New York

Elona typing

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