The ferry ride over to the Statue of Liberty was our first look at her and also the New York skyline – all totally amazing and we loved it.  I take heaps of photos and a few videos;

Back on the ferry we head back over to Battery Park to conclude the tour.  On the way back we saw an Australian catamaran competing in some sort of International sailing race;

The rain starts pouring down and our umbrellas go up.  I am trying to follow google maps on my phone but it just gets too hard – I spot a uniform policeman (my go to map) standing outside one of the major stores.  He tells me that he is working privately for the store which they are allowed to do in uniform to earn more cash – he is on night shift that night!  He points us in the right direction and the outlet is only just a couple of blocks away;

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The guy Helen is talking to was a wealth of information – he is a walking encyclopedia on all things Broadway.  Helen had her heart set of seeing The Book of Mormon but when I checked on line there were only premium seats left for nearly $400.  There were no discount seats on offer for the show displayed on the TKTS monitor (shows that were on the board have 20 – 50% off and its designed so that everyone can have a chance to see a show that may not otherwise be able to afford it).

The guy tells us that if we go to the Theatre 2 hours before the scheduled start you can buy standing room but they are very limited in number.  The show is playing at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre which was only a couple of blocks away.   It’s nearly 5 pm so we thought what the hell and made our way to try our luck out.

We get around to the Theatre and I see a small group gathered on the footpath outside the entrance doors.  I try the door and we walk straight in – I never took any notice of the others as I assumed that they must have their tickets and were just hanging around.

There are 2 ticketing windows but only 1 is operating.  I stand in line behind a couple from Texas and we have a good chat whilst waiting.  A guy in front of us goes up to the window and purchases 2 x tickets for the show we are hoping to see at 7:00 pm and pays $780.

My new Texan mates go up to the window and get advised that we are in the wrong line and have to line up at the other window.  Just as he said that I saw a guy open the window so we were in business.

We move over to the window just as all of the people who I had seen on the footpath came in to line up behind us.  Suddenly there is nearly a riot as they are accusing us of que jumping.  I tell them to calm down and explain what had happened and that we were happy to go to the back (as we were moving to the back).  So now I had a dozen locals as well as Batman who were giving me grief!  I just put it down to people get overly anxious about getting a ticket.

We get up to the window and purchase our tickets for a grand total of $54.  Helen was very excited and jumping up and down;

With 1.5 hrs to kill we went and got some dinner at a pizza shop – both size of the pizza slices and the amount of customers streaming through a tiny shop was unbelievable;

After Pizza it was back to the theatre and we were told to wait in the foyer to be shown to our spots just before the scheduled start time.  Sure enough the usher came back and indicated where we were to stand.  At this time I realised that our tickets were numbered and corresponded with the standing space on the railing behind the last row of seats.

The theatre is an old classic and every seat has a great view.  We were positioned near dead centre and had a magnificent view of the performance which was totally sold out and no empty seats (I think we had a better spot than those who were in front of us in the que – ha).  The performance was outstanding and one of the best that we had seen.

After the show we make our way to the subway and a train is about to leave so we jump straight on it.  After a few stops we become aware that we should have got off as the line was closed for maintenance further along and the stop to catch the shuttle bus to take its place was now behind us.

We get off at the next stop and fortunately we only have to wait a few minutes to catch a train back to the shuttle bus.  After a bit of confusion as to where the shuttle bus actually is we find the right pick up point.  The bus comes along and its a mad Tokyo train scramble to jam in.  I end up standing jammed up against a lad who was carrying his pet lizard.

The bus gets us back to our intended subway stop and we walk back to our Hostel.  By now its after 11:00 and we are pretty well stuffed after a big day but I stay up longer to sort out our Vegas flights and accommodation.  By the time I get to bed its 2:00 am.  

Next morning we sleep in and don’t get up until 10 am.  All that is planned for the day is to go and see the 911 Memorial.  We catch the subway downtown and get off right next to the Memorial but go and have an early lunch before we check it out.

As we get to the memorial I run into 4 heavily armed guys who are in the anti-terrorist squad.  I am able to swap a patch (first one for the trip);

The memorial is very well done and its hard to describe just how emotional and moving it is to see it.  I think anyone who has been there would understand what I mean.  Helen and I thought we would only be there for a couple of hours but it ended up being closer to 4 and we still never finished it.  Even thinking about it now as I write this chokes me up.

We call it a day and catch the subway back home – I take a picture of the block of apartments where we are staying;

The next morning we are in no rush as all that we have planned is going to the Baseball game.  The Yankees are playing the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium which is not far from where we are staying.

I spend most of the day just sorting out arrangements and the blog.  We head off at 4:30 to walk to the subway station – it’s the same place where we got off on our first night.  We walk through the Park which is much more pleasant in daylight;

The subway ride drops us off right outside the Yankee Stadium.  We make our way to the ‘Will Call’ ticket office which is next to Gate 4.  Will Call is the name they give for the collection point for event tickets where you nominate to collect them at the event and not on your phone.  I had booked the tickets through Ticketmaster (my normal Australian account) and it allows International clients to nominate.  

I go into the ticket office (no line) and produce my photo identification and the credit card I used to purchase.  With tickets in hand we make our way over and lineup outside Gate 4 which is already quite long as the gate is yet to open.  It is not real clear on the Yankees website whether the gate will open 2 hrs prior or 90 mins as it can change on the day.  Either way make sure you give yourself plenty of time if you go.

The gates open and the line progresses quite fast – after about 20 mins we get to security who are a lot thorough than back home.  Everything is checked and done properly and not just for show.  Whilst lining up I could see very heavily armed anti-terrorist police (semi-auto rifles) patrolling – the sight throws you a bit because you realise that you are in a country/city where the threat is very real.

Once in the Stadium it became very surreal for me as the experience of going to a Yankees baseball game has been on my bucket list for ever.  I look around and take it all in;

So I go and get us a hotdog ($8), Burger ($12) and Soda ($7) – later on I also got us a can of Budweiser beer ($14) – the beer was super expensive but the can was nearly 740 ml.  I would hate to think what you would have to spend if you were a regular family going – stadiums are the same all over the world in that you get ripped off.

The teams do their warm up and a loud cheer goes up when they announce that Yankees star player Judge is returning from a long lay off due to injury.  After the National Anthem the game starts and it takes me a while to get my head around the change of Innings and how to read the scoreboard.

Judge comes out to bat and there is a massive crowd response;

I cannot believe how big this guy is – must be at least 6’7″ – no wonder he can hit the ball out of the park.

The game starts slowly and not much happens but after an arm wrestle the Yankees get on top and win.  Totally loved the experience and highly recommend it to everyone;

The game finishes and catch the subway but unlucky for us it passes our stop and pulls up at the next one.  Out comes the map and we work out that we only have to walk a few blocks to get home – only drama is that it is through a pretty ordinary neighbourhood late on a Friday night.  

After a 10 min wait to try and flag a taxi there was no point hanging around where we were so off we go on foot to get home.  It only took about 20 mins but it sure was an interesting walk!  Safe at home and all good.

Next morning we are slow to get moving as we are finding the pace of New York pretty tiring!  We eventually get sorted and head off to look at Central Park.   Walking through St Nicholas Park I see a lot of people sunbathing and think it odd but realise that if you want to sunbathe in New York you can’t just go out on the back lawn like some do at home. 

Back on the subway we head downtown and get off on the west side of Central Park;

Our entry gate to the park takes us right to the Strawberry Fields memorial for John Lennon – its a garden area that has a large mosaic;

Its a magnificent day and the park is absolutely overflowing with people.  The mosaic had a large crowd gathered around it – people take photos of each other whilst they stand on the Mosaic.  I wanted to just have a photo without anyone on it and it was hilarious when Helen got sick of people jumping in and decided to make an announcement so I get take a photo.  I think she should be a crowd controller – a group of Chinese tourists were certainly in fear of her.

We get a map from an information booth and wander around;

There are a lot of buskers and we happen upon a dance performance by 3 dudes that made it look easy;

After the show we stopped in the ‘Mall’ which is a fantastic shaded area where you can sit on the bench and just watch the world go by.  We ended up getting a caricature charcoal sketch done which was a lot of fun and a good way to remember New York;

We exit the park on 5th Avenue and get our lunch at a sidewalk food cart.  I have a hotdog and Helen has the giant pretzel (we thought at some stage we had to do it).  From there we caught a bus that took us along 5th Avenue and down to the Empire State Building.  The bus ride was slow due to heavy traffic which was great for us to take it all in – I think 5th Avenue was wasted on me given that I buy most of my clothes at Big W!

The bus stops at 5th Avenue & 33rd and we get off to go and find the Empire State Building.  I look on the map and although we are in the right place I still can’t see it when I look around.  I ask a guy who was selling tour bus tickets and he points up – I am that close to it I couldn’t see it.  We check out the foyer;

Around the corner from the foyer we find the visitor centre where you can buy a ticket to go up to the observation floor ($40).  We are told there is a long wait given the crowd so we decide to leave it for another day.  A few photos on our way back to the subway;

The ride home took a while as the final part of the subway line was closed for maintenance which meant that we had to change trains and then catch a shuttle bus for the last stretch.  

Next morning we take over the kitchen and make our breakfast – there is no toaster and I have to be a boy scout and put the bread on a fork and hold it over the gas burner.  In the end I don’t think our breakfast of fried eggs / omelet actually turned out any healthier than what we had been eating.

I get talking to a couple of UK girls that had also been staying in another room within the Apartment and was surprised (never really thought about it) that its only a 6.5 flight from the UK to New York.  Handy to know for down the track.

The time after breakfast is spent sorting out our next leg to Las Vegas.  I even managed to get Uber sorted which took close to 2 hours of back and forth emails – the issue I had was trying to change my mobile number listed on the account.  Uber send a validation code to your old number????  To get around that you must supply details of your last 2 Uber trips – for me that was in 2017 and near impossible.  

I ended up sorting it but it was not easy – I managed to do it by email but if you get absolutely stuck I discovered that you can go to an Uber ‘Greenlight hub’ where they will do it in person.  First ECTESA in Cuba and now Uber in the US!  

After a late start we catch the subway all the way to Brooklyn to walk over the Bridge.  It’s easy to find but I am amazed at just how heavy the traffic is;

I take my normal ridiculous amount of photo’s;

 

We get over the bridge and walk through China Town/Little Italy and then stop for a look at City Hall;

Back on the subway and then home.  That is it for New York as we fly out to Vegas tomorrow.  So some pointers for New York;

• The only way to get around a city of this size is to buy a Metro Card – $33 usd for 7 days unlimited use
• The subway is gold – don’t use any other transport unless its short distance
• One ‘negative’ of the subway is that you will get beggars every trip – don’t worry though as they are not aggressive – we saw everything from Mexicans playing guitar to Africans on bongo drums
• New York is everything that you have heard x 10.  We made a conscious decision not to try and do everything but prioritise what was on the list – even then I was getting to bed after midnight!
• Everything takes longer than what you would expect – prime example was the 911 memorial where 2 hrs turned into over 4
• Expect big crowds no matter what you are doing as you will be surrounded by large numbers
• Pretzels and hotdogs are totally overrated! 

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