New York - Day 3

Day 3 - Sunday 23 October 2011


We were up early again but not as early as yesterday. It was more like 6.00 am. Got our own back on the lads next door by playing and singing along to 70’s disco ! Hailed a cab (as you do in NYC) and headed over to Tiffanys so we could have Breakfast at Tiffanys. Not quite like in the film (or Glee) as they had scaffolding up at Tiffanys !

Breakfast at Tiffanys

Our doughnuts and coffee eaten we headed to the Trump Tower and had a mooch around. Still relatively early and the shops were not open. We did bump into a fellow Stokie though ! We then continued down Fifth Avenue to FAO Schwarz but being a Sunday the store was not open (they were queuing though!).

We took a horse and trap ride around Central Park. Carl our Irish “driver” was giving us the football results from back home. He pointed out the locations of lots of film shots and even the fountain where they do the opening scene to Friends. It was great to ride around the park early on a Sunday morning, with the colours changing for autumn. The ride cost us $90 dollars but lasted a good 45 minutes.

Ride around Central Park

By the time we’d finished Schwarz had opened. We had a wander around and headed off to find the piano from Big (well I say “the” they’d also got one in Planet Hollywood!). We arrived just in time as they were doing a show. The played Heart and Soul, Chopsticks, New York, New York. Who would have thought grown-ups could have such great fun in a toy-shop !

FAO Scwwarz

We hopped back on the bus and did the Uptown Tour, taking in Central Park, Dakota Building, Upper West Side, Morningside Heights, Harlem, back along the park and back to Midtown.

We nipped back to the hotel, for some warm clothes and headed off to catch the boat tour around the Manhattan. Our hotel was only a few blocks from the river and Times Square so was ideally located. We caught the boat at 4.00 pm and it was a great evening for a boat tour. Manhattan, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge in evening sunlight.

Manhattan Skyline

Empire State Building and Chrysler Building on the Manhattan Skyline

View from the boat

Statue of Liberty

Once over we got a cab to Grand Central Station. Wow what a building.

Grand Central Station

It was relatively quiet but I couldn’t recreate the “iconic” photo ! We had a drink in a Mexican Bar - they were on the cocktails me on the beer.

We then walked back to 42nd Street, passing Times Square and ended up in BB Kings club. Had a meal (BBQ chicken, red potato salad and coleslaw – very nice) and watched live music. What a great day.