Day 3
Monday, 9th June
Across the water and high, high places
We slept well, but not for as long as we might've liked, thanks to the slight jetlag! We were all down to breakfast before 8:00am and what a breakfast it was! The excellent buffet had plenty of appetising choice, including sausage patties (like burgers), bacon, scrambled egg, lovely fried potatoes with peppers, loads of rolls and Danish, and fruit. Really, really nice - I was so glad that we had chosen this hotel!
We phoned Dad and then hailed a taxi, outside the hotel, which took us right down to Lower Manhattan, the Financial District, to the World Trade Center Site. Actually, the taxi driver dropped us off at the right spot, but we didn't realise that and walked, just about, all the way around, before we found the Tribute WTC Visitor Center. It was very emotional in there, with all the photos of the victims; all those 'missing' messages, possessions and one of the planes' windows. I did not want to take any photographs in there; it would've been disrespectful.
building a new center
We walked down to Battery Park and sat down by the river for a while, opposite the Colgate factory, but it was so hot that we got a cab to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, where we all bought hats!
It was absolutel mayhem inside the terminal! Fortunately, we didn't have too long to wait for the 11:30am 'sailing', but the place was packed like sardines! On the ferry, we sat on the top deck and had magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty as we passed it.
Staten Island itself wasn't too welcoming-seeming and, as it was very hot (96 in NYC today), we were soon back, waiting in the terminal for the ferry back to Manhattan! We bought some lunch in the terminal and enjoyed looking at the spectacular aquariums in there. On the return trip, we sat on the other side of the ferry and it was extremely pleasant and relaxing. That we crash-docked into the bollards was unfortunate, but nobody was hurt!!
From Lower Manhattan, we took at taxi up to the Rockefeller Center. The taxi driver said that he knew people who had enjoyed the view from the Top of the Rock, but that it was too high for him! It was too high for Paul too and he opted out. So, we agreed to meet afterwards, at the Rockefeller Plaza, and Terry and I set off to the TOTR! We had to hang around for the obligatory tourist photo (still waiting for our copy), but, after that, we went straight to the elevator, without having to watch a movie, which I had read we might have to. The elevator was cool - there were lasers lighting the way to the top!! There were 3 levels at the top, and we did manage to go up to each; each getting even higher and each producing a higher feeling of fear in me! But I managed to control my fear of heights and enjoyed the wonderful views over Central Park, one side - and down to the Empire State Building (which we decided not to go up) and the Statue of Liberty.
at least he wasn't wearing socks!
We finally found Paul and we walked back to out hotel. We nearly melted in the heat!! After a long rest, we phoned Nick and then went down for supper, which was very good. Nice salade Nicoise, chicken nugget things, dips, carrots, celery, mini quiches and soft drinks (wine if you wanted it).
We walked down to Herald Square and Macys; another mercifully short walk! The NYC Macy's is the largest department store in the world, and we explored it for ages! It went back so far and up so high, we got quite lost. But didn't buy a thing.
From here, we walked along 34th Street for a while, passing the Empire State Building, but it was still so hot that we returned to the hotel, via the McDonalds! What a very busy, very enjoyable day!
sunset on 34th Street
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[ Introduction ]
[ Day 1 ]
[ Day 2 ]
[ Day 3 ]
[ Day 4 ]
[ Day 5 ]
[ Day 6 ]
[ Day 7 ]
[ Day 8 ]
[ Day 9 ]
[ Day 10 ]
[ Day 11 ]
[ Day 12 ]
[ Day 13 ]
[ Day 14 ]
[ Day 15 ]
[ Day 16 ]
[ Day 17 ]
[ Day 18 ]
[ Day 19 ]
[ Day 20 ]
[ Day 21 ]
[ Day 22 ]
[ Day 23 ]
[ Day 24 ]
[ Day 25 ]
[ Day 26 ]
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