NYC - Day 5, September 12, 2013

Yesterday (Day 4) was a free day, and I stayed home.  Temperature was 96 degrees!

Today started with a new bus driver who doesn't have a clue.   First thing she did was 'get lost' on the way to the Holland Tunnel.  The traffic was much heavier today plus she is a timid driver, so all we did was ride the bus before lunch.

We did drive by the 'Intrepid' and the back of Trinity Church along the way.

 

For whatever reason, we didn't go to the scheduled cafe for lunch and were suddenly dropped off and told there was food across the street.  There were several choices.

We had a scheduled appointment to visit the 9/11 Memorial.  On our way there the sky opened up and we had a brief downpour.  The Memorial is a lovely 'park'.

This is the Survivor Tree.  It survived in the rubble of 9/11 and was replanted.  It then withstood the winds of Sandy in 2012.

I took many photos of Tower Number 1!

The arched glass building in the center of the photo is where Ground Zero was viewed from when I was here in 2006.

 

The steeple is St. Paul's Church which was a haven for rescue workers.  The orange crane is lifting what, to me, looked like wings and will be a parking structure.

The ledge around the two pools list all the names of those lost on 9/11.

There is a pool where each of the towers stood.

Building Number 4 rebuilt.

The grounds.

On our way to Wall Street, we walked by Trinity Church and cemetery.  I was disappointed we didn't go into either.

Taken from down Wall Street.

I have been to Wall Street before, but I had missed the plaque regarding a wall the Dutch had built to protect themselves from enemies.  There is evidence of this wall in the pavement.  Again, my ancestors were part of that Dutch community so I need to do some more reading in a book that is in storage.  These photos were taken in front of Federal Hall.

The plaque says logs, but these remnants are all along Wall Street.  My feet are in the photo on purpose - perhaps my 8th great grandfather stood here as well.  He and his brother owned land near Wall and Broadway.

Next we rode the bus to kill time and drove right by Trinity Church!!

Dinner was at Mustang Harry's.  I had salmon which was very good!

Next we were dropped off at the Gershwin Theater - early - to see Wicked.  I had heard so many raves about this show, but, while the performances were very good, I just didn't care for the show.  I probably had an attitude when I couldn't understand the words of the songs the chorus sang or hear some of the actors' lines. 

We got back to the park after eleven.  By the time I got settled down and ready for sleep, it was 2 a.m.  Up at 7 this morning for 9 o'clock departure.

New York City - Day 3, September 10, 2013

We left the park and immediately had a 'road block' - we think the poor semi driver took a wrong turn.  With the help of a policeman, he at least got pulled over to the side so we could pass, but I have no idea how they were going to get him out of the narrow street.

Today I had my first, and possibly last, subway ride to Grand Central Station (Terminal). As we were waiting for the train, we watched other trains really zip by. It was easy to see how someone could fall onto the tracks so I wouldn't want to be waiting on the platform at the front of a crowd.

 I'm not sure what this tree was about except the little table to the right had a place to donate for art.

We were on our own for lunch at the food court on the lower level of Grand Central.  I ordered a lunch special of small Caesar salad and half a pastrami sandwich, and the meat was piled high on a small bun.  The station is beautiful and its 100th anniversary was celebrated in February.  As I found at the Port Authority a few years ago, there is no seating on the main concourse if you have to wait.

Next we were off to Radio City Music Hall for a backstage tour.  Rehearsal was taking place for tonight's live airing of America's Got Talent so we were not allowed to take photographs of the stage.  All I could have told you was that we watched some guys jumping rope, but my daughter later told me they are the Chicago Boys.  The judges weren't there, but the emcee was.  We saw some of the wonderful Rockette costumes and met a Rockette.  Like many of these places, they take your photo - talk about feeling short and dumpy next to a Rockette!!

 Surrounded by tall buildings.

This is a display model of the stage and the workings beneath.

 

Looking down on the lobby.

 We also toured the Gentlemen's and Ladies' Lounges. The lounge was so comfortable, and we all seemed to be wearing out. The guide had to come back and get us going again.  The wallcovering in the Gent's lounge is leather.

The little foot pedal between the sinks in the Ladies' is to operate the hand dryer.

Next we are off to Rockefeller Center.  St. Patrick's Cathedral is nearby.  I walked the two blocks or so on my own and didn't get turned around or lost!!  We had driven past the Cathedral the other day so I knew it was covered with scaffolding.  What I didn't expect was the scaffolding inside as well.  They are doing a 4 year renovation.  Still the altar area was open and beautiful.

I left the church and found the Atlas statue just across the street.

Back at Rockefeller Center I saw the plaque where the annual Christmas tree is placed.  The ice skating rink is filled with eateries and umbrella covered tables in the summer.

 

 

 

 The Rockefeller Building where we went to the Top of the Rock

 NBC news just up the street.

 

Dinner was a B. Smith's restaurant.  An African-American model from the South who brought Southern cooking to NYC.  It wasn't Southern food I think of, but it was very good.  I ordered Swamp Thang (that is not a misspelling) - Shrimp, scallops, and crawfish in a Dijon sauce over Southern greens.  The seafood was quite good - greens weren't my 'thang'.  Dessert was Mocha Mousse - yum.

 

 

And now we are off to see Cinderella at the Broadway Theater.  I wasn't sure about this particular choice, but it was fantastic!  Some of the costume changes onstage had us scratching our heads asking, 'How did they do that'.  Great show.

This was a smooth day.