The Big Apple

And we then travelled from Boston to New York, I must admit we have been very happy flying with United Airways, although the whole airport security and checking in means you do have to allow lots of time before your flight.   And also there have been so many airports where you actually get a train once you get off the plane to the airport where you get your bags.   It makes our airports look so small in comparison.

We got the Airporter Bus from Newark to Manhattan and luckily it stopped literally a couple of hundred metres from our hotel which is very central and close to Grand Central Station.   I have wanted to stay at the Library Hotel since we first started planning this trip.   Purely because I work at a library, it just called to me!

 I must say, the customer service at this hotel really is exceptional, they cannot do enough for you.   We had a queen room which although small was very adequate for our needs, as I believe hotel rooms in New York are not large at all.

Every morning we went down to the Reading Room for a lovely breakfast, there were cereals, juices, fruits, bagels, toast, yoghurt, you name it, and they have a cappuccino machine which doesn't make it hot enough for me, but David thought it was just right.   The good thing about this room was that it was open to guests 24 hours a day and I went down a couple of times just to sit and read with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit (or cupcake from Magnolia Bakery, which was at Grand Central Station).  

We had a bit of a look around and this really is the city that doesnt sleep, there are people and cars on the roads all day and night.   People jaywalk all the time, cars toot each other for no reason at all, and the amount of people obsessed by their mobile phones walking down the street and while driving was unbelievable.   Also a lot of cyclists as well, who very rarely wear any sort of helmet as they dodge in between  traffic!

Of course we were walking distance from the New York Public Library, which I was so excited to see (again because of my obsession with libraries).   What a magnificent building, but there was not one book to behold!!!  You have to go across the road to the Mid-Manhattan Public Library which is 8 stories high!

I just had to go in and check it out.   Very old stock on the shelves, lots of computers, and the collection is spread over several floors.   They also run lots of computer classes there as well.   And it really felt like you had to be quiet too!!
We ventured downtown and went to a little store called Tiffany's where I was very lucky to get a lovely necklace and earings for our 38th wedding anniversary.   Thanks David.

In return he got a brand new pair of Bose Noise-Cancelling headphones - he says for cutting out the plane noise, but I suspect its to cut out me!!

The shopping continued at  Macy's and I have to admit I found it too big a store, hard to find things and after getting my jeans I had to go, I would have to spend a couple of days there just to get to know it.

We did have a couple of nice meals out - to the Brasserie for our anniversary and also to a restaurant that the front desk recommended called Osteria which was an italian restaurant, very busy but very nice.

Of course, you have to see a Broadway show, and based on recommendations from friends and acquaintances we saw The Book of Mormon, which was very different and politically incorrect in many parts, David thought it was hilarious!!!
David's nephew Jason lives in Brooklyn Heights so we arranged to visit him at his workplace at the World Trade Centre.   What magnificent views he has from his office.   Jason introduced us to his work colleagues and then we went downstairs and had a look at the 9/11 Memorial that has been created on the footprint of where the twin  towers once stood before that fateful day.   It was extremely busy and warm there and we were too late to do the actual tour of the museum but it was extremely well done and very moving.   The names of all the victims are permanently engraved around the memorial.

This is one of the views from Jason's window

 

After work we caught the subway to Jason's place in Brooklyn Heights, what a contrast from the concrete jungle!!!  Quaint little buildings and some greenery.   We met Jason's friends who just kept on arriving because there were Australian's there!!!   We had the best rooftop barbeque with the best views you couldn't pay enough for:-

 

 After our 5 days in New York, it was off to Las Vegas, and the adventure continues!!