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. 

NYC - Day 2 afternoon and evening

This was seen on our way back to the bus after lunch.

 

We crossed the Manhattan Bridge.

To walk off our lunch, we walked half way across the Brooklyn Bridge (and back). That was a treat. I have to say it is embarrassing to be with this group that doesn't get they are blocking sidewalks and walkways so other people can't get by. I can just hear what people are thinking.

 

The role of Emily Warren Roebling in seeing to the completion of this bridge is very interesting and here's a link to her story.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Warren_Roebling

 The building on the left with the spire is new Tower #1.

 Couples bring locks here (and to other places) to declare their love 'forever'.

There is a great ice cream shop under the bridge, and that was our next stop. Yum - butter pecan.

 

 

 This site was an important part of the Revolutionary War as the British entered the harbor with troops outnumbering the American Army.  Fog developed and Washington managed to sneak troops to another waterway.

Katz's Deli is where that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed. I decided before I came here that I wanted a Reuben sandwich. Didn't happen because I wasn't that hungry - and they were something like $16! So I enjoyed a beer and then a piece of New York cheesecake to go.

 

When you walk in, they hand you a ticket.  Whenever you order food or drink, the price is written on the back.  You take your ticket to the cashier when you leave - even if you didn't buy anything.

 

 

 

A model is being photographed on the sidewalk across the street.   For her clothing change, helpers held a blanket around her and she changed right there.

 

More driving around and around. Now remember, I am sitting up front so I am hearing how this guide is planning how to kill time. She keeps telling the poor bus driver over and over that he needs to go as slow as possible! Some of us are feeling sorry for him.

Eventually, we arrive at Pier 17 where we will board a water taxi for a trip to see the Statue of Liberty at night. Oh wait, we are way too early!! We have been passing a trapeze school as we go back and forth from the campground. They have a rig set up at the pier. Now that was fun to watch!! I don't know if these were students or people 'off the street' who paid for the experience. I was fascinated by trapeze artists as a child.

 

Pier 17 has been there 28 years and has several little shops and a restaurant or two. As we are going in, a news reporter is interviewing a young lady. Later we see this reporter 'reporting'. It turns out this is the last day for all the little shops as someone has decided this building should be torn down and replaced with something more modern. Some New Yorkers are not happy.

We now board the water taxi - this was one of the highlights of the tour for me.  What a rough ride as we watch other tours on yacht types sailing by. I had noticed two spotlights pointing upward. As it turns out, they are shining from Ground Zero in memory of the World Trade Center Towers and those lights into the sky are quite impressive. The Statue of Liberty, which looks so small from a distance, was lit up in all her glory - I had only seen her in daylight before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am already in my PJs so when fireworks went off over the water at 9:45 p.m., I only had a peek-a-boo view out the window.  No more fireworks during our stay.



New York City - Day 2, September 9, 2013 through lunch

 

I went out to the bus early enough to get a seat closer to the front – 5th or 6th row.  Because the people in the far back seat really can't see much, it was decided I could sit up behind the driver with the guide. Not bad!

I cannot begin to remember everything this guide tells us! Some things are of more interest than others - I was never a good history student. She does talk about the Dutch settling here and creating New Amsterdam. That is of great interest to me because some of my ancestors were founders - the main one being Resolved Waldron who held different positions including sheriff. Another was Claude Delameter who liked to create a little controversy with his neighbors from time to time.

We did stop to photograph the Flatiron Building - called that because it shape resembles the flatirons of long ago.

 

 

 

Part of this was a walk through a small park where they were filming for a new Comedy Central show.
 

We drove by portions of NYU where my cousin's son is a student. This school has buildings in various places in New York and no dorms at the main campus so they have shuttle buses.  Turns out my cousin’s son lives near Chinatown.

 'In the olden days', the buildings were not constructed so they could support a lot of windows.  Merchants had to bring items to the front of the store for customers to see.  They began 'reinforcing' buildings with iron supported fronts - thus the pillars.  Not a good photo, but perhaps you can get an idea.  There were better examples so it would have been good to be able to get off the bus.

There are many water tanks on the roofs of buildings.   Potable water is pumped up to the tanks and then is gravity fed.  I need to remember to ask why - she didn't go that far.

A church off Canal Street that I would love to see inside.

Then we drove to Chinatown arriving way before our noon lunch reservation. This is only my second RV tour, and I know they need to leave some breathing room, but killing time isn't fun when there really isn't anything around to do. I did go across the street to a the Transfiguration Catholic Church which holds Masses in Chinese, English, Mandarin and Cantonese!

 

The school

 

 

While we waited, a funeral procession passed by. The first vehicle had a large portrait of the deceased surrounded by flowers and the bed of the vehicle was filled with flowers.

The Peking Duck House on Mott Street was fantastic - guess it was worth the waiting around. First was the egg drop soup. Then a spring roll and a sausage in a pastry of some sort. We watched as they carved the duck and arranged it with sauce and vegetables on something that resembled a tortilla making a wrap. Now we are all thinking this is great and not a lot of food. Wrong! They slowly brought out the rice, sweet and sour chicken, a beef dish, some wonderful prawns, a veggie dish, followed by a deep fried banana for dessert.