Up at 8:30 and off to the city. Stopped at a deli for a bagel and a coffee for breakfast – excellent! Toasted bagel & cream cheese only $1!!
Caught the subway up to 42nd street. Times Square in the daytime is still pretty amazing. Walked up to Bryant’s Park for a coffee and were interviewed by two girls with a camera and a mike for a program called Court Live. We were asked questions about the death penalty and serial criminality. And then off to the Empire State Building.
Security at ESB very very tight. We were searched, metal detected and had our bag x-rayed on the way in. We were lucky to get in as they were looking for ID. They accepted our Lloyds cash cards! The guard said “Hey, if you can’t trust Lloyds of London, who can you trust?” I didn’t enlighten him.
The queue was massive at the ticket office so went to the first floor and on the NY Sky Ride, thereby avoiding the crowds and it’s obvious why you avoid the crowds. The Rough Guide said to avoid it and, in future I think I’ll take heed of the Rough Guide! It’s a bit like a space ride around NY with a lot of smashing through, into and by things. You watch a big screen and they bounce the seats up and down. Scotty from the original Star Trek was in it. It was ok but could have done with an update – we smashed into one of the twin towers.
And then up to the observation deck. An incredible view. Truly magnificent. It was a very clear day. Couldn’t see Ground Zero and there was only a gap for those who had been here before. We stayed up there for an hour. Didn’t see Meg Ryan.
New York from the Empire State
After this we went for lunch in Mirinda’s favourite shop, Lord & Taylor’s, on the 5th floor. Lovely food, lovely service. Strolled around the floors, bought a few things then went to the New York Public Library. There are two very big statues of lions outside and they were both wearing equally enormous New York Yankee baseball caps.
The library is lovely. It was started in 1902 and opened 16 years later. In 1910 75 miles of shelves were installed. Currently there are 2.73 million cardholders and the library is visited and used annually by more than 10 million people. We were just two of those 10 million. They also have a rather large and extensive giftshop (“There’s always somewhere to spend your money.“) where we parted with some dollars then, exhausted, hit the subway back uptown.
For the first time the train was crowded but still not as bad as London. Had a few hours rest in our cupboard of a room then went over to Lisa & Jack’s for dinner (take out). Back at the hotel about 10pm very tired. Waiting for Seinfeld at 11…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
