September
19, 2018
Day
1
Clyda
and I left for an extended trip back east with Cindy and Gary. This
trip was not without its problems as I had purchased airline tickets
months before but American Airlines kept changing our flight times
and itinerary. Eventually I got disgusted and canceled the tickets
and re-booked on Alaska Airlines direct from Los Angeles to Newark,
NJ. This new schedule put us in Newark at the time we needed to be
there to meet Cindy and Gary however, it meant catching a 3:30 AM
Airbus to Los Angeles in order to make that schedule.
We
did arrive on time, met up with Cindy and Gary, and took Lyft to our
hotel on Broadway in Manhattan. The hotel was the Broadway at Times
Square which was only a half block from Times Square on West 46th
St. Perfect!!
After
checking in we walked through Times Square to Ellen’s Stardust Cafe
at Broadway and W 51st St. What a hoot! The wait staff are
all trying to get on Broadway so when not waiting on you they are
singing. A great way to start a 4-day trip to New York!
Cindy and Gary at Stardust Cafe.
Day
2
We
took Lyft to Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises on the Hudson River for
a tour of Manhattan Island. We couldn’t do a complete circle of the
island because of a bridge being repaired on the Northeast side.
Still in all, a great tour and great views of Manhattan.
Circle Line Tour
We
then again took Lyft to St Patrick’s Cathedral where we toured it.
For Lunch we went around the corner to Bill’s Burgers where Cindy
and I had an Impossible Burger which is made with out meat. Of course
it went down nicely with a glass of wine.
From
there we walked to Rockefeller Center where we did a tour of the
Rockefeller Building. Great views from high up at 30 Rock.
St Patrick's Cathedral from the "Top of The Rock"
Empire State building from "top of the Rock"
We
walked back to our hotel and got ready to attend a show that evening.
From our hotel we walked South on Broadway or at least attempted to
walk as the sidewalks were jammed with people watching the large
video screen on the Marriott Hotel across the street. People were
stopped and wouldn’t move so it became a scary situation as people
were pushing and shoving and screaming. Eventually a cop came along
and in good ol’ New York fashion got people to move.
We
found a pizza parlor for dinner called John’s of Times Square Pizza
in the theatre District. It looked like a hole in the wall from the
outside but inside it opened up to a very large room with brick ovens
in 4 corners, and a balcony with stained glass windows. We asked our
waiter about that and he said it had once been a church.
After
dinner we crossed the street to the Majestic Theatre and saw Phantom
of the Opera. I has been playing here for 32 years. What a great
show.
Day
3
We
took Lyft to Battery Park where we had tickets for a tour by boat of
the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We did not get off at the
statue but continued on to Ellis Island where we had lunch and toured
the building for several hours. Fascinating exhibits and movies of
how our fore fathers came to this country.
Arriving
back at Battery Park we walked to the 9-11 memorial. We toured the
reflecting ponds then went into the museum nearby. We spent a lot of
time looking at all the exhibits and the base of the original towers
underground. It really is a hallowed piece of ground.
Freedom Tower
Taking
Lyft back to our hotel, we went to O’Brien’s, an Irish pub across
the street for dinner.
Day
4
We
took the subway to Central Park. While Cindy sat and read, Gary,
Clyda and I walked the park as far north as the lake. A beautiful day
and families out in force to enjoy it.
We
again took Lyft to Battery Park and rode the Staten Island Ferry to
Staten Island where we had a nice leisurely lunch and then rode the
ferry back.
Clyda
had her New York hot dog from a street vendors cart at Battery Park
and we then walked to Wall Street.
From there we took the subway back
to 52nd street and walked back to our hotel. Dinner was at the TSQ Brasserie on 7th Ave.
Day
5
I went to St Patrick's Cathedral for mass on Sunday then we
packed our bags and took Lyft to Port Elizabeth, New Jersey where we
checked aboard the Celebrity Summit for a 2 week cruise to Quebec
Canada for the fall color tour.
To
be continued...
