New York - Day 5

Day 5 - Tuesday 25th October 2011


I was up early, showered and out. I left the others nursing their hangovers. I stopped off in Times Square and watched them filming Good Morning America (Priscilla Presley and MJ’s son were on). I then walked to Grand Central Station to see it in the daylight. It was very busy this time with a high security presence and there were several sniffer dogs.

Grand Central Station

I nipped in to Market at the station and could resist an almond crossiant.

Market at Grand Central Station

I then wandered along Lexington Avenue (still too early for the shops to be open). I decided to headed back to Rockefeller Centre and watched them filming at NBC (Kelly Clarkson was on). I had a look around St Patricks Church.

I then started heading back. I wandered past New York Library … waiting on the steps for Big to turn up.

New York Public Library

 I wandered through Bryant Park where they were setting up a skating rink. I then headed back for another visit to Times Square.

Times Square

I got filmed as part of the crowd for some show about the Royal Wedding !

Filming at Times Square

 I watched a Harlem Gospel Choir and Rodney Atkins performing for a Heroes ceremony.

Gospel Choir

Rodney Atkins

It was now time to headed back to the hotel as we needed to be out by noon. I just had time for a quick coffee and cream cheese bagel. We checked out of our room.

We were about to hail a yellow cab for the ride back to the airport but we got offered a stretch limo – who would refuse! Had a ride around NYC and across the bridge (not sure which one though!) and back to the airport. It’s the only way to travel !

Stretch Limo

Said goodbye to Marie at American Airlines and then we caught the Airtrain to our terminal. Checked in, got rid of our bags and had a wander around the airport. Made some purchases (would be rude not to !). Security in JFK didn’t take as long as Manchester ! Perhaps they aren’t so particular who they let back into the UK!

Our seats on the flight were between Business Class and the galley. There were just two rows of seats. Felt like we were had our own little space. We watched Bridesmaids and there were some very funny scenes (the bit where they were in the shops trying on dresses). It reminded me of our hotel room that morning !!

The flight back to Dublin took 5 ½ home - he must have known a short cut! We had about an hour in Dublin airport so time for an early morning coffee. It was then a 40 minute flight back to UK. We had arranged for a taxi to pick us up. I was home by 9.00 am. I’d been up 23 hours, so it was a power nap!

New York - Day 4

Day 4 - Monday 24th October 2011


I headed out early while the others had a leisurely morning getting ready. I had a wander around Times Square, watched them filming Good Morning America and people watched. Met up with them just after 9.00 am and we all caught the Downtown bus to Battery Park. This statue came from the site of the original World Trade Centre.

Recovered from the World Trade Centre

We stopped for breakfast (bacon and egg bagel) and then headed off to Ground Zero. Got side tracked at Century 21 (new sunglasses purchased).

We wandered past the protesters who had taken over the park. There was a lot of media interest and police presence. We chatted to one of the policemen who said generally the protesters were well behaved.

We then headed off to look around Ground Zero. While the others rested I had a wander around the grounds of St Paul’s Trinity Chapel and then we headed off to Ground Zero. Unfortunately tickets for memorial had sold out. In fact you can’t get tickets for weeks.

The new Freedom Tower at Ground Zero

The construction workers

The others stopped off in a pub and I headed for the St Paul’s Trinity Chapel and Wall Street, NY Stock Exchange, Federal Hall. How times have changed since I was last there. You couldn’t get near the buildings – metal security fences keeping people away. No sitting on the steps of Federal Hall anymore. Security it very high and cars have to go through very strict security, with sniffer dogs checking them out.

We had arranged to meet up again at 3.00 but I got a text to say “still in the pub – having a fantastic time”. I had a swift beer at Staten Island Ferry port (how that has changed!) and then hopped back on the bus and headed back to Rockefeller Centre. I had a wander along Fifth Avenue and then headed for Macy’s. They still have the original wooden escalators. It was nice to “window” shop.

I had several drunken messages to say they were still in the pub, so I stopped for a bite to eat. I went to check if there were any tickets for Mary Poppins performance that evening, but unfortunately there was no performance on a Monday so I headed back to the hotel. Thankfully they gave me a spare key at reception or I’d have had a long wait!

They rolled in in dribs and drabs after having an evening of cocktails in the Waldorf! I packed away all my stuff as we were leaving tomorrow and I wanted to make the most of the remaining morning.

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.

New York - Day 2

Day 2 - Saturday 22nd October 2011


We were woken around 4.00am by the lads next door coming in. Once we were awake we decided to get up. We all showered, had our coffee and were out for before 6.30 am. Great to walk along 42nd Street so early in the morning. We headed for Times Square and were there for 6.40 am ! Great to watch 42nd Street and Times Square come alive.

42nd Street

Times Square - early morning

Took some photos and purchased a ticket for the NYC sight-seeing bus tours. This gave us a $10 voucher for Planet Hollywood so when it opened at 8.00 am we headed in for breakfast. Ham, cheese and egg bagels and coffee – the girls had cocktails ! Caught the hop-on, hop-off bus tour and headed Downtown. Our plan was to do the whole tour first. Headed around the Theatre District, Maddison Square Gardens, Empire State Building, Bleaker Street, Soho and down to the Financial District, Ground Zero and Battery Park. It was great having a running commentary on everything.

It was then back up the Lower East Side, United Nations, the Waldorf and to the Rockefeller Centre. Whilst it looked a sunny day, sat upstairs on an open top bus can be a bit chilly, so we headed into the Rockefeller Centre for a coffee to warm us up. The skating rink was already up and running ready for Christmas so we watched them skate for awhile.

Once warmed through we headed over to the Empire State Building. Wow what great views from the top.

Looking Downtown towards the Financial District

Chyrsler Building

Don't look down !

We had photos taken with our Stokies in the City t-shirts.

We had a swift drink in the Heartland Brewery bar at the bottom of the Empire State Building.

Once the sun had set we took the evening tour of Brooklyn. We wrapped up warm for this bus ride! The tour started in Times Square and then headed Downtown. We took the Manhattan Bridge over the river. The views back of Manhattan were stunning.

Manhattan at Night

We had a tour around Brooklyn and then headed back to Manhattan. Great day.

New York - Day 1

Day 1 - Friday 21st October 2011


Up at 3.45 am (what an unsocial hour!), taxi picked me up at 4.45 am. We arrived at Manchester by 5.30 am. They were queued right outside the terminal to go through security. I didn’t queue that long to ride Rita at Alton Towers a few weeks ago ! So much for a relaxing breakfast - we ate the Danish pastries in the queue. Once we’d made it through into departures it was a much needed coffee while we waited for our flights. I saw Ange and Carole off on their flight to Dublin and then waited for my flight to Shannon. It was a small plane to Shannon with propellers !

Arrived in Shannon safely with an hour or so wait. That soon passed by as they had free wi-fi! Headed through to US immigration in Shannon airport had my finger prints done and was photographed. I then had to identify my case from a photo. So glad I put a stripy strap on it or I’d have had no chance ! I then waited at gate and the sniffer dogs came round. They stopped at the guy sitting behind me ! They sniffed out an orange – not drugs !

Flight to JFK was good. They fed and entertained me! However, I had to sit next to this old bloke (and he was really old) who never took his hat or coat off. They kept coming and asking him if he was ok and if he had enough room … never mind me pinned against the window as he had “elbow” syndrome and took an early hold on the arm-rest and part of my seat ! The time passed by as I watched Hangover 2, Con Artist and Bad Teacher, oh and an episode of Sex in the City – got that in just in time before we landed. The flight took 7 ½ hours. Looks like the captain took the long route. Views of Long Island from the plane were great. I’d never really appreciated how long they were !

I arrived safely in JFK, claimed my baggage and Ange was waiting for me at the gate. They’d all been in the bar waiting on my flight. They were on the Cosmopolitan cocktails, me I had a Bud!

We took a yellow cab into NYC. Cost $55. We went through the tunnel into Manhattan. Would have preferred a bridge … but you can’t have everything.  Marie talked the driver to death! By the time we got there we knew his life history. We got our first sighting of Times Square – Wow !

We checked in at our hotel – Travel Inn on 42nd Street. Room was ok. We’d got all the essentials, it was clean and we’d got a full sized fridge and a microwave. No kettle though and no mugs for our morning coffee! Dumped our luggage and went out to explore and find something to eat. Managed to picked up four mugs for our morning coffee !

Early night – lots to do and see while we are here.