Day Three

Woken up by some badger getting up at 6am again. Tried to go back to sleep for second day running. Too hot, so got up. Thought about jog around Central Park, then quickly thought of something else.

Headed downtown on the metro to the Federal Reserve Bank (Die Hard 3) (Still doing the movie references).  It was guarded by people with big guns.  Had booked a tour of the building. Gun people let us in. Metal detected and x-rayed before getting in. Weren't allowed to take pictures in there in case Jeremy Irons wants to break in again.  Saw what was the world's most expensive coin, a 1933 double eagle, costing just shy of $7.6million. Its life story was quite funny and fascinating. It is legal tender so if you stole it you can get $20 worth of stuff with it!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1933_Double_Eagle

Went down to the vault which is 50m under sea level sitting on the bedrock on Manhattan Island, guarded by a 90 tonne revolving door.  Saw $240billion worth of gold. Quite impressed.

Bank is on the right

Headed east from bank to the World Trade Centre site.  It is now a construction site. Went into the preview building to see what the finished place will look like. There will be two huge water pools, one in the footprint of each of the two towers plus a visitor centre etc. Very eerie feeling when you think that 9 years ago it would still be there and a few weeks after that it would be gone taking 3000 people with it. When you think it was twice the height of the buildings still standing there, you wonder how they managed to be untouched when such a massive structure collapsed. All in all a worthwhile place to see, even if just to remind you about the events of that day.

Meandered our way down to Battery Park to investigate the possibility of taking a boat trip out to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Looked at the queue which went all the way back to Ermington and decided against wasting most of our last day standing in a conga line. You could see it from the park anyhow.

Having rested for a while due to the fact we were melting we headed back north to Washington Square. Whilst travelling there on the metro came up with an idea for a film, 'Nuns on a Plane', an action thriller in which a doomed flight is saved by some ass kicking nuns.

Had lunch in The Cozy Diner. Miserable man served us. Makes a change. Ann's sandwich was not as big as yesterday. Wandered to Washington Square (I am Legend)

Headed out of the square towards metro station. Walked past a man covered in pigeons. Didn't think people would believe me so took a picture. He didn't seem to want them to go away. Seemed strange. Reminded us of that woman who used to be in Casualty who plays a bag lady in Home Alone 2.

Pigeonman

Made our way to see the Brooklyn Bridge (Every film ever set in New York). It was a bridge.

Got on the wrong train and ended up in Harlem. Got on another train back again. Went home. Tired.

Attempted to make pancakes from a packet in a glass frying pan. Didn't go well. Tasted good though.

Another fried mess you got me into

Day three over. Leaving New York at 9.30am tomorrow. Where is the time going? Must try to get jog in Central Park done by the time we leave. Bedtime.

Day Two

Woken up at 6am by somebody making a cup of tea and taking pictures of the sunrise. Tried to go back to sleep to no avail. Gave in and got up.

Sunrise over Manhattan

Decision made not to go for a jog as legs hurt quite alot. Not sure I would even make it out of the building. Had breakfast instead.

Left apartment at 9.30am and headed to the nearest subway station. Bought a pass to last the whole time we are here. Got on metro train. It was air-conditioned which was a pleasant suprise. Ann nutted a woman whilst on board. I felt it was a little uncalled for. 

Headed to the Empire State Building (King Kong, An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle). Used express pass to beat the queues and went to the observation deck. Spent a lot of time trying to avoid foreign types. Took some pictures of things you could see. Could have spent the entire day up there as the views were breathtaking.

South to the Financial District and the Statue of Liberty to the right

North towards Central Park

Next headed to Macy's (Miracle on 34th street) to have a look around. Bad idea. Someone tried to buy shoes. It wasn't me. Saw first fat person too lazy to walk using a scooter in store.


Next headed to New York Public Library (The Day After Tomorrow, Sex and the City, Ghostbusters). No huge wave chased us in.  Disappointed that the facade was under wraps due to refurbishment. Looked around it. There were books on shelves. Not that surprised by this. No ghosts.

Then onto Grand Central Station (I am Legend - The bit when Fred has moved - ''What the hell you doing here, Fred!') Big station, there were trains there. Not surprised again.

'Tell me now if you are real, Fred!'

The main lobby of Grand Central

Had lunch downstairs in station. Ann's sandwich was quite big.

Stopped by the Chrysler building afterwards before heading back towards Central Park (Friends, Die Hard 3). Sat down to relax.

Left park and went home. Sat around a bit then went out again at about 8.30pm.

Went home ate Ben and Jerry's ice cream, time for bed.

Important discoveries today:

1.  Knowledge of New York is pretty much based on films and TV.

2. New York is like London except that the cabs are yellow and it is hotter.

Day One

Spent the night at Alice and George's flat by Wandsworth Road in London. The sleep results were as follows - Richard Lots - Ann Nil.   Got a cab at 8.15am with the most miserable driver ever. Made it to Earls Court in one piece. Tube to Heathrow Terminal 5, uneventful. Try to check the luggage in on arrival, the woman pointed out we had arrived slightly too early so had to wait for what seemed like fifteen hours, when in fact  it was just one. When finally allowed to get rid of the baggage it was amazingly underweight!

Baggage

Due to boredom whilst airside bought a sat nav from Dixon's. Ann got a smell in a bottle or something.

Gate opened. Travelled on train to other building to correct gate. Sat down. Boarding started. Walked downstairs on to tarmac, to get on a bus that took us back to the original building to get on the plane there. Couldn't work out why they made us travel to a gate so far away. Presume plane was scared of other building.

Flight was fine except for the Spanish family in front whose children kept climbing over seats. All was redeemed when one of them chucked up over themselves as we landed. Quality!

Another miserable man drove us into NY. finally got to the apartment. It is brilliant, a lovely place. 116 West 72nd street.

Lounge

Kitchen

Bathroom

Went out for a wander. Annoyed a woman by buying a $1 pizza slice with a $10 note.

Went to a small supermarket type shop. Got orange juice, cereal and milk for breakfast. More miserable people. New York seems full of them!

Typing this at 10.10pm NY time which to us is actually 3.10am. Going to bed now as slightly tired.

Hoping to go for a early morning jog around Central park tomorrow. Bye.

This is our gameplan!

In case you are unsure of what our trip consists of, this is a quick overview.

Sunday 25th July - Head to London by train.
Monday 26th July - Fly out to New York.

Then taking in the following places in just over four weeks:

New York
Washington
Niagara Falls
Grand Rapids
Yellowstone
Grand Teton
Utah and Arizona National Parks - Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion and Bryce Canyon
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
San Francisco


Travelling by train, car and ship (mainly car!!)

Arrive back in UK on 24th August, absolutely knackered!

It is now four days to go. We are just waiting,

Saturday 19th June

Here we are 5 weeks to go and counting, This is atest to see if we can get it to work.

Hello

This page will help you to follow our trip to the USA!