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Published: September 12th 2010
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Empire State Building
Taken from top of the Rock We arrived in New York on the 6th on our way back from Columbia spending 3 days and 4 nights before heading back to blighty. Back in Cartagena we found a very small and cramped internet cafe and booked ourselves in to the Park Central Hotel on 56th and 7th which is only a short walk from Times Square. We flew in to JFK and took a bus for $15 Bucks to Port Authority, the weather was no different to Columbia and NY was enjoying ( depending on how you look at it) a heatwave with temps in excess of 100 Degrees. We Sweatily checked in to the Hotel and headed up to for the first time in weeks an amazingly comfortable bed with a shower that has hot water.. bliss...
We pretty much collapsed for a few hours and then out of the room window spotted a lovely greek restaraunt accross the road so that pretty much set the scenario for the rest of the evening.. quality greek food and beer followed by Bed.
We got up fairly early the next day and set out to see some of the sights, We headed to Fulton Street on the
South Street Seaport as a first port of call and went to check out the "Bodies Exhibition" There are over 200 Actual human bodies which have been preserved and preserved showing avery internal bone, organ, muscle that we have.. Its mind blowing to see the respectful work that they have done to give you an insight as to how human beings function and with kat being a doctor I had a very detailed tour and explanation throughout the visit, far better than the tape recording offered to explain things as you walk around. ( http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/) Well worth a visit for £27.50US
Next we headed to the museum of sex which is on 233 Fifth Avenue. Wasnt quite sure what to expect going to this and for $16 i wasnt holding much expectation either.. When we arrived the main room has lots of books and gifts on sale and not at all what I thought it would be like. we paid our money and headed down to a room which looked at the history of porno movies! The child in me wanted to laugh at how many TV's with porn films were being shown but that was taken over by
the odd feeling of standing around a TV with about 10 complete strangers watching graphic videos.. very surreal indeed and almost expected a cheer and clap from everyone at the point of climax !. from there you head in to diferent rooms which looks at different types of sex toys, fetishes, history of sex, etc..
After that we went to the Rockafella Building to take a look at New York from a height. On the way Kat spotted the bakery that Carrie Bradshaw goes to in the TV show Sex in the City and declared that we would be going in there on our way back for cake 😊 ( Which we did !! ) We spent an hour or so looking across Central Park and across at the Empire State Building as the sun was starting to set in the sky before heading back ( via cake shop) to the hotel to change and head out for a meal and a wander in to Times Square.
Times Square was just as you would imagine. full of glitz and lots of neon flashing signs and advertising.. its that bright you would still think its day time, an awesome
spectacle. We chilled out on the seats that are provided and took in the sights watching the thousands of people milling about and then headed off for a wander. Kat instantly used the female "chocdar" and spotted a huge M&M shop... Three floors full to the brim of M&M Chocolates.. If you can think it they had it.. I have never seen so many in my life!
The following day we went out early for breakfast to a small side street diner to have some eggs benedict, pancakes and maple syrup. Sat opposite us was a guy who looked like he was in his seventies with a very glamourous looking lady. I said to Kat that I thought he looked likehe was pretty important as his presence stood out. I thought maybe he was a retired mafia boss or something. Anyway as he got up to leave he came over and asked me where I was from, I told him we were from the UK and he asked if I was on the Television as I looked familiar! I said I wish I was and laughed but he said that he was on the TV and that he had
performed in front of the Queen many times at the Royal Variety / Command Performance. He said he was a comedian and rather embaressingly I didnt know who he was. He said his name and I promised to You Tube him.. It only turned out to be Jackie Mason. He now has a new fan as his stuff is hilarous and he is such a nice guy too.
Later, Kats Aunty and Cousin who live in Pensylvania came to NYC to meet up with us for the day as they were unable to make it to the wedding. We met at our hotel about 11am and took the tube downtown to have a wander about and do a bit of shopping. We were in the tube station and a group of guys came up and all started singing and harmonising around us, they were so cool. amazes me how guys with such talent are having to busk and arnt working in bars and clubs, really entertaining to watch! We got to downtown area and we milled about the shops walking back up towards uptown for a few hours before taking a taxi to Central Park where we decided
to go to Essex House for Afternoon Tea.
Central Park is just opposite so to chill out after some food we sat on the bleachers and watched the local league playing baseball in the park. I could have sat there all day and really wished I lved out there, I havnt played baseball since I was in school and was itching to have a go. We ambled around the park for a bit listening to different buskers and taking in the sunshine before we headed to 5th Ave, the home of all the major retailers such as Gucci, Louis Vitton etc.. Kat, Beth and Judith loved it but wondow shopping in extravagant shops with 3 women is not my cup of tea at all. 😊
We finished the afternoon off before Judith and Beth headed back by having dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, Very busy and had to wait nearly an hour for a table and probably about the same to get the food so wouldnt reccommend it if your starving! We said our farewells and headed back to the hotel as we need to pack and get ourselves sorted for the trip home.
An early
start and breakfast at the same place and yet again Jackie Mason was there and surprisingly waved and shouted good morning to us. We had to put our luggage in to a room in he hotel as when we asked for an extended check out they wanted a full nights cost for the pleasure. Even the side room was an extra cost and the cheeky buggers even wanted a tip for storing your bags on top of that! I dont mind paying for service anywhere but america really bugs me that everything expects a tip.
We booked our bus tickets from Port Authority and took it to JFK and headed back from an amazing 3 week honeymoon. I wish I could do it all over again.. Next stop Tuscany for yet another wedding..
Thanks for reading.
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Porky
non-member comment
You've really captured New York well. Great Photo's