My last few days in Manhattan, NY

Day 6 – 28/6/14

Hop on, hop off.  Uptown, downtown – all day which is great as it allows you to venture into new neighbourhoods and see so much more of Manhattan.  We got off near Manhattan square, thinking it was close our desired location but got lost somewhere so watched some game of basketball (girls), and then just kept walking and  ended up in SoHo – right where we wanted to be.  Saw on Foxtel’s Food Feud months ago, a battle between 2 lobster roll shops in NY and always wanted to try the winner so that is why we ended up at  Ed’s lobster bar!  Not cheap at $29 a pop but oh so creamy and delicious – downed with a nice ice cold beer.  NY has been so warm and sun really burns. Not as humid as in August but still so like Brisbane.  Then headed into Bloomingdales, Old Navy (yay a store that doesn’t just sell size 0 (got some nice linen pants and some shorts)) and then tour back to midtown.   Sheri was tired so headed ‘home’ and I was on my own for remainder of day. 

I turned away from 7^th to avoid Times Square and I was so excited, the NYC street fairs are only on once a month where they shut down an avenue and the market goes for about 20 blocks.  They were on when Pete and I were here, and here they were again!  Wondered around and even found my bag guy from last time.  They were back on again on Lexington on Sunday so I didn’t spend as much time there as I wanted Sheri to see it.  So I started my trek down to Macy’s.  Ha! This chick half my age (and size) called me honey when she bumped into me – isn’t that what us old people call the young ones lol?   

Arrived at the fanfare they call Macy’s on 34^th and 6^th and stupidly bought up big.  Sheets for Doug and Nona and a whole bed suite for Pete and I.  But how could I resist?  So so cheap……  Tried getting a cab but just like the movies, I hailed one, only to have somebody jump in front of me so I dragged  it all back to the apartment.  My arms hung like an orangutan by the time I arrived but I figured – it was like a weight programme! 

I then headed out to dinner, checked out shake shack too busy and not enough variety.  So wondered aimlessly for a while and then remembered a busy place – totto ramen.  If busy and people are prepared to wait to eat, it can’t be half bad, right?  So I put my name down for a table of one and about 15 minute later got my place.  They didn’t take credit and I only had $12 so I had a simple port and noodle laksa – delish!  Ate, left, and walked a few blocks.  At this time, I am realising the further away from times square the more I like NYC!  Home just before 10pm. 

Oh I also made plans for Monday to meet Adjua near W90th.  Found frozen margharita for me and Sher – 10^th and 43 and got all excited before I realised we wanted a martini – oh well – the thought was there.

Day 7 – 29/6/14



The normally very busy 12th Avenue

I woke up early and let Sher sleep.  Went for a big walk down to Chelsea piers, it's a beautiful time of the day and no traffic – yes hard to believe but no vehicular or foot traffic – was wonderful. 
Headed back to unit and Sher was up and ready so we got out early and walked to grand central where Sher pigged out on a Magnolia bakery cupcake (Sex and the city).  Absolutey stunning station – grand it certainly is.  Then headed out to Lexington but Sher not that keen on markets so we jumped on a downtown bus near the UN– on wrong bus mind you, lol .  Worked out well as we had super cool dude as our host. 
 I had the black floppy hat on so he called me Ali McGraw - ha!  When they find out where you are from and talk to you, they call you ‘Australia’ or ‘Texas’ but this one called me Ali McGraw – I’ll take that for sure!  Sher wanted to do Brooklyn tour but the traffic was mad due to the gay pride parade.  We found a lovely park and had some lunch and printed Yankee game tickets. As a result of this, we missed the Brooklyn tour bus and weren’t prepared to wait another 30 minutes so we got bus back to central park and found softball being played by all walks of life.  Heaps of games on and we wandered around before settling down and watching Choice Parts in sling pitch.   

They invited us to sit on their bench and watch their games against their bitter rivals.  Some really cool people playing.  Firstly in Choice Parts, John Rodriguez was part of the 2006 St Louis Cardinals who won the MLB World Championship.  He only played MLB for 2 years but got a ring and today still has it!  And then, the other team, had the son of Larry Doby playing.  Everybody knows Jackie Robinson as the first African American to play MLB but Larry was the 2^nd but the 1^st AA to play in the American League (Cleveland Indians) was Larry Doby – t’was pretty cool!.

Part choices had food and beer on the bench and our wonderful bartender was Bernard.  No drinking allowed in the park but I think the police turn a blind eye to the ones being drunk during games.  They are so clean and discreet – ice cold beers served in brown paper bags.  LOL I never thought I would be drinking in a park from a brown paper bag!  They were lovely people and we so enjoyed ourselves that we stayed and watched 2 games – all up about 3.5 hours but we loved it. 

Then headed over to Madame Tussad’s (free ticket) and did the Manhattan and Brooklyn night tour – was a nice balmy night and a good tour to do!  Had a late dinner and was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow

 

Day 8 – 30/6/14

So glad I organised to catch up with Adjua.  I met Adjua back in 2008 when I asked if I could share a table with her at the US Open.  Sher and I caught the 1 train up to 86^th St and found ourselves in a completely new neighbourhood – a beautiful, quiet, and clean neighbourhood.  Had a bit of time to spare before going to Adjua’s so wondered over to Central Park. 

She is so close to everything – central park, riverside (Hudson River) – very lucky lady.  Finally got to Adjua’s 2 bedroom apartment and spent about an hour catching up and then we jumped into her very cool, convertible Mini Coop and headed up to Harlem for lunch – Home sweet Harlem.  Had a very nice and simple Turkey burger and then Adjua took us for a drive along riverside back to our apartment in Hell’ Kitchen. 

Quick turnaround and back out to Yankees Stadium for our last night in New York city.  Arrived a little earlier to avoid the crush on the trains but still got slightly crushed, but nowhere near as bad as Friday night – OMG that was bad!!  Game was pretty boring in that not a lot of hits but had a nice perve on the Tampa Bay pitcher as he warmed up in left field – very pleasant on the eye – all aspects of him!  Some yummo boys in the Tampa Bay team actually, my cougar eyes were popping out of my head.  Game went into extra innings after 11 innings and it being 11.30pm (and having been there for around 6.5 hours) and with an early morning train ride to Boston, we left to get home on the 4 train around midnight.  Shuttle train to 42^nd and 7^th was closed so we caught the 7 train to times square and wearily walked home to finish packing and get some much needed sleep.

Day 9 – 1/7/14

I’m leaving NYC again and even though there was so much more I wanted to do (SoHo, train high line, Greenwich village – God this list could go on and on) I have had a good time and am now on the train on the way to Boston.  Boston will be a completely different trip – but exciting nevertheless!  I’ll update this blog after a couple of days into Boston.  Until then, be good!

All my New York photos can be found on this link :)

PS.  I miss my babies - all 3 of them....