Da Da Dada da, Da Da Dada da :) he he he.
Sarah, with us in tow, headed off into the big city to find a map for Sarah to navigate our very busy week in New York. God Bless Sarah I'm telling you!! She is so good with a map - as opposed to me, who can't read one or Megs who just likes to wander about. We managed ladies and gentleman to see the following sites - We will list and then write little tit bits - otherwise this will certainly turn into a novel!
Times Square - the most amazing place in the city. Has hundreds of electronic billboards - some enormous - that are just astounding during the day and just magnificent at night - almost light enough to be day time at night - they are sooo bright.
Rockerfeller Centre - We were advised to go to the top of 'The Rock' as its called here to take the fabulous shots of the Empire State Building before actually heading up there. This building was amazing with it's Swarovski Chrystal display and wall, ice skating rink, fabulous history and just stunning views!!
Empire State Building - My god we picked the windiest day for it - check out the pictures!! But of course it was Valentines Day and it was a giggle to be there on this day - for all you people who didn't love An Affair to Remember you surely know the movie with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks; Sleepless in Seattle.
Megs Typing
Just a quick back step. Whilst in Times Square we were approached by many ticket sellers to many various events happening in the city. We haggled a good deal and purchased tickets to "The Comic Strip" for Monday nights stand-up routine. The Comic Strip is the place were Seinfeld would do his stand-up routine in front of the brick wall shown at the beginning of the Seinfeld show.
Elona and I both spotted the Chrysler Building and made a common mistake and decided it was the Empire State Building. Sarah the girl with the map advised me it was the Chrysler but allowed herself to be walked a couple of blocks off course, with a short trip through the foyer before resuming the navigation and lead us successfully to the correct landmark and Sarah's famous line "We can tick that one off the list!"
Continuing on from the gale force winds on top of the Empire State Building we walked the 2.5 hours (not that we knew it would take that long at the time) to the Comic Strip to see what turned out to be a side splitting, tear inducing hilarious ensemble of comedians. Elona typing - what was really funny was the tickets were dirt cheap but we didn't notice until we arrived that there was a minimum of $20 in drinks per person he he he. Now $20 worth of hot chocolates is a lot so we decided that 2 (very strong) cocktails would do the trick!! Oh it did - it's been awhile since we drank that much alcohol!
Next on the tour of highlights - The financial district, North and South Docks (ferries for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island) and Ground Zero. Construction is currently underway for a memorial and a new complex on the ground where the Twin Towers once stood. Elona typing - it was amazing to see that there really hasn't been that much reconstruction done but you could still feel the devastation - very sad.
Statue of Liberty and then Ellis Island were both amazing in different ways. Statue of Liberty for all the ideals and movements she has represented to the people not only of NYC, America but those immigrating from troubled homelands to start a new life. Ellis Island for the stories of 1000s of people and families, some triumphant and others with sorrow as they all waited for news that they would be allowed into America to start a new life. We found that there were 24 Bastions from either UK or France to have passed through Ellis Island and 1 La Caze - country unknown.
Retail therapy was also on the list and successfully completed for Sarah and vicariously for Elona and I. Some fantastic clothes (especially coats/jackets) at amazing prices.
Broadway tickets - at a discount of course. Jersey Boys, a musical that tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Great music, great cast and a good story. Elona typing - it was like watching a bunch of Joel Fleishman from Northern Exposure with REALLY good voices! And if anyone is interested there is a man named Matt Bogart who has an unbelievable likeness to Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing times - it was so freaky we got home and looked him up on google - apparently no relation but comments had been made in reviews about the likeness.
Elona typing
Homeless people galore!! They are not shy about coming forward and often look well kept - weird! But you end up feeling you are giving away a lot of money.
Good looking black men - ah ha yep loads - they are wonderful to ask directions from - gives me a giggle. There was a lovely man in Macys who flirted so wonderfully I bought an eye cream off him - see photos :)
Central Park - Can imagine that it looks beautiful in summer but with the warmer weather the snow had turned to dirty ice and was not the prettiest but still lovely to walk around and see all the puppies oh and of course Sarah did a few runs in the park because that's what she does!!
Oh and the very best thing was we actually got to see the famous naked cowboy - well almost naked but that's what he calls himself - check out the photos!
The subway - this was just fun - I'm a people watcher so for me this was heaven and at times very funny! But a wonderful way to travel the city apart from the fact that occasionally I would slide (not on purpose - bloody stupid seats!) into whomever happened to be sitting next to me or even two down - they go quite fast therefore stop quite fast!
We have to say New York is a very diverse place but at no time did we ever feel unsafe and at times we were out late and walking home and there are just so many people and it's so alive that it felt really safe. Okay so overall it was a fantastic trip and seeing Sarah was just great - she gets just as excited by stuff as I do for eg hailing a taxi - you just have to do it because you've seen it in all the movies - and you know what - it works!!!
Enjoy the pics
Enjoying chocolate sundaes at McDonalds in Time Square
View from our apartment
Good morning Mr Trump
Sarah and Megs outside Trump Towers
Yellow Cabs
Times Square - takes advertising to a whole other level
Who knew that M and Ms had their own world
Eat your heart out King Kong
Tickle her - Elmo!
Centre of Times Square
Gateway to Central Park in front of the Trump Building
Running fashion in Central Park has gone down hill since Sex in the City stopped filming
Elona and Megs in front of Central Park
We put our names into the raffle to be in the audience - unfortunately David did not call:(
Stock Exchange - Times Square
Times Square Fashion
Sarah in front of the wishing heart in Times Square
Pretty lights in Times Square
Told you advertising is HUGE here.
Elona and Sarah on the steps of Times Square
Future Star?????
A real Cooper on the side of the building
Top of the Rock was windy as we looked out towards the Empire State Building
Elona and Sarah - Top of Rockerfeller Centre
Empire State Building - this is the only view you can't see from the building itself
Elona's cutie at the cosmetics counter
Amazing performers in Times Square
Lady Liberty from the Empire State Building
Gale force winds on the 83rd floor of the Empire State Building
Central Park squirrel
Sarah and Megan appreciating the lights of New York City
Photo with Lady Liberty - this one didn't ask for money for the photo privilege
New York Public Library
Handbag designs
The three of us at Top of the Rock with the Empire State Building in the background
OOOPs - what happened there? We don't have a clue!
16 Weddings took place at the Empire State Building on Valentines Day
This bull was featured in Will Smith's movie "Hitch"
People get up close and personal for a photo opportunity
Tiffany's on 5th Avenue
Not sure what the store was advertising here?? Maybe shoes??
Megs hailing a cab in NewYork City
Sarah on Liberty Island with you know who!
Liberty Island from Manhattan
Native American Indian Museum
Fantastic exhibit
Another Cooper ad with an actual car on the side of the building
Empire State Building
On our way to Liberty Island
Amazing sight
Sweet Liberty
1930s Diner - the menu has not changed in that time - the prices probably have though
What do you order in an American diner? Beer!
Cheers
and burgers
One of the best meals we had in New York
Times Square by night
Statue of Liberty
Security everywhere
Photo wall of people who arrived in the States via Ellis Island.
One side shows the photos
as you walk from one side to the other
you see the American flag - very cool
photo taken of children who stayed on Ellis Island waiting permission to enter America
Some people had to stay for weeks or months before
either entering America or being sent to their port of departure.
Spring is just around the corner
Sarah's new hat - she lost her the other one somewhere!
Sarah's new coat - shopping vicariously was fun
The Naked Cowboy
The nearly Naked Cowboy - he is actually quite talented
Buying Tickets to the Night Bus Tour
Here we go
Times Square is where we start
Elona after an evening at the Theatre
Broadway musicals a must when in NYC
Wall Street - A lot of high security
Wall Street - the Building
We are on a Times Square billboard - 15seconds of fame
Can you see us?? Look for the red coat.
Central Park
Trying the local brew
Ice skating at the Rockefeller Centre
Sooo Cute
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art
Had difficult finding the artistic skill behind some of the pieces?!?
Megs standing in front of a canvas on display - can you see the artistic skill?
Butts by Andy Warhol
Grand Central Station
Grays Papaya - Hot Dog
Elona and Megs in Grand Central Station
Diner for lunch
All the tickets needed for our adventures in NYC
