week. There were bands in all the stores and they were giving away free champagne. After we were all shopped out we went to Times Square and found this cool little Swing Bar on 46th Street which had a live band and people were dancing...it was a great way to end the trip!
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Jane
non-member comment
New York
Great start to your blog, love the pictures, it sounds amazing, you did so much. Brilliant that you saw sex and the city filiming... could Rick believe it??? How is Sao Paulo? Looking forward to your messages, take care, have fun, missing you both loads, love mum dad stevie xxxx