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.

New York City - Day One, September 8, 2013

My first stop today was the grave of my 7th great grandfather at Old Beck Cemetery in Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania. He died just short of his 75th birthday in 1775.

The drive to New Jersey then began. I know there are those who drive over the speed limit, but really! They don't even slow down for work zones. I am not one for freeways to begin with. It was also a very rough ride. 

I stopped for my ticket at the New Jersey Turnpike and thought I had it made. Suddenly signs appeared - one said north and one said south. My mind doesn't work that fast!! Of course, I chose wrong and ended up at MetLife Stadium as fans were showing up for the football game! Surprisingly, there were enough streets to get around it. 

Back on track and then road construction with traffic down to one lane for awhile. Lanes had to merge and no one wants a camper in front of them! 

I call this a tour, but since we park our rigs and do not drive, this is considered a rally.  It is by Fantasy RV Tours.  The rally hosts were greeting people at the entrance of the Liberty Marina and RV Park and assigning sites. I find it so interesting how often I am told they are parking me near the bath house - I never set foot in them. Basically, this is a parking lot. I have the back of a fifth wheel no more than 4 feet from my dinette window!

Some are already complaining of the low voltage. Mine was 113 when I hooked up. I later plugged in my autoformer which boosts the voltage - now 123. Needed the air conditioner!! This place is $80 a night, but it is the only game in town. 

The two host couples (Wagonmaster and Tailgunner) are very nice. One couple lives near Buffalo, New York, and the other is from Eastern Washington. There is a casual restaurant on the property where we had our orientation and an early dinner included with the tour. A small glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.

The bus picked us up at 5 with the walk-on guide. I will be so tired of listening to her before this is over as she stumbles over what she wants to say, repeats herself, complains, etc.  It had been announced at the orientation that a second row seat would be reserved for a person who suffers from motion sickness.  Before the day was over, we had two more who also have motion sickness.  Hmmm.

 

Taking photos through a bus window and at night does not always make for the sharpest photos.

We drove through Hoboken, NJ - which is where my great-grandmother stayed with her brother when she first came from Germany as a teenager.

We stopped at Hamilton Park for a view across the Hudson River of NYC. s  That tall structure is the new World Trade Center #1.  Near here was the spot Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr fought their duel. This is also the area of the Hudson where the pilot safely landed the airplane a few years ago.

 

Next through the Lincoln Tunnel, 90 feet under water.

Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center).

From one side you could see Central Park.

The other side had the Empire State Building and the new World Trade Center Tower  to the right.

Radio City Music Hall is just across the street.

Times Square - Sunday night it is reportedly not as crowded, but people were still dodging each other. All the lighted, changing, flashing billboards just sort of take your breath away - so many ads to read.

 

 

 

 

The countdown to the Superbowl to be held here is underway.

 

 

Back to the park via the Holland Tunnel.

May 5-7 - Maui Rainbow and Mt. St. Helens crater

The last two days on Maui were dreary!  We woke to this rainbow on our next to last day...

 

After flying back to beautiful, dry, warm Seattle on May 6, I had an early flight to California on May 7.  What a change as that morning was very cloudy.  However, once we got above the clouds, all the beautiful mountains were visible!  Mt. Rainier and Mt.Adams were there but I was shooting directly into the sun :(

 

However, flying over the crater of Mt. St. Helens was a thrill!!



These two photos show where the lava flowed out of the crater - and the pretty fluffy clouds. 



'Twas a grand trip!!

The flowers, etc - Maui, Part 3

                                                                                                                     

 

 

These are ceramic koi in a tiled pool at Whaler's Village (shopping center)