Girly Thirties

Sunday, September 25, 2011

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

Day 40 - Uptown to Harlem then back down 5th Ave tour

I headed to the pickup point at central park on 59^th street which overlooks the “Pond” which was so picturesque I just loved it.

Time Warner Building

But mind you in all of this I had been getting text after text so it was getting a little hard to keep up with the questions etc.

Christopher Columbus Statue at Columbus Circle which is basically a big roundabout

But finally the bus arrived only like 30mins late… It was getting quite cold by that stage… If I had known it was going to take that long, I would have gone back to the apt and rugged up more but the guy said it was only going to be 5 mins. Damm you mr red bus man!

Dakota Building where John Lennon was tragically killed

So we went through my hood where I was staying and got to see parts that I wouldn’t get back to see again because time was running out real fast.

Right near my street along Central Park West

We headed into Morningside heights past some amazing old buildings including an old hospital which they have closed.

The Beautiful old hospital

Past the beautiful Church of John Divine again - yep still stunning.

The statue from the Cathedral of John Divine

Then through the Columbia University precinct which was beautiful along with the highest point in New York which is significant because majority of New York is flat because during town planning they decided to flatten most of the city to improve traffic flow.

At the Entrance of Central Park and Columbus Circle

We travelled past the General Grant memorial which is also known as Grants Tomb as he was the 18^th President of the USA as well being a general in Civil war. It was surrounded by the beautiful fall colours overlooking the Hudson river and west side highway.

General Grants Tomb

Alongside is the majestic Riverside Church which is a interdenominational church of American Baptist and United Church of Christ.

The Riverside Church

It apparently has some amazing pipe organs which sound amazing and it is one of the 24^th tallest buildings in the world and major contributor to the church was John Rockefeller. It has seen people such as Martin Luther King and Fidel Castro all speaking at the pulpit.

The old Tenement buildings

Then all around Harlem past the famous tenement buildings which have been renovated and gentrified. We also ventured past the Apollo theatre which is where the Jackson 5 later Michael Jackson first performed and very famous music hall in the USA

Apollo Theatre

It saw wonderful performers such as Ella Fitzgerald, The Pips and buddy Holly. It wonderful spot in Harlem to remember all the greats.

Statue of Duke of Ellington

They have an array of shopping up there as well which was surprising given the demographic of the neighbourhood there were a lot of chain stores. I thought they would have a lot more “local” shops.

the beautiful sunset across the park

We then travelled around to the beginning of central park to where the 110^th street meets the park which also is known as cathedral row and not too far from the Lincoln correctional centre which has some of the best views in the world overlooking the park and it is a prison mere metres away from historical cathedrals and million dollar condos.

the sunset reflecting on the beautiful old buildings

At this point there is a great statue of the duke of Ellington overlooking the park which is at the entrance at pioneer gate. It was the first statue dedicated to a African American and it is said that he was one of the early originators of Jazz music through the cotton club.

the first real entrance to the park

As we headed down 5^th avenue we saw a amazing sunset with the warm colours hitting the buildings, it was stunning.

Sunset reflecting on the Guggenheim

I loved the way the warm colours were hitting the walls of the million homes and the Guggenheim museum.

The Met on sunset

The way the prettiness was coming through the park with the way the trees were being highlighted by the sunshine. It was a perfect fall evening in NYC.