Saturday in the Park,

and it was not the 4th of July!  ( Reference to a Chicago song, for the younger readers ;-)  )

Saturday morning we headed uptown on the M15 bus to 96th street on the upper East side.
We bought a 7 day MTA travel card which gives you unlimited travel on the subway and buses all over Manhattan, and it's a great way to get around.

I like getting the bus because you can see the street scape, and get your bearings much better than going underground. Also on the buses you won't be accosted by noisy buskers etc, so its a far more pleasurable way to see the sights. No need to do the hop on hop off tourist bus, you can do it for less this way, with more flexibility.

We took breakfast in a diner called Three Guys and then headed off to explore the neighbourhood.  We found this store called Papyrus which is incredibly beautiful and sells one of my most favourite things of all time, can you guess?

Stationery!  Yes, I bought up big and now have next years birthdays covered as well as some more cute boxed set correspondence cards. 

Next was Central Park, we did a loop around the reservoir, having to dodge all the runners, walkers and prams going around, as I said it was another glorious morning so the city looked great and so here are a few pics to show off to you.

I think I'll take this apartment on 5th Ave  overlooking Central Park 

A Little bit of Paris in NYC.

 After the park, another  bus ride saw us downtown and ready to walk the high line. We did it last time we were here, but it was winter and this time was a whole difference experience. A lot more people for one thing and all the gorgeous foliage and plants, they are extending the high line, so it looks like I'll be doing it again next time!

FYI, just before you get on the high line at 30th street, there is the US Postal service big dispatch depot, and on the side of one of the walls, I found this plaque.

A bit of history

We finished off at the meat packing district, at Sephora to get some makeup essentials for the party that night. Then it was home for a pre-emptive nap and then the party prep begins…..

to be continued………..

A bite of the Big Apple

I am beginning to wonder how many more cliches I can make of NYC before I go home!

We have been so busy, I have worn out my boots (so sad, I will need to get a new pair!). Yesterday (Boxing Day which is not celebrated here, but it was a sort of holiday because Christmas was on a Sunday) Vince and I walked from our house in 120th Street down to Columbus Circle at 58th Street, which is quite a hike! We went though Central Park and then along Central Park West to the Dakota building, which I do not have to tell you what it is famous for, do I? Here is a pic I took from Central park showing the manhattan skyline

It was surprising that the Dakota did not seem as awe inspiring as it was the first time I saw it, maybe I am beginning to get blasé in my middle age!
Anyway Columbus circle was very crowded and it was getting cold so we ducked in to a Starbucks and warmed up and then took an adventure on the M7 bus which almost delivered us directly to our door. The location here is excellent for transport, we have 3 express buses ( that I have counted and ridden on so far) plus 2 subway lines, and only a 10 block walk from central park. I highly recommend this area if you are planning to stay for any length of time here. Below are some pics I took on Christmas Eve, I bought some lovely roses from the local market, and made the living room all cosy and pretty, the tree is downstairs in the TV room, this house is huge. I made a video but for some reason I cannot upload it, so I might put it on Face book for anyone who is interested in seeing the house.

From kitchen looking towards dining area and front sitting room

Looking back from sitting room toward kitchen

Today we had a family day, Amy and Elaine went to the Natural History Museum, and the rest of the gang we went to the NYC public library, it is an amazing building, when it was built it was the largest marble building in the USA and the staff had to be given special rubber shoes because of the hard marble floors, ( I can attest to that, I am nursing some sore feet myself this evening!).
Stopped off to watch the skaters at Bryant Park, here is  a snap

We then caught the subway down to China town and met up with everyone and had some dim sum for a late lunch, it was delicious but the service was a bit dodgy and then the waitress accosted us when we were leaving because she said we did not leave enough tip!  We did leave what we thought the service was worth, but I hate this whole tipping thing here, it becomes not a reward for good food and service but an expected part of any transaction, I say just pay everyone a decent salary and leave tips for the extraordinary, like we do at home! That is my homily for today.

We spit up after lunch and Verity and Ingrid went to get their nails done, Here is a sample of Verity's

the rest of us went for a very brief shopping trip to Century 21, ( the boys in the family could only stand 1/2 hour!) so you can be sure that they will be another expedition there.

We had a lot of rain this afternoon which made walking around a bit of a pain but we managed to get the subway back home and now we are all here, safe and sound.

so what tomorrow holds, I am not sure it will depend a bit on the weather, whether it will be an indoor or outdoor day,,,,, stay tuned!