New York with Kaylene and Chris

Tuesday 17^th

New York with Kaylene and Chris

We popped in to Grand Central Station this morning on our way in to Time Square to meet with Kaylene and Chris.  Grand Central station is more than a train station, the terminal is a full blown destination unto its self with plenty to see and do.  The station is huge; the barrel vaulted ceiling is speckled like a Baroque church with a painting representation of the winter night sky with stars shown from back to front.  There are shops, a market and restaurants, its really quiet amazing.  It is so much more than a train station.

We jump back onto the subway and get ourselves into Time Square, with a little time to spare till we catch up with Kaylene and Chris, we go into the Bubba Gump store and have a look around and pick up a few bits and pieces.  We then piano piano make our way to meet with Kaylene and Chris.  Off to Tiffany’s, not so piano piano!!!  Luckily on the tour we did, the tour guide made mention to us that there is the third floor that sells more reasonably priced items.  We had a very quick skim around on the ground floor and realise that we didn’t have the coin to be even looking here, so we quickly got up to the third floor. It was a convenient time for Himself to mention to me that I had not been paid what we were expecting from the QVH, his timing is impeccable!!!  Not deterred in the least I meandered around the third floor, still no price tags on the items here either.  There were some very lovely items and I did manage to pick up something, not for me, but a purchase way made.  Kaylene, on the other hand was very restrained!!  Who would have believed that I would make a purchase and not Kaylene, I would have tipped the reverse for sure.   Quickly over the road to have a look at the Luis Vitton gear, no purchases made here.  

We then dropped into St Patrick’s cathedral which is on the corner of 50^th street amid the glitz. A lovely little cathedral.  We then start our marathon walk to St Paul’s chapel, it looked a fair distance on the map, it did however, feel like we had walked the whole length of Manhattan by the time we reached it some 2 ½ hours later.  On our way we found the Stand bookstore. This is a bookstore with 18 miles of books. The place is astounding and distributed over four levels and the books were so cheap, we were very glad we stumbled upon it. We continued to walk on till we found St Paul’s Chapel. It was worth the walk.   St Paul’s Chapel is now know as the “little chapel that stood” because it survived a second brush with destruction on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre buildings collapsed just across the street.  Other than a lot of dust and debris, there was no damage to the church.  Because of its proximity to Ground Zero, St Paul’s became the site of an extraordinary, round the clock relief ministry to the more than 14,000 volunteers offering assistance in the recovery effort.  The Chapel was a place of refuge, where food, medical attention, space to rest, and support were provided to hundreds of rescue workers.  The moving exhibit Out of the dust: A year of Ministry at Ground Zero, was excellent and very moving indeed.

We then ducked over the road for a bit of a look around Century 21, a great shopping venue for little money, situated next to World Trade Centre, its huge! It has all the departments  -shoes, clothes, home accessories, cosmetics, men, women, kids, jewellery, handbags all the best brands in very discounted prices! Himself brought himself a new Skagen watch and was delighted with his purchase.  We got the subway back to Time Square, all four of us were a wee tad weary after the long walk.  However, it must be noted that our walk took us right through Soho; no one can say that we didn’t see Broadway as we had a great walk right along the entire length of Broadway!!

We had dinner at Bubba Gump’s shrimp house, yes, from the Forrest Gump movie and it was very novel.  Then off to our Broadway show the Lion King.  This was a great experience; the show was incredible with amazing costumes and performers.  We all had a fantastic time. 

When we came home to Rita and Mick’s we watched a lovely DVD on Italy, so we could reminisce about our tour of Italy.   What a brilliant day, but we were clean tuckered out !!

New York

Monday 16^th May

New York

Getting off the subway today we experienced the feeling of being swept along by the New York traffic, it was good to experience this as we have heard about it so often. 

Meeting up with Kaylene and Chris was great, it was so lovely to see them.  Swapping stories of our travels was fun.  They looked very well and relaxed after their tour.  We all did a tour together of New York sights, a bit of a come down from the standard of the Insight tours that we had both done, but nevertheless enjoyable. 

The sights were many and varied.  Starting at Central park we went to strawberry fields memorial and saw the imagine mosaic named after John Lennon. 

There used to be a statue of John Lennon in central park but after his death Yoko Ono asked for it to be moved as she takes a walk in central park daily and it was a constant reminder for her, a fair enough call. We also visited the Dakota apartment where John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived, Yoko still lives there and it also the place that John Lennon was assassinated by Chapman. 

We then moved onto the Rockefeller centre where the world-famous Ice Rink is located in winter, this has become a quintessential New York City winter experience for generations. Whilst the weather gave a subtle hint of winter today, there was no evidence of skating under the watchful eye of the gilded Prometheus statue today, but it was easy to imagine what it would be like to evidence this in winter.  We would love to go to the top of the Rockefeller building, called the top of the rock, but in this weather today it would defeat the purpose. Hopefully we will get up there to see the great view of NYC before we leave, although the weather forecast is not at all promising.

We then drove past Madison Square Park, saw the flatiron building (so named because the building it the shape of an iron and it was NYC’s first sky scrapper),and saw the empire state building.  It was such a shame that this was clouded by fog.  However, we have had the best night view of the empire state building from Mick and Rita’s apartment. 

Then, for a cruise down the river past Ellis Island, Governor’s Island to Liberty Island to view the magnificent Statue of Liberty.  The statue of Liberty was built to commemorate the solidarity of the French and American people after the American Revolution.   After being jostled by the Japanese tourists, we managed to get a few good photo opportunities. 

 The boat ride was a bit rocky for my liking immediately after lunch, but I did manage to keep it down.  I have never had sea legs and can get seasick in the bath as a rule.

We visited the site of the Twin Towers and saw where St Paul’s chapel is located; this is where there is a memorial for all who lost their lives in 9/11, and a site that I really want to see, but not enough time today.

With the tour complete we all went for a quiet pint and then for a meander and photo opportunity in time Square.  We are hoping for an improvement in the weather tomorrow for our shopping trip to Tiffany’s!!

New York

Stunning view from Mick and Rita's apartment

Sunday 15^th May

New York

Our first experience with subway today and it was very smooth sailing.  Thankfully Mick, himself’s younger brother,  took us and showed us the ropes which eased us into it very gently, when we come off the subway we were in Time Square which was very exciting.  A few steps up the street and we were right in Broadway.  It was much busier than I expected for a Sunday but of course most of the people in Time Square were tourists just like us!!  I was under the assumption that Time Square was actually a square, like the piazza’s in Rome, but no its not. Time Square is a stretch of a few blocks with fabulous pulsating neon lights, it   is remarkably bright, colourful and very cheerful, with billboards showing all the shows on Broadway.  It was great to see and just buzzing with activity.  There are people everywhere.

Herself Time Square

The day was a bit overcast and a small bit of rain but nothing significant but very humid. We made our way to the Time Square visitors centre and picked up some maps that were of great benefit to us on the days walk.  The Rockefeller Centre was first stop and it was very easy to find we decided not to go up to the top of the rock as it was a bit foggy, we decided to leave it for a clearer day.  We then decided to walk up to Central Park which is enormous and almost impossible to miss.  We entered at the South side.  We meandered along the intricate footpath that had no discernible organisation and   stumbled upon the Walk for Aids rally. 

Walk for Aids Rally in Central Park

Thousands of people had flocked to the park despite the gloomy weather and we seemed to land ourselves flat bang in the middle of them. The walkers were raising money for local service organizations that help people infected with AIDS or the HIV virus and try to spread the word about prevention.  There were bands playing and so many people who were brightly dressed and very exuberant in their mood, it was lovely but we decided to avoid the masses and return tomorrow.  Coming out of central park we noticed some  red and white pipes sticking out of the road that had steam coming out of them, we had no idea what they were and decided that this was a question for Mick.  Mick advised us that they are underground steam vents.  Steam is used to distribute heat and power to the heart of the Manhattan business district. They deliver a clean, efficient energy source. By all accounts there are no adverse health effects associated with steam use.  Steam can be used for everything from heating and cooling to sterilizing and food processing.

steam vent

  

Off to the natural history museum which was fantastic and huge.  The display of animals, mammals and dinosaurs was incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We wished that we had more time to have looked through the displays more thoroughly, but we decided that we couldn’t possibly see everything.  We then made our way back to Time Square, we had had a lovely long walk today, we found the subway for our trip home and there were people demonstrating to Free Palestine.  We jumped on the subway and made our way back to the apartment.  After dinner we went for a lovely walk along the boardwalk of Mick and Rita’s apartment and took some photos, as the view is incredible.  We also got the iconic Pepsi sign in.  What a grand day we had in New York. 

Pepsi Cola sign just near Rita and Mick's apartment

Roma to New York

Saturday 14^th May

Roma to New York

We had time to reflect on our trip to Italy as we make our way piano piano to New York.  Losing our luggage was no major hassle whilst on the tour, in fact it was very relaxing because we didn’t have to think each day of what to wear, we had no choice!  No one cares what you are wearing anyway, they are far too busy worrying about what you are thinking about them!!  An additional bonus was the short amount of time it took us to get ready each morning and our leisurely breakfasts!!  Perfect!

In any country one visits children always bring a lot of joy, but none more so than in Italy.  In the supermarket, workers slip off their chairs to come around and to get a proper look and ruffle the hair of the children and give sweets away rather liberally.  They like to be nice and cheerful, presumably this has to do with their yearnings for maternity. It is so very lovely to see.    We see a child with a caramel in his mouth and another clutched in his hand, whilst his father makes a feeble protest as he is given some more.  (I think he ended up with about four caramels).  The young babies become public property, they tweak their noses and pinch their cheeks, they kiss them and rub their knees to see how fat they are.  Clearly it is quite wonderful being an infant in Italy, so much so that one has to doubt that nothing will ever be quiet so good again.  When a baby is born in Italy a pink rosette for a bella bambina and a blue rosette for un maschio, is hung from the main door of the house so that passers by and friends will be informed without having to ask.  This is really very sweet to see.  However, most Italian families are now only having one child due to economic reasons.  This is a surprise to me. 

Security was tight at Fuminico airport as we expected. Much more so than we have experienced anywhere else on our travels, but we are destined for the USA. And one expects it.   Himself states that it was worse in Israel on his trip last year.

Our departure from Roma was seamless.  Our euro were exchanged for American dollars.  Bullisamo!  Si, we have spent far less than we anticipated in Europe and we have change!  Perhaps spending money for Tiffany’s with Kaylene???   Himself thinks not.    Allura

We were unable to secure exit seats for our flight from Roma to New York but himself did manage an aisle seat which he was more than happy with for the 9 ½ hour flight,  easy peasy.  That is, until the passenger seated in front of himself reclined her seat five minutes into the flight; which wedged his long legs into the back of her seat like rivets.   You have never seen a man reach for the call bell so quickly.  Panicked, he didn’t think that his call bell was working until I quietly pointed to the illuminated light positioned above his head.  Of course he couldn’t remove his eyes from his firmly riveted knees and the discomfort that he was experiencing.  A rather burly flight attendant walked by and turned off himself call bell, of course it had to be an accidental activation this early into the flight!  Himself quickly raised his hand to attract attention.  Himself’s discomfort was promptly dismissed by this burly man who stated that “she has every right to recline her seat”, as we acknowledged.  “But what about the problem of these legs”!!  I really thought that there could have been a scene erupt by himself as he contemplated being riveted to the back of the seat in front for 9 ½ hours, I could see that this was not going to be a comfortable journey for anyone in the near vicinity.   Luckily himself obtained the attention of another stewardess he was more sympathetic to his plight and moved him to a seat in the front centre near where they usually put baby carriages.  Himself jumped at this opportunity and I think everyone breathed a sigh of relief!!  

We arrived in New York in good time and Mick met us at the airport and we made our way back to Mick and Rita’s apartment, which is in a very beautiful position on Long Island, right on the river with absolutely stunning views.  It was so great to catch up and we went out for a lovely dinner.

Last day in Roma

Friday May 13^th

Last day in Roma

After having a huge sleep in we piano piano made our way to the centre of Roma and jumped on one of the hop on hop off tour buses and just cruised around for a few hours savouring the lovely sights of Roma.  We jumped off at the Trevi fountain and found a lovely little restaurant and had our best meal in Italy it was fabulous.   We are both feeling a bit frustrated as our accommodation at the Sheraton Roma is less than adequate in many respects,  we can’t get internet connection and we really were wanting to skype home before we  head off to New York.  Finally after 24 hours and himself demanding to see the manager we have it and a bottle of wine on the house!   Himself doesn’t get upset to often but this really has been a real shonky hotel.  Believe me, we know after nearly 8 weeks of being on the road.

Italian driving and parking must be mentioned in this Italy blog.  Well the motor cyclists all wear helmets and for good reason I have no doubt, they are very courageous the way that they weave in and out of the traffic on the inside and the outside at very ambitious speeds.   The motorcyclists love it when they hear an ambulance that is going in their direction, you should see them, they tail the ambulance as it creates a clear path for them and there maybe twenty or so tailing behind the ambo.  I would hate to be in need of an ambulance here in Roma as due to the traffic they can’t possibly get to a patient quickly.

It is really amazing to watch the drivers, it is so different in Australia, we are such law abiding citizens in Oz.  But more than the driving, it is the parking that fascinates us.  Clearly where there is no parking, not only do they park but they double and triple park.  A solid white line means nothing here, except perhaps come and park on me! A No Parking sign doesn’t mean no parking today, that must be there for yesterday or perhaps tomorrow, but certainly not for today!!  What continues to amuse us is how do people get their cars out when people double and triple park with, beleive me no more that 6 inches in the front or at the rear of the car, they are left with no room at all.  Oh such fun! We have decided that if they brought in more traffic infringements the Italian government would be very rapidly out of their debt.  One can’t really describe it, it really has to be seen to be believed.  I tried to capture it in a photo, but with little success unfortunately. All I can say is that it is chaos, but certainly great fun to watch.