Our tour host then got on board and we were off - our first stop being Broadway where out tour guide, Lin, showed us some of the best Theatres around (one of which Gena went to see yesterday) and then straight off Broadway into Times Square. It looks the same as in Movies and TV Shows. Everywhere you look is masses of huge flat-screens on every building, people walking everywhere, I even got an overpriced picture with either a man or a woman Statue of Liberty.
You see it all in Times Square
Family photo time
No show without Punch
Our bus driver picked us up and took us to Central Park, 1.3 square miles (3.41 square km's) of parkland in the Centre of New York City. It is quite a site and Central Park is designed, so that it seems twice the size when you are inside the park looking out of it. We saw John Lennon's old apartment (where Yoko Ono still lives) and then went to his memorial in the park.
The building where John Lennon lived - he was killed at the entrance here returning from a recording session
About 200m from his home (in Central Park) is this tribute to John Lennon
The top level of the building is still occupied by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono
We got back on the bus and the next thing we drove past was Rich Man's Square, with Trump Tower where you can pick up an apartment for $80,000,000 - $100,000,000 and then go down and get some Sushi at the local restaurant at the price of $500 per person. We then stopped at St. Patricks Cathedral, and although I'm not a catholic, that is one kick-ass church! The place is huge, and the attention to detail wows you.
The famous double doors of Saint Patrick's Cathedral - it takes 2 men to open each door
Across the road from the Cathedral is the Rockerfeller Plaza. There is a bronze statue of the Greek God 'Atlas' holding the world on his shoulders here.
Next on the agenda was the English Channel, the walkway between the British Empire Building and the French Le Maison Francaise Building, which leads you to the 30 Rockefeller Plaza (known locally as '30 Rock'). After 30 Rock we saw what is called the 'Flat Iron' a famous triangular building (quite like the Godfather house in SF), where Broadway & 5th Avenue intersect. I think that's what's missing in Melbourne, some triangle buildings?
The Flat Iron - how good would a building like this look in Melbourne?
For lunch we stopped at Madison Square Gardens, a nice little area filled with small Cafés, Pizzerias, Gelato shops and Coffee Houses. A nice part of the city where a lot of workers seemed to head for their lunch. From here we were taken to a part of the city that didn't look too interesting but turned into a great spot for viewing one of New York City's iconic buildings.
The Empire State Building
It was nearing the end of our tour as we drove to Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Centre, the Twin Towers, and 9/11. I can't imagine what it's going to be like there tomorrow as it is the 11 year anniversary of this attack on our freedom and liberty. Already it is packed there with Police from many countries and other mourners of the 2983 people that died on that day. We went up in the World Financial Centre over the road for an aerial view of the 2 new buildings under construction and the 3 current WTC buildings along with the site of where the North & South Tower once stood, which now has waterfalls in their place.
Lin and Genna then both got off, Lin lived nearby and she was showing Genna which Subway to take to get to Flushing Meadows, home of the U.S Open (more about that later on). Our bus driver then took us to the New Jersey Port Authority, where we catching the ferry to Ellis Island.
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This is the view of Manhattan from New Jersey
Honestly I didn't enjoy the exhibits at Ellis Island - even though we had an audio tour - the main exhibit was an empty room and you had to imagine it filled with immigrants from all different countries. I think the early start made that impossible.
Ellis Island did however provide some great views of the Manhattan skyline
Statue of Liberty from the Ferry
This photo is here because as Bluey was taking it, the wind picked up & blew his Jets hat overboard.
I honestly thought he was going to jump overboard to get it back.
You don't often get this view. It appears (bottom right) that she is wearing runners?
We took an audio tour here as well though this one was a lot more interesting. As they have been renovating the statue, there has been a lot of copper & iron replaced. Instead of disposing of it, it has all been recycled and it is being re-used in an artistic way with different art pieces getting made for show on the island. One piece that caught our eye was a massive chopper made from the Copper and Iron - with Liberty heads all over it - made by Orange County Choppers (TV Show American Chopper) which looked great.
Once we were finished, we got back on the boat and back to Jersey and on the walk back to the bus we walked through the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial, showing everyone from New Jersey that died at the WTC, the Pentagon and Shanktown, PA (Flight 93).
Looking West through the New Jersey 9/11 memorial
Looking East with a couple of pieces of steel taken from the Ground Zero sight
Now, back to Genna and the US Open. True to her word, Lin sent Genna in the right direction and had her on the right subway and arriving at Flushing Meadow. With some modifications, Genna took along our sign to try to get herself on TV back in Oz as we had done yesterday. Genna was there in plenty of time for the 4.00pm final, so, as she does, had a bit of a mooch around to get a feel of everything tennis in NY. Finally, the match was under way and quite quickly the sun was disappearing - which for anyone who knows Genna knows that this is not a good thing. By the time the first ended, a change of seats was definitely required and Genna, in true Flanigan form, headed to the other side of the stadium (where the sun was) and down a couple of sections. As she was looking around, Genna heard a voice say, "This seat is free". Not hesitating, Genna sat right down and began to chat with the people that offered up the seat. It was a couple, Rob and Bridgitt who were very happy for Genna to sit there as the lady that was there was apparently off the rails (he, he, and they got Genna in her place). They all hit it off from the start and by all accounts had a great time at what was the equal longest Grand Slam final ever - I guess they got their monies worth? They actually gave Genna a ride to the bus station after the game, just so Genna didn't have to catch the subway by herself - so we knew straight away they were good people. Genna was eventually home just before midnight and despite being buggered (after our 6.30am start) was buzzing after her great day. She had also grabbed Rob & Bridgitt's details and we hope to catch up with them when we return to NY next week.
Tomorrow we are off to Boston, MA for 3 nights before we come back to New York for another 3 nights.
Again, we will add photos when we get time.
~Riley.
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