Category: New York and New England

I’m writing this at about 7.00pm on Tuesday, and it feels like we’re in the middle of a time warp.

• 24 hours ago we had just finished a great morning at the Met and were having lunch at 314 before heading off to JFK
• 12 hours ago we hadn’t even landed, and it feels like a lifetime ago.

Anyway, an evening flight meant we could have another go at the Met. The “highlights” tours are brilliant. The volunteer guides choose about 5 objects in the museum and for about an hour tell you about them. It means a long walk as apparently the museum is as long as the Empire State is high.

Each guide chooses their own stuff, so each tour is different. And competition to be a volunteer is extraordinarily – one was one of 18 chosen out of 550 applicants, and they also get audited every year.

First piano ever made.

Part of Tiffany’s house rescued when it burned down.

Brilliant trip back – 12 hours door to door. And if I say that the only problem was getting proper confirmation of our upgrade on the way home, that just about sums it up.

Firstly Clare, one of Jo’s colleagues at Lamont, and we met up for lunch at Kiki’s – Greek restaurant in Chinatown.

Then our last evening by the Hudson and on a raccoon hunt.

Found them.

A pleasant evening walk on Friday spotting the turtles.

Beautiful morning walk, and bumped into the NY women’s mini 10k (sponsored by Mastercard as they blared out over the tannoy every 10 seconds). 9,000 runners apparently.

So Jo’s not working, and therefore she and Eileen planned to go shopping on 5th Avenue (as you do). Thus a good opportunity to hang around in mid-town, with some interesting sights.

Aaagh

And again ….

Apple Store on Madison Avenue if you’re interested. How cool is that!

Decided not to join the retail experience so thought I’d walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Glad I did, but not sure this experience lives up to the hype.

• It’s super busy
• Continually dodging pouting selfie-taking influencers (Mr Old and Grumpy 😡)
• There is a motorway either side so it’s very noisy
• Did I say it was hot here?..
• And although the views are stunning, they’re not that photogenic (or I’m not a good enough photographer)

We’re getting into a bit of a rhythm, although it’s still pretty hard work. Whatever you’re doing, NYC is full on.

Thoroughly enjoying Central Park in the early morning, and its crazy business. And seeing Jo for the first part of her daily commute.

Forecast for Thursday was “lively” so packed macs and brollies and headed off to the Lincoln Center (sic).

Met up with one of Jo’s colleagues, Thea, in the evening which gave us some more lovely insights into Columbia life. And Thea is the only person we’ve met who thinks going home (Oslo) is cheap compared to here!

It got its own back later on. Were smug at dodging the downpours in the afternoon, but got drenched on the 10 minute walk back after dinner.

And then a day at the Met.

Friday was pretty warm (did I say it was hot here) so decided that a day in the Met would be diverting and cool – and it was.

Bit like a film set.

It’s been nearly a week, so a few reflections.

• It’s great to see Jo and some of her friends.

• When it’s hot, it’s seriously hot. Flat is great but doesn’t have a/c which is a shame.
• It’s expensive, although not quite as bad as we feared. All you can do is suck it up and enjoy.
• Uber is a lifeline. Metro is pretty cheap.
• Uber back from Brooklyn managed a run of 25 green lights on Madison Avenue.
• Empire State must be about my favourite building in the world.
• Locals are extremely polite. Service is bars and restaurants is very good, although the tips are 20% on just about everything.
• Central Park is crazy busy at 6 or 6.30 in the morning with runners, walkers, dog walkers, cyclists and so on.
• Food portions are not as gross as we had remembered.
• It’s hard work, but when it’s good it’s brilliant. Think museums, rooftop bars, views etc.
• On the whole it feels very safe.

Exploring Manhattan South today. Staten Island Ferry (obviously – it’s free and the views are terrific).

Museum of American Indians – again, free, nice loos, a/c and very diverting. In the old Port Customs House which is amazing.

And the WTC memorial garden.

You have to say that when NYC is good, it’s amazing.

After chilling for most of the day, Jo had booked us an evening out in Brooklyn. A vegan Chinese restaurant – really really good – followed by sunset drinks at Westlight in Brooklyn. The pictures tell the story, and it was great to have Alexa with us as well.

Hmmm

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) kept us entertained for a whole day, although not entirely in the way we might have imagined.

Again, as seniors, we get a discount. Why? Just because we’re old!

Anyway, a day ticket allows you to go in and out at will (think I did it 5 times and was on first name terms with the security guards).

According to those in the know (ie Eileen) the collection is amazing. In the end it kept her occupied for about 3-4 hours in total. It meant we could pop out for lunch, and I could go out for a walk around mid-town when I got a bit bored. So I did. And then I could come back to WiFi, air conditioning, comfy seats, decent loos and a cafe.

Found an old friend!

Managed to get at shot down 5th Avenue when the lights were red.

And I guess one of the reasons I love NYC so much is that I was heading back up 5th Avenue and spotted this out of the corner of my eye.

Stunning!

And later on Rockefeller Plaza – no ice rink at the moment.

Even Lego’s flagship store.

And I did see some art as well …

We’d seen it from the outside but hadn’t managed to go in before.

But now we’re seniors we get a discount😃.

Fantastic building

and was a great start to the cultural side of our trip.

Lunch with Jo in Central Park

£16 if you’re interested. But actually it was a fabulous setting and worth every cent sitting in the shade by a lake on a gorgeous New York Sunday lunchtime.

Even met Alexa back at Jo’s apartment and had a great evening.

Firstly, the morning walk. A peak experience.

Jo had booked lunch in the Village so we decided to hang out.

If you look really really closely you might see the Statue of Liberty just above Eileen’s right ear.

And a serious double espresso with sugar and whipped cream got us buzzing.

Lunch – and yes,it was hot.

And just happened to stumble across the Stonewall Pub where it all kicked off in 1969.

That’s enough for one day; plenty more to come.

We did pretty well, although I always think flying west is a lot easier. As we’re here for such a long time there was no rush to hit the sights.

So gentle strolling around Central Park

Enjoyed seeing Jo in her apartment

And a fabulous evening stroll.

Apparently “Manhattan-henge” is a bit of a thing. We were a few days late, but the sunset is directly down W 100th Street. Here you go.