11 months from leaving home and we are in New
York. It would only have taken 7 hours by plane but it was much more
exciting to come in to the harbour on our own boat. The trip up the Hudson
was fabulous. You see so many of the sights from the water - Statue of
Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, and the Manhattan skyline.
Being a Sunday it was very hectic with other pleasure boats, numerous ferries
and sightseeing boats and helicopters overhead. We moored in the 79th
Street Basin which is run by New York City. We walked across from the
marina to Central Park, about 15 minutes walk away. It was a
beautiful sunny Sunday and the park was buzzing. Great for people
watching. The skate dancers were there and several musicians. The
city has put out pianos for a couple of weeks and people can play as they go
past. Strawberry Fields was very busy but no pretty rose petal display on
it this time. We then walked back to the boat via Broadway which is only 5
minutes away. After dinner we went for a walk along the riverbank.
The path is being used the whole time by walkers, runners and cyclists. At
a pier about 10 minutes away there was music being played and masses of couples
were salsa dancing.
Every time we enter a new State we have to call Customs
and Border Patrol. When we called them in New York they could not find our
details on their computer. The officer in Baltimore was called and after
numerous telephone calls a new cruising permit was issued. Lets hope this
one works!
Monday morning we caught the subway to the south of
Manhattan. Andrew thought it was hilarious that the (blind) ticket lady on
the subway asked if I was over 65 so she could give me a discount!! Oh
dear, more face cream and some hair colour definitely needed!!!!! We
went back to look at all the building works going on at Ground Zero, a huge
development happening with a memorial and museum being built too. St Pauls
Chapel right opposite the site was built in 1766. The church was used for
volunteers during the rescue operation. The City of London presented the
chapel with a "bell of Hope" in 2002 which was cast in the same foundry as Big
Ben and the Liberty Bell. Inside the church there was an orchestra
rehearsing for a concert, playing Bach. We sat and listened, it was
lovely. We wandered up round City Hall and then through Chinatown.
It was just like being in Hong Kong for a few streets. We caught the
subway back to Times Square and then went back to Ellens Stardust Diner.
It was too early for dinner so we just had a drink but one of the waiters did a
great performance, really enjoyable. We had walked miles so had a quiet
dinner back on Alice.
Tuesday we went down to Macys and then back to Times
Square to get some show tickets from the TKTS office. There was a huge
yoga session going on over the whole of the square, shame I didnt have my mat
with me! We got tickets to see The Jersey Boys that evening. Spent
the afternoon browsing round 5th Avenue, Tiffanys, the Rockefella Centre and
then went back to Ellens for an early dinner before the theatre. The show
was great, very fast and good entertainment.
We left Manhattan yesterday to go through to Long Island
Sound. This meant passing through the infamous "Hell Gate". We had
over 5 knots of current with us and the water swirls around, very difficult to
steer through. We are now anchored off City Island. Went ashore to the
City Island Yacht Club for a meal. It was race night and they have a big fleet
of J24s. Unfortunately it rained and there was no wind so the race was
abandoned.
