Arrived lateish Saturday afternoon to the luckiest sunny weather 😃 no jackets required (for a while), it was absolute chaos on arrival, streets were packed, maniac cab driver from airport to hotel straight out of India. Taxi drivers all seem to drive with their horns here, making their own lanes, cutting in front of everyone. Seems to be a real game, and they absolutely hate it when another driver does it to them!
Arrived at our lovely hotel, checked in and then went straight back out to soak up the vibe! It was insane!!! Apparently first nice day since beginning of winter so EVERYBODY (and their dogs) were out. Bypassed the bar that was recommended at the end of the street. The waiting queue which appeared to have no chance getting in went around the block. Wandered around a little further and found a quieter one on the river. That was followed by dinner at our hotel, delicious special chicken for 2 that I'll attempt to replicate at home. We then turned in for the night and listened to the party goers who were all out in force. The room provides earplugs!
Sunday was a gorgeous day also, we decided to take a stroll to Times Square,
Walked over the Highline to
34th Street and found the Hells Kitchen Markets on 38th. some antiques but appeared to be mostly crap, had coffee at Hells Kitchen! You know!...Gordon Ramsay stuff! then walked on through Broadway and Times Square. Check out this weirdo, not a cute sight 😵
Caught a pedicab (poor guy) from top of Times Square through Central Park as we were running out of time to get back for dinner cruise. That was fabulous!!! Took an hour to go through, 4 hours if you walk! Saw Lady Gaga place, Denzel Washingtons, John Lennon & Yoko Onos (who still lives there today at 81), saw where JL was killed, his memorial in the park and many more things too numerous to mention, a really Gray way to finish the day before heading back to our hotel and getting ready for dinner cruise.
The dinner cruise on the Bateaux was sensational! 👍 food a bit disappointing for the price but the cruise itself was fantastic, though s bit of commentary would have been helpful to those of us unfamiliar with all the sights. We were so lucky to see The Empire State Building all lit up with colour in celebration of 50th anniversary of local radio/TV station, so pretty. The Brooklyn Bridge was just stunning and Statue of Liberty really truly, just breathtaking! Didn't bother trying to take pics on the iPhone, wouldn't do it justice, they're on the real camera!
This morning weather turned really nasty with heavy rain and strong winds so a day that we had fully planned turned a bit sour. We still attempted to do some of it starting with The Empire State Bdg, Intrepid, but we were just getting drowned. and soon got over it and as we were the only 2 in the group who hadn't already cancelled, we decided to give our your guide the afternoon off and bailed out on the 911 memorial which is out in the open and the boat trip to Statue of Liberty. Quite disappointing but unavoidable 😔
Found our way, wet and bedraggled to The Chelsea Markets an old industrial building which was pretty cool. Predominantly food hall type thing but with a lot more class. Now we're back at the hotel, sadly we won't get to check out that rooftop bar girls 😔 it was closed for a private function and now closed for rain 😳 might be a quiet rainy night in I think (or maybe we'll pop down and see if we can get more of a clue as to how to make their chicken dish) before we get ready for that long trek home. It's all been absolutely wonderful 💋xx
