Last days with Ed and Ginny
Trip Start
Jun 27, 2009
1
3
6
Trip End
Jul 26, 2009
New York City,
New York,
United States
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The last few days have been jam packed, with a 2 day party for July 4 and another day in NYC. Here is a summary...
( I have only a sample of the pictures I took. To see more, go to http://gallery.me.com/pelooyen and see all the photos.)
On July 3, Ed and Ginny's kids and their spouses (and kids) started arriving throughout the day, and then young couples from church came as well - all for a pool party with lots and lots of hot wings. YUM YUM. In case you don't know, hot wings, or Buffalo Wings, are spicy chicken wings served with Blue cheese dressing. The boys made a variant of the ones I make in Australia, and I take note - I will be making it their way from now on.
Weather was gorgeous, so the pool was well used. I also learned a new game called Ladderball. Great game for parties. We also played a great board game called Settlers of Catan. Ed and Ginny taught it to me only days before, and we were playing it till 1am, though by that time I wasn't playing that well.
On July 4 (Independence Day) , the day started lazily. The family were still here and it was just cool to relax with them all over breakfast. I do really feel part of the family. Later in the day Ed's sisters and his mom and dad arrived as well and the partying continued, culminating with a local fireworks display.
July 5 - the family were still here, so a lazy start to the day with some swimming, but by mid afternoon, everyone had left.
Ed and Ginny
I then planned my day 2 of my NY venture....but not before one last game of Settlers, which I WON!!July 6
6.00am - Ed and I leave for NYC, driving into Staten Is, to catch the ferry. Am surprised that the ferry is free and with $7 parking all day at the terminal, this has got to be the cheapest way to get into downtown. Whereas last Wednesday was all midtown, today is all lower Manhattan.
9.00am - Arrive at the Ferry terminal near Battery Park. Ed has to go to work and so I am left to my own devices. First stop, the famous Bull on Broadway. Take a picture from front and rear (err...decide not to publish the rear photo in case I might offend the sensitive but if you want to see, go to the gallery and see the 'ballsy' one.)
10.00am On Wall St. as tempted to buy on the Stock Exchange but concerned that my actions may cause a market shake-up and so I decide to 'bide my time'. Then took a train to Brooklyn.
11.30am - Sitting under the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side. The view is PHENOMENAL. I have always wanted to be here and now I am here. I just sit and soak up the view, as well as take lots of artsy photos. I am amused and fascinated by a orthodox jewish school excursion who are taking the kids to see the bridge for the first time. Definitely a NYC experience (see photos in gallery). I walk up to the bridge and walk across. A fantastic experience.
12.30pm - Having walked across the bridge, I am now at the City Hall district and sitting on the Supreme Court steps, eating a NY hotdog.
will I catch it
These are the same steps you see on Law and Order, practically every episode. I look around for Jack McCoy but do not find him. Guess he doesn't need my legal advice.1.30pm - Do some more walking, further north, and into Chinatown. Also go by the World Trade Center site as well as the St Pauls church which surprisingly remained unscathed during the attack since it is right next door. This is the oldest continually used building in NYC and the last building from the colonial era. The church served as a resting place for all the volunteers after the attack.
3.00pm - Getting quite tired by now. Exploring Battery Park, much of which was made by landfill from the WTC when it was built in the late 60's early 70's. It also contained the mangled sphere sculpture which was in WTC plaza. A poignant symbol now of the attack. Photo in the gallery.
5.00pm - Head over to South St Seaport which used to be where many ships docked, but has been redeveloped into a tourist place. I meet Ed there but we decide to not eat dinner there - too touristy. Instead we go to Stone St which is just off Wall St where there is a street full of local restaurants with seating outside. It is where all the locals go and so it is a very NYC experience.
8.00pm We head home, catching the ferry and drive, arriving home at 11.45pm. A long day.
I enjoyed lower Manhattan much more than Midtown. Although Midtown has a lot of attractions, it is also very touristy. Lower Manhattan, with its narrow streets and older skyscrapers (Woolworths building was the first skyscraper in Manhattan) has a much more intimate feel about it. The streets follow the same route as those laid out in the 1600's.
In a few hours I leave and go to Scott and Lisa's. They are also great friends. I know Scott from uni days, having lived with him at Macquarie University. He married and lovely American girl and so moved to the US. So off to Baltimore I go...
Stay tuned for more.....
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Message from Australian Customs
The Australian Immigration Department, having viewed your blog, has decided that your trip to the US has turned you into such a dag that you have become a dangerous risk to the intelligence of our country. Your Australian Citizenship has been revoked and should you attempt to re-enter our county you will be stopped and arrested at the aiport. You wife and family are being held in protective custody as we speak.