New York - Day 2

Up reasonably early again, we set off for the Big Apple to see what today will bring.  Taking the water taxi again, we hop off at the World Trade Centre this morning and go to see Ground Zero.



The water feature at Ground Zero and looking over to the World Trade Centre.  The names of all those lost are inscribed around the edge of the water feature.

Freedom One Tower - first to be rebuilt and they are working on more.  You can go up this but we had heard it was disappointing and due to the cost we opted not to.





Inside the World Trade Centre.....

Freedom One Tower behind World Tarde Centre.

Dog walking in the Big Apple....

Lunch in Little Italy was great sitting on the sidewalk watching the traffic and people.  Good food at a reasonable price.


Chinatown - authentic as seen by the fish market above and a great experience buying a handbag on Canal Street............

Next stop, Dakota Building where John Lennon lived and was shot.



Some neat iron work on the building.....










Strawberry fields dedication to John in Central Park.

Central Park.....with its many ponds and fountains was a great place to visit and relax in the afternoon. 



Hire a boat, watch the turtles and take in the scenery..........

We stop to watch street performers who were very entertaining... as Daryl says it's all about taking the money from the punters but they did a good show.

If you look you may be able to see the guy in the centre of the photo wearing blue shorts has just jumped over all the guys bending down.

Some beautiful photos have been taken down this path under the trees.






More ponds and back out into the streets of high rise buildings, such a contrast.    Horse and cart rides are a popular option to see Central Park - we just pounded the hoof.....

Art work is everywhere in New York City




He wasn't shy..........

We hop a train back to times Square and then check out Hard Rock Café for Daryl's collection.  We stay there a couple of hours - there was some boy band concert on in part of the building......... screaming teenagers filled the air.

Making our way down the Empire State Building, we take the ride up just after sunset - beautiful.

Fabulous views - lots of people everywhere - we had to walk up & down the last 6 flights as too many people to take the elevator.  There were more than a few puffed people on those stairs and not everyone made it!


But the view was worth it - just stunning.

We find our way home after this and put our feet up - another big day out!

Jackon to New Jersey City / New York

Leaving Jackson, we head for New Jersey City as this is where the closest camp to New York is.

It was a horrible trip in, as cities usually are, narrow roads and congested traffic......

But we arrive by lunch time and head out to find our way to NY by walking down the road where we find a railway station, so we jump on.

We end up at Hoboken Transit Terminal and take the water ferry over to Pier 11.




Me with the Brooklyn bridge in background.

We take the Staten Island ferry which is free and goes past the Statute of Liberty.  Manhattan skyline.

Our escort............................. security is very evident here!

Next is Statue Cruise which takes you out to Liberty Island for $8.

Daryl wanted to go up the statute but unfortunately we learn that you need to book months in advance to do this.  We have to settle for walking around the base but this is still amazing!

 Back in New York, we wander around the gardens down at South Ferry and make our way back to Pier 11 with the idea of taking the Big Bus tour only to find it is 6.30pm and they are finishing but we ask about the night tour & they will take us down to this, which leaves from Time Square, so we take this opportunity for the night tour ($35 each).

Spur of the moment thing......

Times Square


Our night tour starts here and luckily we had the sense to get off our bus & get straight in line as the line grew behind us and went the full block!  We only had to wait about half an hour but missed diner.......  won't hurt us!  Much...


Times Square......

On the Night Tour leaving Times Square.........














We take in the Chrysler building and the Empire State building as we make our way down to one of the bridges to Brooklyn.

 More pics from the Night Tour.....










As we cross over the bridge, we get a fantastic view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Hudson River in the night skyline.

Brooklyn Bridge by night - beautiful!

Coming back through the city we visit many spots, Chinatown, Little Italy, Greenwich Village, Canal Street..... the list goes on.

We end up back in Times Square and have a quick look before catching the Metro to find a way home - this proved more difficult than first anticipated.  We realise the water taxis have all stopped for the night and try to find a train home.  Fortunately a guy that is a tourist guide gathered we were lost and pointed us in the right direction, as we needed to find the PATH trains to Jersey....  After a round trip back to fourteenth Ave, another couple of pleas for help, we eventually made it back to camp around midnight!  Time for bed!  Sore feet!

New Castle, DE (Day Trip from Lums Pond)

Time for a tiki tour around the area to see what
we can find in Delaware.  Heading for Newark to find out what was there  - Delaware University!  Guess what - it is time that all the parents have dropped there children back at Uni and the Uni is 99% of this town! 
We walk the main and then head for Christiana shopping mall to have a look - Delaware is a tax free state.  I pick up a couple of tops on sale.

Finally we head for New Castle which is by the beach and find this very old English/French style town on the shore - quaint place.


We have an ice cream and walk along the park by the sea before heading home via a Walmart for supplies.....

Some neat old buildings (1682 of the right) and an old pub where we picked up the ice creams.