Day 18 - Confession

I slept for 12-13 hours straight and then did not get out of bed til about 3pm!!!  I had the best night sleep, and felt so much better than the day before.  The weather was wet and cool, so a perfect day to catch up on emails, blog, sorting photos etc so that is what I did.  Both Olly and Pat are here today, both working from home, so we are a busy group.

As you will all see, I have worked out attaching photos to this blog so I hope you enjoy seeing them.  I have labelled all my 500 photos to date so feel really organised (no sarcastic comments thanks from most of you who know my anal self!!)

My plans from here:

• I leave tomorrow for Morocco
• I am away 19 days
• I return to the UK and will have a couple of days in London before Easter (including Petersham Nurseries and a visit to where I use to live as a nanny with Katrina)
• I am heading north for Easter to see Maria and Julien (not long now!!)
• I will then head back to London for the Royal Wedding - a group of about 5 of us are going to stay in Central London and celebrate the occasion in style
• I am then intending on heading to Ireland for 2 weeks, with Olly planning on joining me in Dublin for a weekend.

So, clothes are washed, backpack sort of organised for the next leg, and blog up to date.  I don't know how much computer time I will get in Morocco or how frequently I will get access to a computer (not taking mine) so you might not hear from me for a little while.  Sorry for that.  I promise to take loads of photos, and return to you all with fabulous stories of an exotic place.

Got to run, Olly and I are heading to the pub for a pint before a home cooked meal in front of the fire...jealous??

Back, and sorry if there are any problems with punctuation, using an arabic keyboard so a bit hard to get use to. 

Back to London, one of Olly's local pubs is the Ball and Bat, filled with cricket memorabilia.  We had a couple of beers, talked for an hour then headed home for dinner.  Might take awhile before I get use to moving around so much.

Day 17 - The Queen's country

Firstly, I am so excited I have 16 official followers, and a number of others.  Good to hear you are being entertained by my diary entries...just remember, feedback is appreciated.

I landed in the UK at about 6am, after a 6-7 hour flight from NY....no sleep.  It was brilliant to see my beautiful Olly at the arrival gate.  For those who don't know her, Sharon Olive is a very good friend from the UK.  She lives with her husband Pat in Farnham, just out of London.  The last time Olly picked me up from an airport was in Nov 2001 when she was in Singapore and I was flying on my way back from India.  On that occasion I burst into tears, gave her a big hug and commented how clean the Singapore airport was (in contrast to the dirty one in India!)

Olly drove me to her place where I had breakfast (vegemite on toast, first time in a couple of weeks and it tasted great!!)  I am going to use Olly's place as one of my bases in the UK, so it was great to sort out luggage, catch up on news with her and Pat (both of them are home at the moment which is fabulous considering they fly all over the place with work generally), and unwind. 

Olly and I wandered to a quaint cafe for lunch - got to get use to English pounds and pence now instead of US dollars, then I got stuck into gardening (yes, you heard me right!)  I promised Olly to help in the garden to pay for board, and as I had at that time gone about 24 hours without sleep and wanted to keep awake. Olly and Pat have a gorgous place and garden, and need some help with controlling ivy.  I worked in the garden for a couple of hours in lovely 15c temperature, whilst Olly did work.  I loved being outside where I didn't freeze to death..it is definitely warmer than NY.

The evening was a bit of a blur, Olly cooked a lovely dinner, we shared a bottle of wine and then I crashed.  It is fabulous being back in the United Kingdom.  It has been 17 years since I was last in this country, and I am really pleased to be back.

Day 16 - Leaving on a jet plane (again)

Time to head out of the USA.  I went into Manhattan for the final time to do some shopping and banking before final packing.  I had a really friendly taxi driver out to JFK airport who was fascinated with Australia and wanted to know how different it is from America.

JFK is a dirty and unfriendly airport!  The staff were generally quite rude, and nobody cracks a smile.  I was pleased to get out of there.

I flew BA and was thrilled when the plane was only half full so I had 3 seats to myself. I watched "Love and other drugs"- quite light hearted, then tried to get some sleep after a few gins.  Unfortunately it was one of the bumpiest flights I have ever been on so that didn't go to plan.  It was still nice to be horizontal, but not easy sleeping whilst in a seat belt and the plane is ducking and weaving!!  Flat land is going to be fabulous.

Day 15 - Freezing toes and a feast

Ducks

Kitty feeding an army

Kitty was having a group of friends over for lunch and had it all under control - cleaning the apartment and cooking the curry and duck (yes, she cooked duck!!!) etc.  Therefore, I wasn't needed so I willingly went off to visit Coco for a manicure and pedicure - might sound extravagent when I am travelling but both cost only $21 (for you guys out there, that is an absolute bargain).  Only problem was going the couple of blocks from Kitty's place to the salon, and back, in thongs.  My feet froze!!!  The other funny thing was that as Coco was doing my manicure etc, she was wearing a "Micky and Mimi" apron and a neck brace - very surreal!

Kitty's group of friends do Seido Karate with her and are all a very friendly bunch who enjoy each other's company.  It was all a lot of fun, and very relaxing.  My contribution was a bottle of Greg Norman Shiraz - yes, he has wine, and it was actually quite drinkable.  The feast was amazing - see photos!  It was a really relaxing afternoon and a great chance to meet new people before I head out of the USA.

Day 14 - Photos and a lethal cocktail

Corner 5th and Broadway

Just to prove I was there!

Flatiron Building

Union Square

It was freezing cold this day, any water on the footpath had turned to ice and so I had to be really careful where I walked.  I also feel like the Michelin man - I am wearing thermals, 2 other layers on top, a layer on the bottom, thermal socks, boots and 2 x fleeces!  I am so pleased I remembered to pack my gloves at the last minute.

I visited the International Centre of Photography and had a couple of hours wandering around the exhibits - one was contemporary works by a Beijing artist; Mexican Suitcase - negatives found from 3 photographers who shot photos of the Spanish Civil War; community photos of Jasper, Texas by a citizen; and photos of baptisms in the South and Midwest of America from 1880-1930.  All were fascinating in their own way.  For the baptism photos, there was a postcard with text on it that stated "this is the way the Negroes get baptized.  Lots of white people go to see them because they say such funny things.  One sister said Ï saw Jesus", somebody said, "No you didn't, it was a crab".

Heading south I wandered to the Empire State Building (I don't like heights and got a fabulous view of Manhattan from the plane when coming back from NO so didn't go up the top, and didn't have a hotdog James as I wasn't hungry), visited a store Fishs Eddy (loved is Sasha!!) and then wandered around East Village.  It was again wonderfully walking around, especially in the sunshine.  I finished up at Union Square, listening to a religious enthusiast and a high school singing group from Ohio, and watching incredibly talented hacky sack guys and people in general.

I had my first Manhattan in Manhattan!  I found the restaurant we were to have dinner at early and was really cold so went and sat at the bar for an hour trying to drink the thing - it was so strong i didn't think I could walk afterwards!  I had one lady sitting next to me wearing her furs, and the woman on the other side was plastic face - welcome to upper society in NY!!  Kitty and Marty Karate arrived and we had a steak dinner - it was fantastic.  The restaurant was called Angelo and Maxie's, and apparently it is quite famous.  Food was amazing, and it was great being out with Kitty and Marty, drinking cocktails and enjoying a special restaurant.

Day 13 - From warmth to snow

I woke up feeling really dodgy – that Hurricane couldn’t have been good for me but Genevra recommended it.  I am so very sad to be leaving NO.  I really love this place and wish I was here for a week or 2 – there are so many things I missed out on but I loved just wandering the streets.  The people are so friendly, the climate is perfect and I love mixing food and good music.  I stayed in Marigny – a hip neighborhood that has a bohemian mix of residents, cafes dotted around and great jazz only a short walk away.  I had a tear in my eye saying goodbye to the owners of the B&B – they were so helpful but not intrusive in any way.  For all of you who love festivals such as Port Fairy, you would LOVE New Orleans.

I’m flying back to New York and have the thermals and gloves ready as it was 0c when I looked last – I have my last weekend in NY before onto the UK!  Flight only took 4 hours.  Spent a couple of hours catching up on washing before heading into Manhattan to meet Kitty.  This time she took me to a fabulous Mexican restaurant where we both had a mojito and plenty of great Mexican food.  The weather really is so cold! 

Funny site:  The motto painted on the side of a New Orleans rubbish truck said “”our business stinks but we’re picking up”.  This really tickled my fancy!!

Day 12 - New Orleans Garden District

St Charles streetcar

Anne Rice's house

Random house in Garden District

Spring in Garden District

Lafayette Cemetery

Street performers

Crawfish

Decided to head out to the Garden District and explore.  The way to get there is via streetcar along the famous St Charles St.  The streetcar (like our old red rattler trams) began in 1833 then became electrified in 1893.  It is the oldest continuously operated street railway line in the world, and provides a great opportunity to see the houses and gardens of the grandest neighborhoods, with multi-stories, classic verandas, ceiling fans, high ceilings, and shutters.  Mum would love this!

I found Anne Rice’s house – she wrote Interview with a Vampire, and many other books that Barb got me into during uni, then wandered along Magazine St that has lovely interior decorating shops and cafes.  I stopped for a coffee and this guy commented on my shoes.  Next thing I know he was trying to give me a foot massage, saying he was a reflexologist, and suggesting I might want to pay him for the service – very opportunistic!!

Next stops in the area were Lafayette Cemetery, founded in 1833 (there is quite a fascination with death and voodoo in the area), and Camellia Grill (a diner where the cooks throw things around, shout out orders, and generally slop food of a plate..entertaining).  I wasn’t really hungry so had my first root beer and a piece of apple pie.

Back in the French Quarter, I strolled along Bourbon St (avoid at all cost! It is titty bars and “frat” boys behaving badly – amazing contrast to the other parallel streets that are antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, cafes and gift shops), then bought a famous “Hurricane – to go”.  A Hurricane has bourbon and other stuff in it (not quite certain what), and to go means take away so you can wander the streets drinking it, just as well I say as it is so potent that it took me 1.5 hours to drink half of it.

Tonight I had dinner at Coop’s Place, so I could have a cajun meal.  I was seated up at the bar and was talking to an Australian couple from Sydney and John who lives in NO.  I had a red bean dish with sausage and rabbit jambalaya (spelling) and fried chicken – really tasty, and a couple of margarita’s to wash it down with.  John was full of information on New Orleans, and America in general which was fascinating.

Wandering back to the B&B I stopped via Frenchmen St again for jazz and to learn about the çrawfish”, a delicacy in the area.  I have arrived at the start of crawfish season, and they look just like yabbies that are boiled up with secret cajan spices.  The people in the bars love them!

Day 11 - New Orleans

French Quarter

French Quarter

French Quarter

Wall art on a jazz club

Beignets and chicory coffee

Lafittes's Blacksmith Shop Bar

Spotted Cat

View of St Louis Cathedral from Jackson Square

Hello to all my followers out there - 14 of you!!  Sorry if I am getting long winded but main intention of this blog was to keep a record of my travels so I can reflect on in later life...and as you all know, I am long winded.

I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!!!  I am sitting on a swing chair on the balcony at the B&B, drinking a James Brown (iced coffee with vanilla ice cream), and recharging my batteries before I head out for dinner and some jazz.


I headed out early today after breakfast, and walked into the French Quarter in 15 minutes (all so close here).  New Orleans is divided up into a couple of different areas, according to the heritage it retains so there is the French Quarter, then there is the Garden District (American area), etc.  Just walking in I see how lush it is here, loads of azalias out in bloom, and the architecture is amazing - weatherboard houses with verandahs and shutters, of many different colours. 


I arrived at the tourist information centre so access the free hour walking tour of the river (we are right on the bank of the Mississippi river), but they already had too many people so I wandered around town myself, going from one place to another that I had read about or Phillip had told me of.  I walked along the riverfront and debated going on a steamer ride for 2 hours (paddle steamer), but after so much time on the train I wanted to walk.  I stopped for beiguets (donuts drowning in icing sugar) and the chicory coffee (no need for sugar, pour the remaining icing sugar in and stir!) for morning tea and muffellatta for lunch (from an Italian grocer..it is traditional bread with ham, salami, mortadello and olive tapenade - more like pickled green olives, carrots, celery and onion) which as really yummy.  For both occasions I was sitting in a park in the sunshine and listening to music whilst eating.


As you stroll around the French Quarter,  you are constantly hearing music - school orchestras, buskers, and performers.  I visited St Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Lafitte's Blacksmith (first bar in NO but was set up to look like a blacksmith as a front for selling alcohol) - had a beer in here and chatted to some people from Washington DC, then walked past the house Tennessee Williams stayed in many years ago when he wrote "Streetcar Named Desire"(brings back fond memories of my 40th birthday present......STELLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA). 


Davo - If you are out there, I got another fridge magnet from Hard Rock Cafe for you.  Consider them your birthday present!

Headed to a recommended restaurant on Frenchmen St, got talking to an elderly couple from Colorado who shared their escargot with me.  Although I wanted to try more traditional Creole food, most of the dishes had shellfish so I passed.  Frenchmen St reminds me of Smith St, with a wide variety of people, good food, music and plenty of entertainment.  After dinner I headed back into the French Quarter to see it at night, and listen to street performers.

Finished the night at the Spotted Cat, a funky bar with a great jazz band.  There is no cover charge – all they ask is that you buy a drink a set.

Day 10 - More train and arrival in New OrlANs

This train travel is the way to go.  Rachel our attendee arranged for breakfast in bed!  It arrived about 7.30am so I could gradually wake up.  I had a pretty good sleep, just a brief interruption with a rattling panel which responded well to a torn out page from a magazine folded up and stuffed in the crack.  I stayed in my pj’s most of the morning reading the paper then labeling all the photos I have taken so far.  It was good to get them on the pc, and save a copy on the USB.

How funny it is having a shower in a moving train.  I giggled a couple of times as I tried to stay upright, but generally it was just really great being clean.

The vegetation is changing all the time, as is the look of the houses and areas we pass through.  As we travel south, everything is greener and more lush, with bursts of colour eg wild wisteria growing.  Pat knows her plants, and writes a blog on it (www.commonweeder.com – Pat Leuchtman) so I will check it out when I can.  Henry has provided great knowledge on the areas we pass through though it is also new to them so sometimes they aren’t certain. 

At lunch I sat in the dining car with Henry and Pat, and with an Argentinean woman who was in New Orleans last week and is returning after visiting friends.  She told us fascinating information on Argentina, and places to see in NO.  I am getting excited as the weather is going to be a lot warmer and the lady said that it is fascinating place to visit and experience.

To arrive in New Orleans the train goes over a bridge that crosses a big body of water...it is a bit like going across to Phillip Is. You then hit the outskirts and very quickly see that despite the fact Hurricane Katrina was about 6 years ago, there is still a lot of evidence of the devastation.  A number of houses we went past were obviously abandoned as no longer habitable, but there are a number of new houses as well.

We arrived in at the station about 7.30pm, and I said farewell to Henry (my American educator) and Pat.  I caught a taxi (not certain if that is the term, huge Lincoln car, passenger door nearly falling off, driver possibly doesn't have a licence but is a huge Stevie Wonder fan) to the bed & breakfast that I booked on line.  The proprietors were waiting for me, and checked me in.  Phillip and David are originally from Texas but moved here 7 years ago - they fit right into the laid back lifestyle.

Phillip gave me an orientation of the house...13 foot ceilings, weatherboard 2 storey with servants quarters out the back, hot tubes in the courtyard and a fountain, old style furnishings, and huge bedrooms.  He also explained about New Orleans, places to go, things to see, restaurants/cafes to eat in.  He said the main attractions in New Orleans are the food (mixture of Spanish, French, with a few other nationalities thrown and loads of seafood - not so good for me), the climate (to be about 26-27c the next couple of days when it is 4c in NY and snowing!!), the architecture, the music, bars and the relaxed lifestyle.

Spent the night in...really tired and after the train trip feel as if I am swaying (as if on a boat).

Day 9 - 30 hours by train

Amtrak train - not disability friendly!

View in my cabin



Upstairs and down



Breakfast in bed

It snowed today!!!  I was so excited - about the only one in NY who was I think as everyone else is over the cold.  It is officially the first day of spring (depends on weather not being 1 March).  It was really wet and freezing cold so spent the morning packing and sending emails.

Great news, got a reservation at a restaurant/cafe in Richmond, London called Petersham Nurseries.  An Australian girl is the head chef and recently got a Michelin star.  I booked a table for Katrina and I when we spend the day in London together on 20 April. Az has also sent me confirmation that we are going to Lords on June 6 for England vs Sri Lanka.  Yippeeee!!

Packing for New Orleans was not easy as it is freezing cold in NY, but about 25c during the day in New Orleans.  Anyway, got the job done and headed to Manhattan to catch the Amtrak train...a 30 hour trip all up.  Kitty thinks I am mad...maybe I am.

The train is fabulous!!!  I have my own sleeper cabin with lounge seats on the lower level, a toilet and wash sink.  a bed then drops from above so I can sleep on the top bunk.  Henry and Pat (American couple from Massachuttes - spelling?) are in the cabin next to me and are very friendly.  They had a travel book on New Orleans (they are going there too) which I borrowed to read up on the place.  I had grabbed some magazines (only approx $4.00 each, so cheap!!) and chilled out and watched the scenery go by. 

Dinner in the dining car (all meals included in cost of $310 ticket) consisted of salad, Southern fried chicken with mashed potato and beans, then sorbet for dessert.  Henry and I were civilized and had a wine each.   What a great way to travel.  Our trip takes us through Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC,  and Atlanta (only town names I recognised!)

Funny moment: 

On the subway to Manhattan, at a stop, a black woman (it is alright to say black, can also use African American) woman stood up to leave the train, and quietly said to the white woman sitting opposite her (and next to me) to "close your legs, you can see your undies".  The white woman said "thank you" and did as suggested.  Priceless!  My question is, would you have seen this in Australia or England??

Day 8 - NY Half Marathon.

NY Half Marathon finishibng line

View of Hudson River

Let me start by saying no I did not run it, and had no intention of running it! 

After a lengthy period of time getting into Manhattan due to subway track repair work, I arrived at the finish line of the half marathon and went in search of Kitty.  She didn't think she would finish til about half 10 but after wandering around the finish line and after party site, I realised I missed her (not surprising considering the large number of people in the area!)  It was again sunny but really cold wind so I headed away from this area of the financial district that sits right at the southern-most point of Manhattan, on the banks of the Hudson River, and walked north up West St (great bike and walking path) to Soho.

Until now I had only really been out to dinner, not to a restaurant or cafe for lunch.  I found one in Soho called Aurora, and it was perfect!  Cute waiters, fabulous coffee, and a great brunch of eggs, tomatoes, mozzarella and pancetta cooked in a skillet. 

Spent early afternoon looking in the various art gallaries in Soho, and then got to the Young Designers Market (Shell - thanks for the recommendation).

Headed to Kitty's place to spend the afternoon doing washing, packing for New Orleans, updating the blog, photos (taken 500 in a week!) etc.  Played a couple of games of Phase 10 - ready for a game Az!

Notes:

·         early on I was told to say 'New Orlans', not 'New OrlEANs'

·         an Asiago bagel is pronounced 'Asi-ah-go', not 'Asia-go'

·         it is 'r-OUTe', not 'root'

·         I say Melb'n, NY'rs say MelbOURNe

·         Fashion in NY for men and women is jeans and white sneakers (trainers), and women are into ugg and gum boots

·         DO NOT think of having a low fat option bagel...having it plain ie not toasted with butter is pointless

·         all I had to do was ask ïs this the queue for the toilet", and I was asked where I come from.  In US they say line, not queue

·         there is an apartment building in the middle of Manhattan specifically for people who are legally blind - in Victoria there might be concerns of it being a mini-institution, but in another sense the building would be appropriately modified and the only way to get affordable housing in Manhattan with a vision impairment.

Day 7 - Greenwich Village, High Line and Green Heels

Union Square Greenmarket

Washington Square Park piano player

West Village

High line

View from High line

I must be unwinding now as I didn't jump out of bed and hurry up so that I could get out sight-seeing.  Late morning I arrived via subway at Union Square (park area that has a weekend Green Market selling art, food and plants).  I bought a bag of fresh pretzels - they are the same as Oz, very crunchie, just bigger.

Heading south I walked through Greenwich Village, an area dominated by New York University so passed a number of bars, cheaper food shops and essential services like the post office, as well as bigger buildings labelled as being the various faculties.  Bought some great homemade soup then sat in a park - Washington Square in the sunshine (about 15c but warmer in the sun), and listened to various people taking turns playing an old piano that was sitting in the middle of the park.

Moving aIong I continued into the more exclusive area of West Village, but first bought a pair of fabulous green heeled shoes...only $60.00 and really unique.  I had intended on stocking up on winter wardrobe items when I left Oz as they are on sale here, but now figure there isn't a lot of point as I won't have a winter again til May 2012.

Arrived in the Meatpacking District (blend of working slaughter houses, clubs and gentrification), and had ever intention of collapsing on a bar stool for a red wine as the wind was really cold.  However, that is when I spotted the entry to the High Line (recommendation by Choc)...it is an above-ground green space, based around an elevated railway, that has been turned into a park with benches, plants and provides fabulous views of the Hudson River.  I loved it up there, and had a long chat to an elderly man from New Jersey.

It was freezing cold though so left the High Line and went to the nearest bar for a "gutsy" red wine.  By chance the girl I was sitting next to at the bar was an Australian from Newcastle, currently living in Manchester (memories of Maria!!)  The bar was really  quaint with a lot of wood panelling, crystal in cabinets, old silver platters and oil paintings on the walls, led lighting and an open fire.  It was heaven for the next 2 hours.

I then met with Kitty and 'Marty Karate' for a carb dinner.  Both of them were running in the New York half marathon the following day so were loading up on pasta.  Good early meal before I jumped on the subway for Queens...Kitty was staying in Manhattan the night so she could get up early for the marathon.

Day 6 - Brooklyn

American school bus

eating icecream whilst looking at Brooklyn Bridge

Typical Brooklyn Heights architecture

Walking across Brooklyn Bridge

Flatiron Building - Manhattan

There are 2 main areas of NY that I have been to to date, staying in Queens, then crossing over to Manhattan (I call it "they city" but don't think M/hattan-ites would like this).  I decided to head over to Brooklyn today, and had another sleep in as very little sleep last night (I think I am now over jet lag and now my mind is going a hundred miles an hour planning what I want to see and do....in other words, I am still not yet in holiday mode but that will come).


I used the subway to get to Brooklyn (on the Queens side of the East River).  I started off in Dumbo (short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), looked around the shops then headed NW to the park under the Brooklyn Bridge.  The Bridge is a NY icon...opened in 1883, and was the world's first steel suspension bridge.  It really is lovely, and I kinda also like the Manhattan Bridge which runs parallel to it but you don't want to say that too loud as most people think it is a steel monstrosity.


I spend time wandering around the Brooklyn Promenade, eating icecream, enjoying the sun (23c today!!) and admiring the views of Manhattan.  I then continued along the Promenade and walked through Brooklyn Heights (oldest unchanged n/hood in NY - according to Lonely Planet) which has gorgeous multi-level buildings made of brownstone.  Just like movies I have seen in the past.  From here...yes, still walking!!...I walked through Brooklyn to the Bridge and walked across to Manhattan (took about half an hour after stopping many times and taking photos). I was talking to a guy who told me he grew up in Brooklyn but had not ever walked across the bridge.  The view was spectacular, and it was even better because of the gorgeous weather, now 25c.


Heading uptown (all very logical in NY, you have the east side, uptown, downtown, and streets in numerical order...makes it oh so much easier to navigate), I was crossing Park Ave when this lady was going by in a cycle rickshaw with a man sitting next to her.  Before I knew it I said "OMG it's Jacki Weaver".  How embarrassing....she heard, as did the others around me.  She waved and said hello with a big smile on her face.  It is bizarre, only celebrity I have seen to date is Australian and I watched Animal Kingdom on the plane - she was really good!!


As it was a really mild evening I grabbed a iced green tea with ginger from a great place (Argo), a Wall St Journal, then sat in a park filling in a couple of hours.  Before meeting Kitty I went shopping for jeans - new season Levi's only $47!!!  There are a lot of bargains here. Kitty and I headed to an Indian restaurant that was really good, and got home about 11pm.  Another fabulous but exhausting (I need a thesaurus) day.


Am I boring you all yet????

Day 5 - 250th St Pat's in New York

St Pat's fan

St Pat's parade

St Pat's parade - America's music!

Renn look alike

Empire State Building

Inside NY State Library

What an amazing spectacle.  I arrived in Manhattan at 11am to watch the St Pat's parade.  I had grabbed a coffee and a bagel on the way (note: not point thinking a bagel without being toasted and butter is ok...not so, it is boring!!  I ordered an Asiago bagel - guy couldn't understand me when I called it an Asia-go bagel, it is an Asi-ah-go bagel!)

Anyway, 1 person back from the front watching the parade, and I took just so many photos.  It started off with loads of police, service men and women, senior people at the council, and then the Irish.  Loads of people were dressed up for the event, so there was a lot of green.  I heard that there was 200,000 participating in the parade and 2 mill watching!!! It was incredible..hope to learn to attach some photos to this to give you and idea.  I did at times feel that I was at schoolies, with some elderly people and families also present...the kids were kicking up their heels and in a loud and generally obnoxious way but it was entertaining.  I lasted watching the parade for 1.5 hours then went off shopping as I was cold and my legs hurt (temp was about 15c).

I found a shop my SIL (sis-in-law) requested products from, then bought a hot soup from Hale and Hearty (about 20 different types of soup and can have crackers or bread with it).  I walking past more people partying St Pat's style before I made my way to Bryant Park...the sun was out and the park was a gorgeous place to sit...though not quiet.  Loads of people out of offices for lunch and loud St Pat's revellers.  I spoke to a couple of kids (about 15 years of age) who said that Catholic and Private schools got St Pat's day off as a holiday and so they decided to take it off too.  1 out of the 3 of them had an Irish heritage.  They indicated that St Pat's is really important to the majority of NY'rs.

Next stop was New York Public Library, and this was a brilliant building...again, hope to show photos. Thanks for recommending Phil, this place was definitely a highlight as the architecture is amazing, with huge big rooms, murals on the ceiling, and it is a fully operational library.

I made my way home, after doing a bit of shopping, via the Grand Central Station...another incredible building.  I think this is something that has surprised me, the outstanding architecture.  I really am overawed by it all.

I made my way back to Kitty's place, carrying a number of bags of goodies, but still finding strength to purchase a 6 pack of Corona's.  I know I have said it before but I was EXHAUSTED, and needed to rest my legs.  

I LOVE NEW YORK!!! (can you tell??)

PS Saw a huge rat on the subway lines...uggggggg.

Day 3 - Culture and more walking

Inside Guggenheim

Street buskers

Strawberry Fields - John Lennon memorial

Note to self - just because a museum has the largest collection of Robert Maplethorpe photographs, it doesn't mean they are on exhibit. 

Today I decided to visit a museum as it was really wet in the morning.  I didn't have a good night sleep, still trying to get use to US time so didn't get in at opening time, instead getting in at 11am.  Once again, subway to Manhatten, this time heading north.  I walked through a more prestigeous area of Manhatten to the Guggenheim - what a building!  It is shaped like a spiral, so you start at the bottom and follow the spiralling path upwards approx 5 levels.  I loved the architecture.  I admit I was disappointed not to see Maplethorpe's work, but saw Monet's, Leger's Kandinsky, and Picasso.  It was also fascinating hearing all the accents of other museum visitors.

A couple of hours later the rain had cleared so I walked along the edge of Central Park to to the steps of the MET (another museum), and listened to a group of African American singers performing motown songs with a base player.  They were fabulous.

From there I wandered around Central Park which really is huge and gorgeouse.  Pity I wasn't it NY a month later when all the buds of the trees would turn into green leaves and flowers - a little brown at the moment.  I wandered around the Park, visited Strawberry Fields (dedicated to John Lennon), the Dakota building where he was shot (and Yoko still lives - gorgeous building!!), and had my first hot dog (have to remember to ask for ketchup next time...got a blank look when asked for tomato sauce).

I left Central Park and kept walking through Manhattan.  The traffic is chaotic, and I was surprised that even emergency vehicles had trouble getting through - there is just no room to move.  I made my way past the Trump International Tower and Hotel, and Time Square to get to the HUGE department store Macey's.  It was a little too busy for my liking so didn't stay long.

I met Kitty at her dojo (where she does karate) and we headed out for a Thai meal (thanks again Phil for the shout).  All in all a fabulous day, ticked off a number of sites, but in the end was EXHAUSTED.  There are just so many stairs entering and exiting subways.  I really wish I did what Marlene did - take a pedometer.....would be mind blowing how far I walked.

Just a note re the subway at night, it really does feel safe as long as you don't eyeball anyone.  There are some strange characters as you can imagine, you just have to be discrete when looking.  There is a police station in the subway entry at Kitty's place so even in the outer suburbs I feel safe.

Day 2 - DFO on steroids

Sorry to my followers for my delay in updating my blog...having way too much fun and a few late nights.  Lets see if I can bring you up to speed.

Day two and I decided to follow Kitty's philosophy and start from the furtherest point out and work my way in.  Just as a side, Kitty is a friend of friends, they know each other from Seido Karate.  She is a Chinese American, and has also lived in Japan.  I met her originally when she came to Sydney a number of years ago, and more recently when she stayed with Fi and Phil in Melb.

Anyway, I decided to make my way to Woodbury Common...I think Sasha called it DFO on steroids or maybe I am using a variation on her "Sephora is Mecca on drugs".  Anyway, I caught the subway all myself from Queens (where Kitty lives, approx 40 - 1 hour from Manhattan) to the bus station, missed the bus by 10 min so had to wait another hour for the next bus.  The bus trip out to W/Common then took another hour so didn't get there til noon.  Drive there was amazing, trees and shrubs all brown and lacking leaves from winter (very different to lush Melbourne), past distinct yellow school buses, Wal-Mart, 'lumber yards'etc'.  

W/Common is on a block of land as big as Chadstone (so very big), and all the shops are single story and separate for each store.  There is Fendi, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Nike, Esprit, Gap, sunglasses shops, homewares, luggage shops, children's ware.....just crazy.  I was pretty restrained, bought a cabin sized suitcase on wheels (will be handy for short trips away eg New Orleans), sunglasses, t-shirts and walking shoes.  Spent about 5 hours there and was then over it.  Weather was lovely and sunny but very cool when I left at 5pm.  

Bus back to city (peak hour) took a 1.5 hours, but great views again of US life, especially past the Indians base ball ground and terrain that reminded me of Twin Peaks (anyone remember'"wrapped in plastic"??) After we got back into Manhatten, then had to take the subway back to Queens.  All in all, I was out and about for 11 hours - totally exhausted but very proud of myself that I did it all by myself.