Day 11 - New York, New York

Iconic

We took a little while to get going in the morning.  We spent the first few hours wandering the streets, including Times Square (it was not at all as I remembered it from 25 years ago).  Bev had been recommended that we should have a Gyro from a street vendor which we did.  Essentially they are some cooked meat or felafel in a pita bread with some salad and of course dressing.  They were very tasty. 

Bryant Park

We walked a whole lot of streets going past a very pretty park called Bryant Park.  Then we ended up near where we had started.  Bev bought us a package of tickets for one of those hop on/hop off buses.  We then took the bus on the downtown tour and got off near the 9/11 memorial and then wandered around for a while.  

Times Square (and yes it was a grey day)

The bus tour did provide some insights, for instance there are separate parks for big dogs and little dogs, of course their owners accompany them.  There is a also and area in Greenwich Village where they cannot do their commentary.  Apparently the locals found it discomforting to have buses with their loudspeakers going past every few minutes. 

The highlight for me of the day was going to Cecile’s (a woman we met on the Milford Track) place opposite Central Park for a drink which turned to be a very nice dinner.  We met her husband and couple of her friends.  We had a simple but wonderful meal.  She regaled us with tales of being at the Correspondents Dinner which is hosted by the President.  She didn’t go to the dinner instead the before and after parties and had taken her daughter Lily.  She had got to bed rather late that night so I was surprised, in hindsight that she had been able to do such a nice meal.  Her friends were also very nice and interesting as was her husband.  

We then navigated the subway and bus back to our accommodation.

I was a bit shattered at the end of the day.  It is something I often find when I have my first day in a place with which I am unfamiliar.  And a place like New York is a bit overwhelming.