Tuesday - 1 Jan 2019 - Central Park, Best Buy, Top of the Rock and Lincoln Center

Happy New Year! We both slept in till just after 8. It felt great. The bed was much better and so we decided to keep the sleeping arrangements. We had traded sides in the bed the night before and that seemed to suit us both. 

 We had a nice breakfast at the Manhattan Diner again and then were were off to Central Park. With a very nice cab driver who dropped us off right where we were supposed to be in front of the Marriot  Essex  on central park south. The weather was exceptionally nice with a temperature of 59 degrees F. I wore my sandals just because I could.

We found our carriage drivers easily and were assigned to Tino and Alvin. Tino being a driver of 27 years of Italian descent  and Alvin being an 8 year old painted Percheron, Belgian cross. They were both lovely. Central Park is huge  and beautiful even in the winter. 

There were quite a few people in the park, walking, jogging, cycling, skateboarding, walking dogs and riding in carriages.  Tino kept up an interesting dialogue, telling us about the different buildings in and around the park and what famous people lived where. 

About the park itself he was very knowledgeable, but after driving a carriage there for 27 years I guess he should be. We had a few photo stops and fun pics with Alvin. Tino told us about his life back in Italy around Rome where he grew up and his life with horses.  He still had horses back in Italy. He showed us a picture of a beautiful trotter.I tried to get photos of different things in the Park. The rock formations are cool and there were plenty of squirrels.our lovely ride through the park was over too soon and we thanked tiny and Alvin and chatted with the owner of the company, a very young man brought up to it by his father who had just retired. A family business. 

We crossed the street and went inside the Marriot  looking for a washroom, we found a washroom around the block right across the street from the park and then I remembered Mom and Dad. I had not sprinkled them in the park so we went back across the street and down some steps to the pond. 

On the way there was a buddhist monk who I bowed to and he sold me bracelet and peace token. He wanted twenty but I only had ten so he let me have it for that. I know that they are fundraising and trying to get enough to live on to which in New York is quite difficult as it is so expensive there. I continued on down to the pond and found a nice quiet spot right beside the trail at the end of the end with a bench nearby. I sprinkled and took photos and went back up stopping to take photos of a squirrel. I explained to Margie where I had put Mom and Dad in the shade of the trees with a nice view of the pond and the city but not too busy. She laughed and said she didn’t think it really mattered. Well, in case it did, they were in a good place.

We caught a cab to Best Buy as we had brought Margies computer and were going to get them fix it. It was crowded with shoppers by the time we got there but the service desk was not too busy so Margie got to see someone right away. I had to use the washroom again, a difficulty of getting old I think. I had to wait in a short line with some young ladies. We chatted about cameras and how they had changed and realized that some of them were still around . What we used to call land cameras, the old polaroids that took instant photos. By the time I got backstairs to Margie she said her computer was working fine now and the young man who was helping her said it happened all the Time. He was from London and New York with East Indian decent and had a lovey accent. 

We took a cab back to the hotel to drop off the computer and decided to try the subway to times square. We had time as our appointment at Rockefeller centre was not until 4.so we entered the station on 95 st and looked at the machines. I asked a couple who were there what would be best  way to go and they told us to go around to the other side and talk to a real person who could help us out and make sure that we let them know that we are seniors as you get the tickets for way cheaper when you are a senior. 

OK we said and off we went to the other side of the station. The Lady at the window was very heft selling us the two for one ticket . Our return ticket for free and telling us exactly which train to catch and where to get off. Easy peazy … the train did not take long to get there and did not take long to get to times square.as we went out into the street I recorded the event. Then I noticed a lot of other tourists doing the same thing. We were all so Funny. 

Margie and I walked around time square street for awhile trying to get our bearings and figure out where Rockefeller center was. We asked some police men again who gave us directions. It was not raining but was so lovely and warm. There were though, so many people it was difficult to walk sometimes. l felt like a sardine in  a can. 

We ducked into what appeared to be quieter streets and they were, comparatively speaking,  for about a block and then busy again. I still have not figured out if it was the avenues that were busy or the streets. We did eventually work our way over to Rockefeller centre and went by the skating rink with the big tree. the rink was much smaller than I thought it would be. There were lots of people skating and twice as many watching from around the top viewing areas. We checked our directions again and were satisfied to find ourselves just around the corner from the entrance for our tour. There was a long line of people which we joined. 

They were putting people into time slots every five minutes . Our time slot was 4 to 415 and we went into the 4:05 group. we entered and went through a security check and then followed the path up to the elevators. That took about 20 minutes but probably the time was longer as we took a quick bathroom break again. The ride up the elevator was interesting in that the ceiling of the elevator was a show showing the views from the top and the elevator going up the shaft. 

We got out on the 67 floor. The first views were very exciting. But we realised that we could go outside and higher so we did. The wind had started to pick up and the temperature was dropping quickly. I was glad that I had changed into shoes at the hotel. We went up to the 68  floor and got some great views and decided to go up again. The 69th floor is the top of the building. The sun was just setting and it was lovely. The lights of new York were coming on. As I watched the lights of the empire state building came on. Wonderful! New York at night at Christmas is really lovely. We were freezing now as the wind was very cold and so we found the down escalator and headed back down to Rockefeller Center to eat.

The ride downed not take as long as there were not as many folks leaving as coming it seemed. We wandered around the rink and seeing that the restaurants there were all full or closed for private functions decided to go to the inside restaurant next to the rink. It was lovely and much quieter and warm too. We had a nice dinner there and New York Cheese cake for dessert. It was very tall and very fluffy and very tasty.

 From there we had to go to Lincoln Center for the play "My Fair Lady" I thought we could figure out where to catch the subway but Margie thought maybe a cab. We came out and there was a bicycle guy the who really wanted to take us for a lot of money . We told him no, too much and his price came down.  we figured a cab would cost us about 15 to 20 dollars and there was no way he could go that low. And he could not get us there in time for 6. He said he could for 40 so we did get a ride with Ali the bicycle driver. Now we have taken every form of transportation in New York.  Ali was very brave driver going through what I thought were red lights turning into what I thought were very tight spaces and going around corners into traffic that seemed to melt out of the way. We got to Lincoln Center before 6 which I thought was amazing. Thank you Ali for getting us there alive and in one piece.

Lincoln Center is beautiful at night , all lights and reflecting pools. We found the right building and got in no problem. We bought some water and looked at the souvenirs. We had great seats very close to the front on the side and the show started. It was magnificent. Amazing sets, beautiful costumes and the singing was fabulous. I had not seen My Fair Lady in quite a few years but As I watched it all came back to me and they did such a great job of it. I never even started to nod off once during the whole performance. It was Loverly.

We took a nice cab home and happily fell asleep with professor Higgins and Eliza singing away in our memories.

Monday The 31 Dec 2018 New York on New Years Eve.

We both woke up a little stiff from the too soft bed. We wanted to go to the met, the Metropolitan Art Museum, for the opening at 10 am so wanted to be there at 930 in case there was a line. We went to the Manhattan diner for a lovely breakfast of Blintze with blueberry sauce and french toast. So yummy. 
We asked at the desk if there was something they could do about the bed and they sent up three men to flip the mattress around. We said we would give it a try and let them know how it all worked out. 

 We went outside and hailed a cab which in  New York is quite easy. You just wave your hand in the air and a cab pulls up. Off to the met which was just across central park. 

When we arrived  there was already a short line to get in so we were glad we got there early.

 The line was for the security prior to the ticket area. They opened the doors at 10am sharp and it took about 10 minutes to get through security and then we checked our coats for free which took another 8 minutes and then we got our audio guides which did not take long at all. Then we were off to the Impressionist exhibit at the far left end of the second floor which took us another ten minutes. So all in all it took us about half an hour to get into the museum to where we wanted to be to see what we came to see. 

The met is a huge building like the Louvre in Paris. It houses so many collections from all over the world it would take days to go through them properly. We saw a tiny bit of the Egypt section when we had to use the ladies washroom. And we walked a little bit through the Asian collection on our way to the Impressionists. The Impressionists rooms took us over an hour to go through and I loved every minute of it.

Monet, Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Turner, Rodin, just to name a few of my favourites but not including all of them by any means. Sketches, statues, paintings, paintings and more Paintings. Lovely. When we figured we should be going as we had tickets for the radio City Music Hall Christmas Extravaganza at two,  but were advised to be there for one.

 We headed out to get our coats. Another 20 minutes to get out through the rooms of more lovely art and artifacts and getting our coats. Catching the cab was again easy but he was not sure how to get to Radio City Music Hall as they were closing all kinds of streets in preparation for New Years Celebrations at Times Square, so he let us off fairly close to there and we asked some policemen where to go. They were very helpful and pointed us in the right direction.  It started to spit rain off and on but not too bad.

We each bought a giant pretzel and ate that as our lunch as we wandered around New York looking for the Radio city Music Hall. We passed by Rockefeller center with its giant tree.  And Saint Patricks Cathedral which is gorgeous. We would stop at almost every corner and ask where the address was to make sure we did not get turned around as it seemed very easy to get turned around alot. It was pretty wet and miserable,  but we were so excited seeing New York that it did not bother us too much yet.

We got to Radio City at around 1 and there was already a line going halfway around the block for the show that started at two. At 130 they opened the doors for us and we went through security again and found the most charming interior with beautiful crystal chandeliers, red carpets and very theatrical red and gold walls decorated for christmas. We bought water and coke to wash away the saltiness of the giant pretzels. We had good seats right on the main floor on the aisle A314,313 right behind the ZZ row. Basically right in the middle of the theater. 

The show was marvellous. I remember thinking when we were looking at things to do in New York and the radio city music hall came up, I thought, it must be so outdated by now as it has been around since 1933, but It was the best show we have seen in years. The new technology is utilized to its utmost without sacrificing the dancers talent or the singers voices. The Rockettes were spectacular. My favourite number was the march of the wooden soldiers with the synchronized marching of all the ladies. Exceptional!  If I ever go back to New York and have the time I will be going back to see them again for sure.

After the show we walked around downtown. We went into St Patricks Cathedral again and took some lovely photos, lit some candles, said some prayers  for family and friends.  We popped into the gift shop and picked up some souvenirs for the folks back home and for myself too.

We then went looking for Bryant park which, on the map, looked like it was right behind Rockefeller Center but in reality is about 8 blocks away. It was raining very steady by this time so we stopped in at a pharmacy and picked up our obligatory souvenir umbrellas which we seem to have to get on every trip as it rains on us every trip at least three times.  I have quite a collection at home now, but I live in wet climes so they come in handy.

We looked down many closed streets to see corners of times square all lit up. All the streets leading to times square were closed off and guarded by police from all over New York. I asked why and they said security, to make sure no one had access to the square, the manholes or the subways in and out of times square. No terrorists allowed. Made sense. 

So we wandered around with the other one million people wandering around in the rain and looked for Bryant Park. We asked one set of policeman and Woman and they both pointed in opposite directions and then confessed they were not from this section of town. We all laughed as it was one of those great moments that you just cannot plan. 

We did see Bryant park eventually but it had just closed by the time we got there which made us sad as we had tried so hard to get there before it closed for new years for dinner. Now it was raining so hard that, even with the umbrellas, we were getting wet all the way through. The wind was picking up too. I have to admit that the crush of people along with the rain and the tall buildings did in fact confuse my brain a lot and it wanted to faint at one point. Too much input and not enough fluids or quiet moments to reflect on all that we had to take in.

We did see the New York Public Library which always makes me think of the Ghostbusters and we did finally find a restaurant with room for us to sit down and dry off a bit and eat.  It was so nice and warm so we stayed for awhile just enjoying our dinner. it was a crazy evening what with the weather and all but for all of that we had a good time. 

After the light supper we caught a cab back to the hotel. This cab ride was different from all the other cab rides we had had as the driver was not very pleasant at all. He kept telling other drivers to get out of the way and to go home and he could not find his way out of the downtown area it seemed. When he finally did get us to our hotel he told us we had to give him tip and when we were too slow for his taste he told us to get the f#&* out of his cab. Margie paid him with no tip and was so upset, she dropped her phone and camera on the sidewalk in the rain as she got out and a passerby helped her pick them up. We both took photos of the cab and when we got back to our hotel as he did not drop us off in front of it. I tried to call and complain but the phone was busy all the time. When I get home I will as I still have all the information and he should not be driving a cab.

We were pretty wet by the time we got back into our lovely, dry, clean tiny room and we were tired. Margie tried to go on line with her computer but it would not work, She could not even enter her password as the alpha keyboard would not work. We tried a lot of different things. Then she tried to use her phone but it would not work either. Did the evil taxi cab driver put a hex on us. I do not think so.

 I contacted her phone provider with my computer on the chat line and he “talked” her through getting her phone to work. Then we figured out that we could take her computer to best buy to the geek squad and they could fix it in the morning, after our central park carriage ride.

 Having survived the day and accomplished all these things we managed to stay up and watch the ball drop in times square at midnight.  We heard but did not see the fireworks at Central park for quite some time and I was asleep at 12:13 I am sure. Happy New Year!

30th December 2018 - Sunday - New York , New York

We got to the Edmonton airport by 5 am but the checkin went awry when the kiosk could not find Margie's reservation. The Westjet attendant took us to the quick line and the gentleman behind the counter after a bit of searching found Margies reservation and gave us all our tags and Margies boarding passes. An easy time through security and a nice lite breakfast of a cheese omelet, potatoes and toast split between the two of us was the perfect way to start our trip. 

Our flight went without a hitch and we were in Toronto before we knew it. We had to go through another security check and US customs before our flight to New York. That involved using one of the new customs stations that takes your photo and gives you a receipt with your picture on it to hand back into customs . My picture wasn’t to bad but Margie looked like a convict. Next time mine will probably look like a convict too. The whole process went pretty well and then we were waiting for our flight to New York. We grabbed another bite to eat, a burger and fries and then found a seat at our gate and waited. Our flight was delayed for about an hour due to waiting for connecting flights and some bad weather somewhere in the world.

We got to Laguardia and, after retrieving our luggage, we found our way to the taxi pickup station. There was a long cue like there had been when we were in Venice waiting for a water taxi. The line, thankfully, moved fairly quickly and soon we were happily seated in our first New York Taxi.  

We tried to take photos out the window of the cab but they did not turn out well. We had looked online for some of the possible routes our cab could take to get to our hotel, the Hotel Newton on Broadway, and we were rewarded in that we kind of recognized some of the route ourselves, like the large bridge over to Manhattan. Most of it, of course, we did not. At one point there was this little crazy lady in the middle of the street calling out to people. The cab driver just slowed down and kept going. I decided then that rolling down my window  to take a photo might not be a good idea. I think that was in Harlem. The Hotel was on the upper West side about 3 blocks from Central Park, what we thought would be an ideal location. 

We signed in and proceeded up to our room, 614. The building is older with a smallish elevator  and narrower hallways. The hallway approaching our room had a washroom at the end of the hall just outside our room. Margie and I looked at each other in alarm hoping that was not our washroom. We entered the smallest hotel room I have ever seen but were gratified to see it did have its own washroom. Small blessings. 

The Double bed was very soft and small for two people who did not usually share a bed, But the room was clean and the tv worked. There were plenty of towels and shampoo. The staff were very friendly and helpful. After depositing our things in the room we decided to just walk around the neighbourhood to see if we could find a restaurant for dinner. 

We walked up the street about 5 blocks on one side and then back down on the other passing the 95 St metro station, several small cafes and bakeries a grocery market store then back to the hotel. We did stop along the way at the market store where we picked up some juice and fruit for the morning. 

We decided to go to the restaurant right next door to the hotel , the Manhattan Diner. I had the eggplant rototilli which was very good and Margie had the spinach pie and we each had a beer and were very full by the time we ate only half. We took the other half back to the hotel as we had a small fridge to keep our food in. And by that time it was late for us as we had been up so early, so we went to sleep on the double bed with great expectations for the next day