day eighteen - a bridge, a bagel, a bus and boston

An awesome way to end our time in New York was with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning. We took the subway into Manhattan and walked across to Brooklyn. It was grey, overcast and very muggy but there was a slight breeze off the river which made it perfect.

We got back to Brooklyn by 11.30 and sorted out our cases. Then we had to make our second trip uptown to Penn Station, walk up 8 blocks, to catch our bus to Boston. All this was not before having the best ever iced coffee (thanks Jaye) and buying a bagel for lunch. I can't believe that this was my first iced coffee and bagel since landing in the USA. We still have until Sunday before heading to Canada, so best I stock up.

The Megabus is great, more roomy and comfortable seats than an airplane, a table, free wifi (but my charger is not working for some reason). For $22 for two for a four and a half hour trip, it is excellent value.

I received this SMS this morning:-

Gareth Rosslee

I can't wait to hear Michael's account of this trip!

Lugged a huge suitcase, watched a musical,

waited for Jen to put make-up on,

got another photo taken of me in my sleep!

Hehee

Love you 

Love you too, Gareth

So we should be in Boston in about an hour. We are about to enter the turnpike - Sweet Baby James - James Taylor "So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston" - I digress...

Pictures from today 

My battery did die. We found our way to where we were being collected by Derek and Judy and were taken down to the south side of Boston for a walk along the promenade. This was followed by a lovely meal at Summer Shack - clam chowder, a lobster roll and a Sam Adams lager (you can't get more Bostonian than that)

It is late. 

Michael sleeps...

A quiet day is planned for tomorrow. We need to do laundry. Urgently.

I need to sleep...

day seventeen- quite a day

The weather was warm and muggy. I changed about three times before we left because we were heading out for the morning and then going straight to the theatre. In the end the smart (smarter) shoes and shirt were put into the rucksack and the coolest t-shirt worn.

We were meeting friends of my brother, Andrew and Henriette in the park. I haven't seen them since David got married and  I was wanting to meet their daughters, Henriette heard we were in New York and messaged me and what a better place to meet than Central Park. This time we entered on the Columbus Circle side after finding Hans at Wholefoods. Caroline had come along too.  It was 11 in the morning and it was all happening. A wedding, a baseball game, a hawk trying to catch a squirrel for breakfast, ice cream trucks, children, cyclists, runners, prams and a Boston terrier!

We found the Foster family and after a delicious iced coffee (my new favourite) we wandered towards the fountain and boathouse. We were sidetracked by a very entertaining hip-hop group and The Bubble Man. The cherry on the top was a ride on a carousel. I have never been on one and this was a huge one that big people were allowed to sit on. Great fun.

It was time to say goodbye and we headed off down Broadway to see our show. More goodbyes on a street corner to Hans who was heading back to Holland in the evening. Caroline set off to her show. Time Square was heaving in the heat. It felt like a storm was brewing and it was a relief to get into the cool theatre. I joined the very long queue for the ladies and received some funny looks for taking off my slops and giving my feet a rub down with wet wipes (best invention ever) before putting on my proper shoes. A quick change in the toilet and I was ready.

Our tickets were on the top balcony, two rows from the front and right in the middle. Perfect view except once the show started, the people in the front row moved forward to rest on the rail. This bothered Michael a bit but I ended up sitting forward in my seat for the whole show.

Les Miserables and Phantom were powerful and moving shows which have always topped my list and I have seen them both twice - both once in London and then in Cape Town. This experience was completely different. The story was beautifully told and took me back to another era. The set was amazing and the Gershwin music and bandstand vibe brought back memories of my dad and his records played on the Pioneer music centre in his flat in Pirt Elizabeth. 

The leading man, Robert Fairchild, a ballet dancer now actor and singer, was gorgeous and totally charming. Lise, the leading lady was just beautiful. Everything was perfect and having two young guys, dressed smartly in suits, also sitting on the edge of their seats next to me made me more in the moment than ever. It's been a long time since I have become totally engrossed and 100% focused on something and the end of the show had me looking for more wet wipes as I was a mess. Getting a bit soft in the head when you cry in a musical.

After the show we were out on to the pavement again.  The steamy heat and the thousands of people on Times Square sucked us in. Still no rain. It was also my opportunity to lead Michael by the hand to Sephora to re-apply some make up. This store is amazing and everyone seems to there just helping themselves to a free makeover. Yves St Laurent was my brand of choice and I acted like all the others and tested colors, applied foundation, eye shadow and mascara while Michael stood patiently next to the lipsticks. This is something I would never do at home but "when in Rome...." I left there feeling like Lise in the show but after five minutes in the subway, it had melted off. I tried. 

We found our way back to Brooklyn (only one wrong turn) dropped our stuff at the apartment and then went off to Chris, Jaye and Theo for supper. Another lovely evening with family and stories, a pretty strong gin and tonic and wine.

Joanna, Michael and I walked the 10 big blocks home with a couple of big rain drops trying hard to cool us down (but never really succeeding).  It was great walking through this colorful neighborhood. People sitting on fire escapes to cool down, loud music coming from houses, coming from cars, coming at you through headphones in people's ears as they walk past you. There were dudes on huge shining home-made bikes with matching helmets, a gas barbecue and party on the pavement (they are big pavements), police sirens and fire engines, a Hasidic Jewish family in full dress heading home. This place has it all and I felt like I was on the set of Moonstruck. 

Another awesome and full day.

Once again I have woken up early, I have sorted out some pictures on my phone and realized I did not take enough photos yesterday. This morning we want to walk Brooklyn Bridge, we have to pack our bags and get to the bus station. We head to Boston this afternoon for the second last leg of the journey.

Time does fly when you are having fun...

and some of us sleep...

Pictures from yesterday

Central Park

The lovely Henriette and Caitlin

Andrew and his girls

How cute is this munchkin?

The Fountain

More park

The Carousel

A date at The Palace

Times Square

A car with a statue of the workers in that famous New York photograph

day sixteen - saturday in pictures

The weather was perfect. Michael and I caught the subway at 9.30 to head off to meet Hans at the start of the Highline Walk. Timing wa sperfect and it was so good to see The Cheerful Flying Dutchman again.

The Highline was busy. It is an our railway line that ran from the meat packing district to the harbor. Chris told me that he did the walk years ago when the line was still all bare and the place was a mess covered in weeds. What great use they have made of this area.

Plants everywhere

Music videos being filmed

Some shady parts

Graffiti wire art

Views into the city down each avenue

Michael and Jenny were there

We walked the entire walk and then headed down 34th Street into town. Hans bought us lunch

A delicious turkey wrap for me and a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for Michael 

Hans suggested having our lunch in Bryant Park. Would we refuse?

Being the weekend, and a beautiful day, girls were on the lawns in bikinis, there was a juggling convention showing their skills on the lawn and the tables were filled with people enjoying their lunches in this beautiful park.

We had arranged to meet the girls at the ferry to Governors Island, where we were going to have a look at Jon's art studio (Jon is married to Joanna and we are staying with them).

The ferry pulls out of the dock

There were tall ships and cruise boats

Did I mention that Hans is in New York?

How about this for a view from the studio?

Unfortunately, the pictures of his work are all on my camera so you will have to wait to see them. This is the first book of his works. Amazing stuff

We took a walk around the island. So many trees, lawns, play areas for children and two forts, much like the castle in Cape Town. There was a poetry event going on and i stopped briefly to listen to a young girl reading a couple of her poems in a most emotional and moving way. Pretty hectic.

The City in the distance. It is only a five minute ferry ride across the water

View from the island

We caught the 5 o'clock ferry back and stopped off close to Wall Street for a much needed drink

In this awesome old  lane with cobbled street and those old buildings with exposed fire escapes. 

and fairy lights high above the tables 

We could have hung around there forever

but we had a dinner date with Joanna and Jon and the one round of 4 pints and a cider and the 20% American tip put Michael back R633, so we had to say goodbye

Heading for the subway at just after 6, the light on the buildings was amazing

We said goodbye to Hans and headed back to Brooklyn. The two J's had prepared an amazing meal, we had bought some beers and wine (a very acceptable Chilean SB on the 'cheap and cheerful' table at the bottle store for the not so cheap price of R172). The others were drinking gin and tonics and beers, so when I tiptoe through to the kitchen, I am going to have to take a peek in the fridge and see just how much of the wine I had enjoyed. It was a great evening with lots of laughs and Jon conducting some very in depth interviews with multiple choice questions on everyone's relationships. A great day all round.

Oops...

This morning we are going to meet friends of my brother, Andrew and Henriette, in Central Park. They live in New York and have two daughters who I have not yet met. Then it is to Broadway to see An American in Paris. George Gerswin music, dancing and some of my father's favourite songs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/theater/review-an-american-in-paris-a-romance-of-song-and-step.html?_r=0

Caroline, Jaye and Joanna are also off to see a show and then we are having supper with Chris, Jaye and Theo tonight.

It is a bit early to make a noise in the shower but I am restless and cannot believe that we leave New York tomorrow afternoon. Michael lies silently asleep beside me. How does he do it?

Sending love and hugs from New York

day fifteen - it's all happening

Good morning from New York. 

A late start for me today. I slept until 4.20 today so a tad later than usual. We had a great day yesterday. Michael, Caroline and I headed to Grand Central Terminal at around 9.30. It was a good idea for us to get our bearings and check where we were due to meet at 12.30. A bit of travel advice - Check the dates on any reviews on Tripadvisor. Instructions were to meet at the Whitney Museum at 12.30. We found it on the map and could not believe it could be five blocks away (five New York blocks are big blocks). We were just deciding whether to make our way there when Caroline found someone who knew about where these tours met. Just over the road from the station and the site of the old museum. We had nearly two hours to spare so made our way up to the Public Library and Bryant Park. My favourite spot on my last visit is still my favourite spot. It was a glorious day so we wandered around, watching the chess players, table tennis enthusiasts and children on the carousel. I had to show Caroline the toilets (voted 'Best Public Toilet in New York' on Tripadvisor (why should we believe them?). Well thanks to Tripadvisor there was now a queue running out onto the pavement. It was worth the wait though. Shucks there is something wrong with me if I can get excited about a public toilet in New York (but I do) and I took a picture (or four).

We stopped in at a couple of shops on 5th Avenue and then made our way back to the meeting spot. Our tour guide was Maddy - a New Yorker who had a voice like The Nanny and was enthusiastic and loud. It was nearly a two hour 'free tour', was very interesting and also incorporated buildings in the area and their history.

After the tour we met Joanna (at Bryant Park). We bought ourselves a baguette for lunch and then made our way to Central Park. Now I am not too good on East and West but we decided to explore the side that we had not done before (opposite to the more popular fountain and Strawberry Fields side). I think we could have started north?

We had a great walk (at least 10kms), past the public pool and through some forest and along the road with cyclists and runners everywhere. The reservoir had great views of the city and we found the Conservatory Garden (which was wonderful), we sat and had a well earned rest and a Coke, some nuts (and a few Oat Cakes from our St Andrews picnic). It was after 4.30 and still really hot (but not muggy - just perfect) and was time to make our way back down 5th Avenue to meet Jaye and Theo. Theo is gorgeous and was worth waiting for. We met them on Union Square - my word this square opens your eyes to so much. Drug addicts (all with dogs), the greatest selection of man buns and cross dressers, a wonderful children's park with amazing equipment and, just generally, the most diverse bunch of people in one place that I have ever seen. Sadly, I was too overwhelmed to even take a picture.

It was then supper time and time to meet Chris. We had an enormous meal (we really should have shared) at a Greek restaurant near Washington Sqaure. After supper (and a pint), we made our way down to Washington Square through Greenwhich Village. It was a balmy night and the square was humming. A couple were in the fountain singing love songs to each other, children were trying to catch catapult spinning top lights that shoot into the sky, some sand art, a marimba band, poignant messages in chalk being written on ground, puppets, old couples holding hands and dancing (not Michael and I, this time). I could have spent the night there but it was getting late and time to head home. Some were yawning (not me).

Home and bedtime. I had received a message from Hans who had arrived in New York from Holland. Joanna gave me advice on where we should meet tomorrow. We are goving to walk the High Line and 'hang out'. He knows New York well. It is always great when he gets to Cape Town and it is going to be fun to spend time together in this incredible city. 

Not sure what else today has in store but it is getting light outside, Michael snores gently beside me, the fan blows cool air from the ceiling onto me and I feel just like Carrie Bradshaw sitting on my bed writing on my computer in my New York apartment. Maybe not hey? I don't have the shoes!

Buildings and blue skies

Bryant Park

'The' toilet

Sorry to go on about this but this is the toilet. You press the button and the seat gets covered in sterile cling wrap. You have to be quick because as you stand it automatically flushes. A new feature since 2009 and one that gave me such a fright that my $31 Metro card fell out of my pocket. It was still there 5 minutes later when I realized it was missing. I jumped the queue and found lying forlornly at the door.

Grand Central Terminal

Concentrate children

The Campbell Apartment. An office in the old days belonging to John Campbell, a friend of Cornelius Vanderbilt (the railway magnate who built the station). It is now a fancy cocktail bar, small and dark, $15 for a glass of wine and a serious dress code.

More Grand Central chandeliers 

Central Perk

The Conservatory Garden - note the lady painting in the corner

Things to do in Central Park - your yoga stretches, serene people watching, taking a stone out of your shoe and taking a picture on your iPad (I confess, I am turning into my mother - the iPad comes out to take pictures for the blog, when the phone battery dies (which for some reason is far too often). I amusing my camera but have not had a chance to get to a computer to download the pictures and then I have to email them to myself to use on the blog.

Nice panoramic picture from my phone

Washington Square

Sand art - I had to duck away fast as I had not seen the sign that you had to pay to take a picture. What a cheek!

Singing a duet in the fountain and showing off some serious dance moves 

A door in Greenwich Village

A brand new day - Up and at 'em!!

Have a wonderful day!