Sunday, September 25, 2011

Day 41 - Top of the Rock


Headed towards Top of the Rock and got my entry ticket … little did I know it would take so long.  I got the 5 pm entry … but be warned it can take up to 1-2 hours to get up there because they only allow a certain amount of people on the viewing decks at any one time. While you can stay up there as long as you want there are only so many people that they allow.
So I wandered around Rockefeller centre with a stop at the ice skating rink along with a couple of shops since I had a hour to kill.  Along with J Crew and Anthropologie which I just loved… just wasn’t skinny enough.  
But I do love how the shop assistants look you up and down and deem you not good enough to shop in your store. Yes I know I look like a dag but I was a branded dag at least… sheesh not impressed… 
It was exhausting waiting that long with everyone pushing and shoving trying to get into the elevators first…  Somer Certain other nationalities are just rude!  Just saying!  They feel they are entitled or something! 
But made it up there eventually… busting for a toilet and glad not to be squashed in … and just in time for the sunset… 
So annoyed that I only got the last few seconds also annoyed this is the only day that I took my tripod out. My backpack was heavy so I was trying to be responsible.
But the sunset that I saw was simply amazing…  But I wish people who didn’t know how to take photos with a DSLR would offer to take them.  I had a guy who had a canon and my photo still came blurry even though I told him to wait for the beep and the green square on the screen. 
I prefer to self-portrait thank you very much.  I think I spent over an hour up there it was so much fun and watching the city change as it got darker.  I just used the wall to stabilise and the auto feature with no flash to take the photos and they turned out ok.
Good thing about the top of the rock is the lack of mobile reception … no messages … but I knew what time I had to be down by and that was the important thing.  But it was nice to have a break from it for a hour or so. 
I highly recommend the Top of the rock but allow at least 2- 4 hours if you are going up during the day or sunset. But after 9pm the line is not as bad. 
I made my way back down around 8pm because I think I had been up there since 5ish so my feet were starting to feel tired and I was looking forward to dinner.  
So I headed to the subway and got on the wrong one… soooo annoyed because I ended up at 110th because I caught the B or A train when I need the C or D…  someone was getting impatient for me to get home…  But he was coming back into the city with his car so luckily he got stuck in traffic. 
But finally made it home … quick second change and handbag and ready for my date… just wish I had time for a shower oh well later.  He had arrived with a perfect park right outside my front door but we just walked down to Amsterdam avenue and headed to bella luna which was lovely and yummy. 
Only drawback about him… the smoking… ewww and the aggression or as he puts it determination.  It is hard to handle but overall a nice guy but it is what it is … holiday fun…. 
He headed back to the burbs because he likes to see the sky and grass under his toes… either that to the girlfriend or wife that he claimed he didn’t have! 
So I headed off to bed but felt like I wasted the day a bit because of the shopping and then spending so long at Top of the rock… but overall great day.  I had a busy busy day the following day so I headed to bed feeling exhausted but glad I had my first real official date in over a year.
While it was good to date again, I still don’t feel I am ready for a relationship but man I had fun. I laughed, smiled and got kissed…  which to me is the perfect ingredients… 
While I don’t think he reads this but thanks gorgeous…I really enjoyed our date and it still to do this day makes me smile… 
While I don’t think we would have ended up together… we would have fun finding it out.. While I shouldn’t probably be revealing as much this …  but I did promise myself complete honesty in this blog…so thank you mr… for being you and not sacrificing who you are …  
One of the most brash, honest, upfront people I have met with a heart of gold under that tough black exterior.  Hopefully we will catch up again on the weekend…  

Day 41 - Macys shopping and some hot chocolate!


Today I was awaken to a very wet Thursday which was disappointing given that I was planning on doing the midday boat ride around the city. 
Rockefeller Centre
So I decided to tackle the Laundromat because I was officially running out of clothes… which I desperately needed my layers given how cold it was.  
Inside Rockefeller Centre 
So walked on down during a break in the rain and enjoyed the sounds of the neighbourhood.
Looking downtown towards New Jersey and Statue of Liberty
Popped the first load on and then the texting began ….  What am I doing … where am i?  did you want to have dinner tonight … etc etc …  He seemed to have worked out my routine as to when I was getting up etc…  Because I was waiting to see what the weather did I was very uncommitted which I am sure was annoying the crappers out of him.
Looking downtown
Went and grabbed some basic shopping and breakfast from starbucks.  The delis on the UWS are some of the best tour book rated and they genuinely are. Cheap quality food and lots of fresh food so I can highly recommend. 
Looking straight down 5th Ave towards Empire State Building
As I waiting for the washing to be done and watching the Chilean miners being rescued from the mine shafts…  I will always remember that day and the way everyone was glued to the flat screen watching it. 
Looking towards Empire State and Chrysler Building 
I ran into my friend from the previous week and she invited me out with her and her partner for the following night.  Seemed like it would fun … So I said yes… this is what it is all about … New experiences and new people… 
Beautiful Sunset downtown
So as I finished up it started to fine up so breakfast was done with; but it was already 11.30am so I decided to skip the cruise and do macy’s because there were some cute stuff to try on.  

Also I wanted do MoMa then afternoon at top of the rock… but someone wanted another coffee… 
So I met him in a cute little square right near Macys called Herald Square…  although his version of a pink shirt varies from mine…  It looked more red (yes I couldn’t remember what he looked like – too many faces and places).  

So one hot chocolate later…  a couple of stolen kisses…  haha and then I was back to macys because it seems I wouldn’t be spending as much time out today as I normally would… 
It turned out to be a perfect day in the end. Full on blue skies and warm so I ended up with just one layer on but I was glad I had the layers later on…
 
So I did some macys cute top shopping while arguing with the guy at the camera place about the return fee…  why should I have pay $79 when I am wasting 90 mins to go out to there and get back into the city. Such bad customer service – they were friggin useless and rude – I would never use an “insurance” company again like that. 

Monday, September 12, 2011

Day 40 - Night time Downtown city lights Tour NYC


I headed to times square to pick up the next tour which was the downtown nights tour.  Found a toilet first…  you have to love maccas and free wifi! 
Driving up to Times Square 
It was freezing by this stage but there wasn’t enough time to go back and rug up a bit more.  But got on the bus again in the freezing cold and headed through new york on a open top chilly fall night. What was I thinking?  I could be on a date right now! 
One of the coolest signs in Times Square 
So we explored the downtown area by night-time which was really great and different from the normal day time tour as we headed across to Brooklyn.  It was just a shame they didn’t let the bus stop so we could get a shot from the Brooklyn foreshore. 
Australian News on the news feed 
We headed over the Manhattan bridge because buses and trucks aren’t allowed on Brooklyn Bridge because of the weight of them while it can handle 23 elephants on it but no busses allowed.  But it still gives you a awesome view of the city.
Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn Side 
We drove only for a short while in Brooklyn which mainly encaptured Dumbo (Down under the manhattan bridge overpass) which has been created from old abandoned warehouses which are now loft apartments with views into the city.  
Brooklyn City hall 
Headed back to the city and just enjoyed except for the grumpy kid in the seat next to me – not sure that was the best environment for a toddler – late at night and in the freezing cold no wonder he was grumpy. 
Entrance to Manhattan Bridge 
Got back to Times square around 9.30pm and wandered around times square but by that time I was exhausted I had done 10 hours of touring. 
M&M Store 
But I had to make one stop - M&M store.. OMG this place was amazing! So many different colours and all that Chocolate!!!!! But I was well behaved might have to make a purchase before I go. 
Chocolate is always better 
 I was starving so I got some food and headed to the subway and prayed to god the furnace was actually working tonight.
looking across to the Brooklyn Bridge and the City 
But nope no such luck … So a hot shower and rugged up on the couch watching bad American shows while chatting with someone on MSN  and maybe the possibility of another coffee catch up tomorrow but it will depend on the weather.
Back into the city 
I was thinking of doing the circle line tour around the island if the weather was this nice then maybe the top of the rock on the way back to the apartment dependent on time of course. 
looking towards the empire state building 
But a certain someone was pushing for a proper date so I will see how the coffee date goes but I did like him but hey it was fun and great for holidays.  J
Times Square 
5th Ave near Times Square looking towards ESB 
New York Library 
ESB 
The very bright Disney Sign