Part 6 - New York City

Niagara Falls Canada to New York

then to the Top of the Rock

Its a Taxi to Buffalo in the USA, about an hours trip for our flight. So having negotiated customs we make it to the airport. After a very comfortable flight of just under an hour, we arrived at La Guardia airport in New York City. Our bags were out in record time, and quickly a little chap came along with a trolley and whisked us away to the taxi area. And so our first ride in a yellow cab to our hotel. We were too early to check in so our bags were stored for us, and we set off to explore.

We walked down 7th Avenue to Times Square, and saw the lights and the 2015 ball above the clock. It was extremely packed with people, sightseeing buses and cabs! Even in the daylight the neon lights were quite a sight.

We strolled a bit further, crossed over and walked back up 7th Avenue to our hotel, enjoying the many sights and unusual behaviour and dress, or lack of it, of people in New York. An interesting first taste of the Big Apple.

After checking in and a rest, as well as sorting out clothes and magnets, we went back down 7th Avenue and had dinner in the worlds largest TGI Fridays.

After this we headed down West 50th Street to the Rockefeller Centre, where we got tickets for the Observation Deck. We waited for our time slot, 10:25pm and off we went, up in the lift to the top. The views across the night sky of New York were absolutely spectacular, and we were able to identify many of the landmarks. The Empire State Building was the star of the show, clearly standing out in the night sky, which we hope the pictures will show. It was getting towards midnight so we thought it was time to go back to our hotel, just 10 minutes walk away. A tiring first day.

New York - Day 2 including the Uptown tour

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Our first full day in New York City started rather late due to the past midnight finish from going up to the Top of the Rock. After breakfast in a local cafe we exchanged our tour bus voucher for tickets and off we went on the Uptown tour.

This in many respects was a massive circle around Central Park which is 7 miles long and 2 miles wide. We went up 5th Avenue to the park passing many of the Columbia University buildings and churches. Past the apartment block where John Lennon was murdered on the steps outside and up past the "worlds largest natural history" museum, and onto St Johns Cathedral.

This cathedral is huge although they say it's not finished. We also went past the Memorial building and resting place of  Ulysses Grant.

We then continued making our way through Harlem and down through Malcolm X avenue. This whole area now is very much Afro American, although the level of crime in the daytime is greatly reduced, not somewhere to walk around at night.

We continue back towards the Southern end and we are then in one of the richest Real estate areas in the world where in the 19th century wealthy business men / politicians built their mansions, including Rockafella, Van Der Bilt, Aster, Carnegie etc.. Many of these are now Foreign Embassy's or museums.

We reach the Southern end past very posh and expensive hotels into 7th Avenue. We go past the Carnegie Hall on our LHS and our hotel Park Central on the RHS. We learn Fidel Castro stayed at the hotel as well as much of the Godfather was filmed here. We continue down 7th ave, to the bright lights of Times Square, always quite a site, Piccadilly Circus X 10! This brings the trip to an end. Interesting tour

A bit of shopping and then tea at Planet Hollywood, where there were lots of props and costumes from many films decorating the walls and ceiling. Now to the Night Tour.

This started, and ended at Times Square. It took us past the Empire State Building, and onto downtown Manhattan, Chinatown, Greenwich Village and over the Manhattan Bridge - as commercial vehicles are not allowed on the Brooklyn Bridge.

On into Brooklyn with fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline, which by this time was twinkling in the dark sky. The journey back to Times Square was full of lit skyscraper buildings, particularly the Empire State Building that had blue, purple and white lights at the top that made it look even more spectacular. We think this was to celebrate the graduation of students from New York University.

New York - Day 3

Downtown bus tour. The weather wasn't brilliant, a bit overcast but warm and humid. The bus route was similar to the start of our night time tour, passing the Empire State Building, Chinatown, 5th Avenue and then into the Financial District, Union Square, Wall Street, Woolworth's Building and then finishing at Battery Park, the end of Manhattan Island. 

Looking back to the skyscrapers of the financial district we had a wonderful view of the new One World Trade Centre Building. Although rather poignantly the gap is still very clear where the Twin Towers were prior to 9/11 2001. This new building and the gap still dominates the area and skyline.

We then walked down towards the Hudson River to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Immigration halls, Staten Island and New Jersey.

In this area there was also a little park which had a sculpture in it which was taken out of the ruins of one of the Trade Centre buildings where it once stood, a very poignant memorial to all the people who were killed.

We walked back down to Battery Park and around to Pier 11 on the East River, which was opposite Governors Island and Brooklyn.

We caught the River Taxi from Pier 11 and had a fantastic 90 minute tour. We passed in front of the Brooklyn Bridge and out into New York Bay to the Statue of Liberty, and the boat floated close to this and Ellis Island so we could take some good photos. Floating here, along with the trip to and from this point, gave us a good opportunity to view, and photograph, the Lower Manhattan skyline as well as the Brooklyn skyline and New Jersey skyline. We then went up the River to Pier 79, which is half way between Uptown and Downtown Manhattan. We then completed the round trip by returning to Pier 11.

We then decided to go for another new experience and catch the Subway back to 7th Avenue and 59th Street, right by our hotel. We made it with no hiccups, although it did get very crowded as it was rush hour!

New York - Day 4 

Empire State Building and Central Park

Today we woke to a sunny, bright New York and not nearly as muggy as yesterday, which was great. We started off with crepes for breakfast and then went a short way on the downtown tour, as far as the Empire State Building. Our visit to this iconic tower took far longer than expected. First we went through the Art Deco lobby and up an escalator, then through security (airport style) followed by queuing for tickets. The whole process of then getting to see anything was elongated by various queues as we went through lots of different areas, with explanations about the building of the tower etc. We also did the Sky Ride, which was the first simulation ride ever produced, in the early 90s. This was quite clever, but is now showing its age and we were quite glad that we hadn't had to pay the $42 each extra for this. 

We then took the lifts, first of all to the 80th floor which was as far as the lifts went when it was first built, and they were the highest in the world at that time. We then went in a further lift up another 6 floors to the outside Observation deck. The views from here were stunning, as we could see all of New York and for many miles beyond.

Our final part was another lift up to the 102nd floor - right at the top, inside a smallish observation area, where the views were even more spectacular. It was well worth going the extra floors. After a good look around, enjoying the views, and again via 3 lifts, and a couple of gift shops we descended to ground level.

Late afternoon we got back on the downtown tour and did the full circuit of this, going through the same area as yesterday to start with. Following on from Battery Park we made our way back up Manhattan through rush hour traffic, which was very slow going, although quite interesting. The tour guide on this bus was excellent and more informative and amusing than most, and he was a native New Yorker!

We got off the bus at Central Park and found the Horse and Carriage. We had a very pleasant 45 minute carriage tour of Central Park. The Park is surprisingly undulating and a lot of bare rock showing. This green park was full of people running, exercising, talking, cycling, carriage riding or just enjoying a lovely warm evening. A very nice end to the day.

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The sun really is shining down on us in the Big Apple, as we awoke to another sunny day which became hotter as the day  progressed.

After breakfast we took the tour bus for the last time as our tickets ran out today, down to Battery Park, bottom of Manhattan, a slow journey due to the traffic, especially yellow Cabs.

We quite quickly got our tickets, went through the security and on the boat to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close!

We decided months ago not to go inside the statue, good choice with the heat today. We walked around the island enjoying a number of views of the statue taking photos as we went, of course.... In the distance we had good views over Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staton Island and New Jersey

We then queued up to get off the Island, not too bad, about 20 minutes and caught the boat to Ellis Island. Up until 1954 Ellis Island was the immigration way into the USA. We saw the huge room where the immigrants were processed and the way they were treated. In the late 19th century separated by metal cages, then early 20th long, long lines of benches for up to 5000 people to sit on to wait their turn for a medical and a tough interview with the immigration officials on the island. To get into the USA became tougher as the years went by. It felt like people were definitely being herded like sheep.

Outside there are literally hundreds of metal panels, with the list of all those who passed through Ellis Island and onto their new life in the U.S. They say approximately 40% of U.S. Citizens can trace a relative back to immigration via Ellis Island, hence the multi cultural society.

The whole tour took about 6 hours, and getting there and back plus a bit of a walk and drink at the Battery Park area took up the day. We went back to our hotel on the Subway.

New York Day 6 - Evening Clipper Boat trip

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We awake again to a glorious hot sunny day. After breakfast we head for Grand Central Station by Subway. What a station! It is huge, so high inside and very ornate. We walk through a massive area which is just not in use, and onto the concourse, which has balconies either end, no shops on the concourse, rather many of the platforms leading off it and also either end access to shops and the Dining hall which are on the floor below. Further platforms are below this.

We go outside to meet the people who are going to take us on the Bronx walking tour. We book in and wait, We head by subway for the southern Bronx. We look at a few murals although decide not to continue with the tour... Good to say we have been to the Bronx and seen a little of it, certainly been modernised and changed from the late 60s/70s images.

Back on the subway we hop off at the New York Yankee stadium, baseball, and have a look around the outside and their shop

Late afternoon we then head down through Manhattan to Battery Park, have something to eat and watch all the activity in the New York harbour, which is a constant movement of pleasure boats, ferries and commercial traffic. The sunset over the bay is also a very pretty sight

About 9pm we head for the Clipper boat, Clipper City, we have booked a late evening cruise on. As we get onto the boat there is a firework display on Staten Island which entertains whilst we await to set sail.  We set off at about 9:30pm and for the next hour and a half cruise around New York Bay, with the sails up on this two mast clipper. The sights are fantastic with the Manhattan skyline with the skyscraper lights, New Jersey skyline the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and Brooklyn all lit up and providing a fabulous landscape. Then of course there is the Statue of Liberty all lit up and looking magnificent. A lovely cruise loads of photos taken and a very relaxing end to the day.

We go back to the hotel via the subway, chatting to a local on route. It's about midnight when we get to the rooms.

New York - Day 7 - 

New Jersey, Carlos Bakery and central NY

Another lovely sunny day beckons as we set off, breakfast in a very local shop and then down into the subway heading for Hoboken, New Jersey and Carlos Bakery. (Famous for its TV series).

We find the bakery, go in, and are greeted with this fantastic array of confectionary, beautifully presented and lots of people in there to buy these tempting cakes..... Beautiful cakes purchased and then eaten, very light and tasty....

So off we went and walked down to the Hudson River, as Hoboken is opposite Manhattan. We had fabulous views across the river and certainly the Empire State Building stood out, tall and regal! We walk quite a long way up beside the Hudson River, enjoying the Hoboken river front, with its paths and no doubt very expensive apartments.

We catch the NY Waterways ferry across the river. These ferries don't hang about and very soon docked and off back in Manhattan and walking up to the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space museum, which is based around the U.S. Intrepid Aircraft carrier, a nuclear submarine, with cruise missile on display, Concorde and a space shuttle. We enjoy the aircraft carrier and look at Concorde and the Sub from the outside. Concorde and the Space Shuttle are extra to our passes so we  don't go in them. There are tables and chairs under Concorde to sit on, the most expensive sun shade we have ever had!!!

Onward, after a Taxi ride we arrive at the Empire Diner, a traditional US diner. We enjoy a lovely meal which Rach and Adam treated us too, so it tasted even better!

Our evening stroll after dinner was first of all along the Highline, which was once a raised freight railway track, converted very well into a walk, and garden park, which certainly was popular. The walk was about 20 feet above the street, and in the road gaps we had a lovely sunset over the Hudson River one way and views of Manhattan life on a Saturday evening the other. A pleasant walk for a mile or so, then down to street level and across a couple of blocks to catch the subway to Times Square, a quite corner of NYC, I don't think!!!

We get out and mingle with the large crowd, multicultural is an understatement!! The advertising lights are incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed looking at these in the dark, so different from previous day light visits. We walk through Times Square, 7th Avenue and make our way back to the hotel, about a 15 minute walk. Back in the room exhausted, then down for a quick drink and that's it for another hectic New York day.

New York - Day 8 - including the Rockefeller Centre

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After a lazy start to the day, face timing you all, we stroll down the street to The View, a revolving restaurant on the 47th floor of the Marriott hotel in Times Square, where we had a brunch reservation. This allowed us to stay there for 2 hours and keep returning to the large buffet selection as many times as we wanted to! The views were interesting as they gave a different perspective to much of what we have already seen.

We then went to the Rockefeller Centre to go up to The Top of the Rock again, this time in daylight. Another advantage to the  daylight was that we now knew what a lot of the places and areas we were looking at were. Again when looking down through Manhattan the Empire State Building and the Freedom Tower stood out from the rest of the buildings.

By this time it had clouded over somewhat, so we made our way down and wandered around the front of the building, so that we could see it fully and the rest of the area. Walking back to get some dinner, it started to spit and by the time we had finished it was raining. We were glad we had made our way down before this, as the queues for the lifts would be huge!

New York - Day 9 - Wall Street and Ground Zero

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After a nice breakfast of crepes, we headed downtown, on the subway, to Wall Street. We had booked to go on the walking tour of Wall Street. We met up with our guide very easily and very quickly it became evident he knew his facts and was interesting.

The walk took us around Wall Street, showed us many buildings that were originally used by large companies, such as Axa, Goldmann Sachs etc who have now moved to the Financial District around the World Trade Centre site. We saw the New York Stock Exchange building. The big difference nowadays is that only about 20% of trading is undertaken on the floor as computers have taken this over as well. Surprisingly we also saw the first A la carte restaurant in the City. The tour took us through Broadway in the Financial district, where the Ticker Tape Parades are held, and those who have been honoured with such a Parade have their names in the pavement of this area. The Parades run from Custom House to City Hall.

We then moved over to the World Trade Centre site and saw the very moving memorials of the two reflecting pools in the footprints of the Twin Towers. This area has been very tastefully done as a memorial to the nearly 3000 people that were killed on 9/11/01. The names of all those who lost their lives are engraved around the edge of the tower in which they were killed. Among the newly landscaped area, there is the 'Survivor tree', which was found damaged, but still growing in the wreckage of Ground Zero. It was carefully transplanted, nurtured back to life and has now been replanted in the 9/11 memorial area.

There is further significant building work, including further skyscrapers and a new railway station being erected, along with a lot already completed and occupied. The centrepiece is the Freedom Tower, 1 World Trade Centre.

We then crossed towards the Hudson River and had lunch in Brookfield Place, a very smart public area with skyscrapers built above including the new home of American Express. It was interesting watching the mix of workers from the Financial area and tourists having lunch.

After lunch we went through a posh new subway with long escalators into the Freedom Tower. After the customary security checks we were soon on our way to the 102nd floor. During the ride in the lift there was a film transporting you through time and height as you rose up the building. The first stop was a very high tech film about New York culminating in the unveiling of the view from the top of the Tower. Unfortunately by the time we reached this point the weather had turned wet and misty so the impact was not as great.

The poor weather of course had a detrimental impact on our viewing as can be seen from the pictures. However it did give a completely different concept to viewing Manhattan and the height we were above ground level. We had a good look around at the top for an hour or so, before making our way down.

Walking past the 9/11 memorials and other building work, we headed to the subway and back to our hotel.

After a short rest we had dinner in TGI Fridays and then walked down to Times Square for a final look around and purchasing 2 graffiti art skyline pictures which we commissioned!

We have had a wonderful time in New York, worth the 7 year wait! It certainly is a City with untold things to do and see, and also it never sleeps! However we need to, after we had packed!