Up early and decided to walk to the East River to look at the United Nations buildings. The gardens and buildings are closed up at the weekends (perhaps nations are only united five days a week). Again, a very cold, bright day. Walk past the Chrysler Building, look at the New York Library and continue to the Empire State. The books warn about waiting for hours to go up it but, at 8.30 on a Sunday morning, there's no delay and I decide to go to the 86 floor observatory. One lift gets to the 80th in 50 seconds: a second lift does the remaining 6 floors in about 10 seconds. There's maybe 50 people up there - all very pleasant and better photo opportunities than in the helicopter. You can go to, I think, the 106th. I didn't go, 'cos I didn't find out 'till I was up there and they couldn't re-ticket. But I very much enjoyed the visit, which was very well organised with lots of very friendly staff.
Then catch the subway North and walk to 'The Met'. This Art Gallery and Museum has some stunning exhibits which go on and on. I only spent a couple of hours there but you could spend days. The Egyptian exhibits were excellent and they've a mouth-watering selection of paintings but there's so much there. Then, a brief walk in Central Park and subway back to the hotel to shower and check out. They'd given me a late checkout 'till 1 p.m., after which they charge. They charge for everything, and quite generously, too. With my luggage in store, a light lunch, a bit of Internet work in the business centre (they charge) and then off to see more.
Another place I've known about since my childhood is Coney Island, so I went there by Subway (although the line I went on eventually becomes elevated, so there's more to see). All the rides and most of the shops were shut and it was cold but sunny so the people were outnumbered by the rather large seagulls. But, of course, I thought it was wonderful. To stand on the Boardwalk, to walk on the sands. Then a different route back to Manhatten, check out Union Square, back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and a taxi out to JFK. Lots of traffic on the roads but my terminal was, thankfully, deserted. Friendly check in, then on to the Admiral's Club (the American Airlines' business lounge) where the excellent internet facilities are free.
And so, gentle reader, you are more or less up to date with my exploits. I could go on at length about the New Yorkers, generally loud and in-yer-face but I liked 'em. I could dwell on the buildings - even modest buildings from the '20s and '30s have some thoughtful detailing which I find very engaging and there is, of course, a plethora of major, iconic buildings. But, I'll think a little before I pontificate. I hadn't realised how many of the place names and even street names are known to all of us. How wonderful to see the originals and start to grasp how it all connects up. When I arrived, I was daunted at the size of the place but it's a reasonably structured layout and the street naming conventions mean that you quickly gain the confidence to go places.
