We have another very full day in New York City planned, starting in Central Park. A short walk from our new accommodation it’s quite beautiful to see such a large green area in the middle of this land of skyscrapers. It has a varied design and we take it all in from one lake to another, discovering bridges and pathways through playing fields, play grounds and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and winding through the more intimate natural part of the park, our favorite. People are walking, running, sitting, sleeping, riding bikes and sitting in carriages pulled by those poor horses.
We pop out of the park for a visit to FAO Schwarz Toy store, great fun, and then back to the park for our picnic lunch. Time to move on so we jump on the subway and head for the High Line park. This is a fantastic area on the Lower West Side that was once a train line. The ‘park’ has been ingeniously reinvented. It is a long line of elevated landscaping that has incorporated many spots to sit, relax and watch the world go by. There are lounging seats all the way along in gorgeous modern but comfortable designs, easy on the eye and the body. The train track is incorporated into the clever native plant landscaping including an infinity water feature. It is great to observe the streets below from this elevated position and also taking in the sculptures and murals along the way. Fabulous work NYC, one of our favourite things so far.
Dragging ourselves away from the peaceful environment we take to the streets again to walk to the Empire State Building. We arrive about 5.40pm and skip the ticket buying queue to start our accent to the most amazing view. We learn along the way all about the building from it’s first conception to the amazing 11 month building project that saw the completion of the tallest office building in the world.
We spend time taking in the day time view N, S, E and W and then find our spot on the rail to watch the sunset. WOW. We have chosen the perfect time to be here, a clear sky with just a few clouds to give a spectacular orange sun something to shine on. It is one of the best sunsets I have ever experienced but that is not all we are waiting for. As the skies turn black NYC slowly turns on a light show that is just gorgeous. This is a slow process as each building flickers into life, spectacular, and just to top it all off it is a full moon hanging in the East skies, a huge yellow orb. It really couldn’t have been more perfect to take in the view from all directions again, Time Square from this angle is spectacular too.
From the ground this building is amazing, pointing out of the skyline, but it is not until you are up there that you can fully appreciate the height and sheer splendor of this structure. Built in a time when occupational health and safety obviously didn’t have much influence, we see photos of men just hanging out of this steel structure without even a rope around them 1250 feet from the ground. This was a building erected ahead of its time and a testament to mans ability to stretch the imagination to build something that has stood the test of time to still be awe inspiring today. It so tall that the curve of the Earth can be appreciated and you feel like you’re higher than anyone else in the city.
We have spent two and half hours up the top imprinting into our minds the gorgeous view of New York City. Our trip back to our room is punctuated with a quick stop for a gourmet hamburger and another ride on the subway (the easiest we have yet had to navigate in any big city) and a stroll through the night streets where we feel perfectly safe, all the time reliving an amazing time in this amazing city. We have loved every minute and have been helped by countless New Yorkers with their unmistakeable accent. It is a city with a reputation to live up to and it delivers ten fold.
Our last day starts very late, waiting for the hotel hot water supply repair and still we all have to have cold showers. Not everything is perfect but it all seems to add to the fun and the experience that is NY. We take in a few more of the local shops, Marshalls and Barneys before lunch and supply top up at Zabars then we are on our way out of town in a shocking traffic jam. We don’t get very far very fast and we are exhausted when we find a very nice hotel to just relax in. It is luxurious, spacious and quiet, just right to recharge in, phew.
Photos can be found on our Facebook page in the album NEW YORK.
We are now in The Badlands and what an amazing part of the country this is!!
Here We Come World 