6.9.15 or 9.6.15 - Day 2 - Hop on Hop Off bus etc

We all variably arose this morning between about 6.00 and 7.30. Some having slept more soundly than others.

Time for a leisurely breaky in, before heading out for the day, with plans to:

1. Do a hop on, hop off bus
2. Purchase SIM's for our phones
3. Sunglasses for Sandra
4. Collect New York Passes pre-ordered by Lyn and I
5. Hat for Sandra.

and we managed 4 out of 5. We walked the few blocks up our street - E 97th to Central Park, then wandered along 5th Avenue towards the Museum mile. Pretty stoked to see Central Park so close to our accomm.

We got on the first hop on, hop off - we saw - maybe not the best move. There are many companies - we saw at LEAST 5 companies, with numerous buses circling various routes around the city.

Following in the pictorial overview of our day.

First up we were very excited by a visitor in our courtyard - a little squirrel.

A little friend in our courtyard backyard. He was pinching the tomatoes growing here. Cute squirrel.

Our apartment is in a typical street, at our back door the views of the next building are just like you see on the movies, with the the fire escapes snaking down the building.

So far we have seen a LOT of construction/roadworks/repairs/renovations around our Upper East Side neighbourhood. Unlike home, it is all incredibly messy and there is stuff everywhere. Seems to be the case all around the city.

View from the back door,  of neighbouring buildings fire escapes.

Walking along 5th Avenue alongside Central Park, lots of people out jogging, walking dogs etc. Several Museums along this section.

'Museum Mile' on 5th Avenue - Solomon S Guggenheim.

Some device to call FDNY or NYPD.

Just looking around, sauntering along 5th Av. L-R: Lyn and Sandra.

We saw groups of people queued up ahead, at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. Something we need to get used too, queues. We think this was the queue for opening at 10.00 this was about 20 minutes prior and the lines grew before our eyes. We weren't visiting today, but this was where we needed to loiter to catch our bus.

....queues - this one at the Metropolitan Museum - The Met.

A couple of New York's Finest. Pulled up on Museum Mile.

The bus picked us up, we needed to go to the main stop to purchase tickets and decide which tour we were doing first. The guide Frank - was great, he told us some stuff on the way to the main stop at Bryant Park. Broad Brooklyn accent, great guy. Seems this company -Open Link NY is new on the scene. As we had gotten on board for what was in effect the end of the uptown tour, Frank enlightened us about the scenery - who lived where, what was what. Unfortunately, Frank wasn't on the downtown tour we opted for first. Some of the sights we saw on this leg were:

• Times Square
• Theatre District
• Some of Central Park.

Sights along the Downtown tour include:

• Bryant Park
• 5th Avenue
• Chrysler Building
• Flatiron District
• High Line Park
• Washington Square Park
• Broadway
• SOHO
• Little Italy
• One World Trade Center
• Battery Park
• Wall Street/Financial District
• South Street Seaport
• Chinatown
• East Village
• Union Square
• Park Avenue

The whole city is one big advertising hoarding, with all the names and brands you would expect and many more.

The ball in Times Square. Yup that tiny little thing atop the advertising.

Flatiron building - one of my must sees - ü

Many of the buildings had tanks on top, which I assume to be water tanks, looked pretty cool, I thought.

Water tanks and a little turrett thingo. 

The Highline is a park that has been created along an old disused railway. It was originally the rail line used to transport meat from the Meatpackers district. The line was built above ground to keep the smells etc from the meat away. It fell into rusty disrepair when trucks replaced trains, to be reclaimed and planted out. I'm hoping to learn some more when we actually walk the High Line.

The Highline - it's on the list 'to do'

The bus took us through many 'districts' which all have an interesting histories and often good stories to their name...eg NOHO - North of Houston Street.

NOHO, more fire escapes and street lamps.

a wavy building...

Another building

View through the buildings and trees of One World Trade Center.

Cool street signs along near South Street Seaport.

View under the railway and out to one of the Bridges across the East River...Brooklyn Bridge I
think.

Funky water tank.

Sandra, Lyn and I outside New York Police Dept in Times Square.

Another thing on my 'to see' list was signed off today. The LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana on the corner of Sixth Ave and 55th St. Created in 1965, it has become an iconic piece, used with and without permission in numerous ways. It was first made famous on a Christmas Card in 1965 and on a US stamp in 1973. Pretty modern in my opinion and has certainly stood the test of time. Ironic that is also turning 50 this year, born in 1965.

Love by Robert Indiana

We had quite a walk between two bus tours today, to find the place to collect our New York passes, only to find the location we eventually found, no longer was a collection point. So we headed further again to find a pick up point near the Lincoln Center, after dropping Sandra near a corner of Central Park, to rest her sore feet. Finally found it... and returned to Sandra and after some debate, found a spot to catch the bus again, having done the Downtown loop this morning, it was time for the Uptown loop. This saw us through Times Square again, looked totally different with the sun in the other direction. Just before heading off, we decided to grab a bite to eat, and catch the 4.30 bus. Just across from the bus stop was Ellen's Stardust Diner, which came recommended by the Fearnley's, the servers (waiters) are all musically trained and sing songs throughout the meal etc. Evidently there have been many of these guys 'discovered' here at Ellen's and have made it on Broadway and beyond. We all enjoyed it.

Lunching at Ellen's Stardust Diner.

Ellen's for lunch. 

Coke sign amongst others.

Changing views of Coke sign.

This ad screen was for Chase bank, It had an amazing picture of the river and bridge.

Chrysler Building.

Very busy park - Bryant Park, full of people, table tennis tables, lots of tables and chairs and space on the lawn.

Saks on Fifth Avenue.

Blurry I know, but Ellen is taping her Season Première here tomorrow.

A building that caught my eye.

There was a church, that was stunning on the West Side, non-denominational and built by Rockfeller, called Riverside Church. Stunning building.

Riverside Church.

The Riverside Church again.

The Hudson river I think, with a bridge in the distance.

A hilly street view, somewhere near or in Harlem I think.

A famous location for talent. In Harlem.

Just a shop front in Harlem that I liked.

After our tour dropped us near Central Park, we walked home again, pretty tired, footsore. Lyn peeled off for a coffee.

Tonight Kathy arrived from Italy via Germany, and a bit later Liz and John Mc Grath (friends of Sandra's) called around Sandra and I had gone back to Nick's pizza for some take out pasta and salad to feed the hoardes. Purchased way too much, and we have leftovers for another time.

It was nice to see Liz and John after such a long time. All in all we've done and seen a lot today. Hopefully all will sleep well tonight, in readiness for our first day of New York Pass tomorrow.