Busy, Busy, Busy NEW YORK
Trip Start
Dec 22, 2011
1
4
45
Trip End
Apr 13, 2012
New York City, New York
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday: Was a big day. Started out by checking out Grand Central Station Terminal and then heading the Library which was closed - will have to go back. We then headed up to the "Top of the Rock" - top the rockefeller centre. Great views over NYC. After taking in the views we did a stage tour of Radio City - pretty cool - great venue. Saw a rockette, the swaroski crystal xmas tree, and the beautiful thearte. We then did a run through Madame Tussards - same as the London one really. Tried taking photos of Times Square but without much luck - might have to go back for another attempt. Drinks in the aprtment with everyone and another late night.
Tuesday: Today we spent the whole day in the American Museum of Natural History - just under 7 hours. MIND-BLOWING STUFF. The exhibits are all amazing! I could go on for hours as its my sort of stuff but ill just leave it as FANTASTIC. Check out the fraction of the 400ish photos i took. We headed out to a Jazz club "Smoke" for music and dinner with Karen and Pete. It was so atmospheric (is that a word). The place was tiny and intimate. The food was tasty and generous. The jazz was great - there was a famous trumpet player - Jeremy Peel? Think i might have name wrong - Pete will have to correct me. Anyway a good day!
Wednesday: WOW, what a huge day. We started the day off to a bit of a bad start. We booked a walking mob based tour of Little Italy/Chinatown, and again the tour guy didnt show up - wondering if this is a regular occurence or we are just unlucky that it has happened twice. Anyway we actually got to watch a Chinese funeral which was interesting (although the marching band sounded like my high school band). After that we walked over Brooklyn bridge and bumped into someone from Queensie surf club (small world). Once in Brooklyn we checked out the Transit Museum and had a walk around. We headed back to downtown Manhatten and walked along Wall St and visited the WTC tribute centre. Really sad - its set up by families of those who were lost and is full of quotes plus a couple of mind-blowing artefacts. For example there is the coat of one fireman who was lost which is ripped open all done the back - the coat was literally ripped off him. There is also his hemet. Only 15 helmets were recovered from the site - all others were completly destroyed. After this moving place we headed to Bodies: the Exhibition. We had lunch first at Johnny Rockets as there was a line - the "original burger" - YUM. We met up with Karen and Peter in Bodies - totally trippy - cant believe that the exhibits were once real people. It is a really educational and insightful exhibition - recommended.
Wow we were already exhausted but there was still so much to do - we rushed to the Jewish Museum - only had half hour before close so couldnt really take it all in unfortunatly. But it was interesting and had a beautiful night view of the Statue of Liberty. When we left Ross got to talk to a policeman and call him officer which gave me the giggles for some reason - anyway he showed us the way to the closest subway. We headed to midtown and found an Australian Bar. We were told about the bar from someone at Manly Rugby so we introduced ourselves to the owner who knows friends of Ross'. Next thing we know we have the best seat in the house and the owner is sitting chatting with us. After a fantastic home-style feed we headed up the Empire STate with Karen who we managed to somehow lose but later found thank goodness. The views are AMAZING - totally worth doing. Go as late as you can to avoid crowds - we headed up at 11pm. Long day and night - we were exhausted.
Thursday: After a later start we headed up into Harlem to visit the Cloisters, which is the Medievil part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or the Met). We had a great walk through Fort Tyron park and saw some really cool birds (will email photos Kurtis!). The Cloisters itself was ok - beautiful settings and beauitful views - the art itself is very religious. After another walk through the park we headed back down to Central Park for a walk there. We saw the John Lennon memorial area - strawberry fields - and the Dakoda building where he was shot. Walking through Central Park was freezing but very beautiful. Can imagine it would be fantastic in spring and autumn. Anyway we made it to the Met and managed four galleries - the place is huge!!! We decided to look at the Egyptian, Asian, Instrumental, Greek and Roman areas. Plus a quick run through of other rooms! That was all we managed today - hoping to get to Manhattens oldest pub tonight!
Will speak again in a few days time. Hope everyone has a fantastic new year!!!!!! Stay safe and we promise to as well.
Lots of Love
Jessie and Ross
xxoo
p.s ill put some of ross photos on later!!! Need to head out for dinner now
