I put the iPad away and just ate my parfait and left. As I left, Loony was using the stair rail as a ballet barre.
There are stacks of medical ads here - on TV and on billboards. Saw one just now asking you to join the marrow transplant register. Have also seen ads asking you to foster children. Some ads carry heavy warnings, don't know why people would use them.
On the way back there was a cop on one corner directing the turning traffic to turn, even after we got the green (white) walking man. We eventually managed to start walking after four or five cars went after the cop had stopped gesturing them. And the cars came straight at us as if how dare we walk. I have to admit to feeling like doing Dustin Hoffman - "I'm walking here!"
Forgot to mention yesterday that I went on the Zoltar Fortune Telling machine from Big. It told me "my heart would be pleased to know that there is many a good man to be found under a shabby hat."
Here's a tour of our digs - 147 Canal Street, New York. It won't take long. Next to the Loans building is a Dunkin' Donuts. Our door is next to that. Naked painter lives in the brown building next door.
It's more clear here...
Open the front door to this, with its own distinctive odour - not unpleasant but not roses...
Came across Shaun on the way down for a ciggie...
Up four flights to this...
Open the front door to this... (And I don't mean you open the door to Adam every time - he was just there this time.
That's Shaun and Brett's room. And to the left is this...
That's my room in the right and Adam and Caz at the end. There is the galley kitchen and the bathroom at the end on the left.
And my room - they're all the same...
It's small but it suits our purposes for we aren't here for long each day and it's close to the Metro. Read on the reviews of it there have been up to eight people staying here - that would be crowded! As it is it takes a while to get five people organised and ready to go.
But we did manage that and set off to the day. Walked down past the legal district, past the van bringing in prisoners for court, quite excited to see Law & Order courthouse steps, though of course it's not just a set, they do do real work here...
Up to the 9/11 Memorial Site. Another queue...
..before heading inside. Very sombre feeling inside. It's a very good memorial, as far as it can be. The names written around the rim of the waterfalls are so many - gives a sense of how many lives were lost. One particular one was a woman and her unborn child.
Adam and Caz went into the extra section and Shaun, Brett and I went off to catch the Staten Island Ferry, which is apparently the best way to see the Statue of Liberty - it's close and it's free!
And thanks to Shaun's head, the Statue of Liberty is Pen!!!
We got on, sat down, as they were taking off there was an announcement to listen to the following safety announcement, followed immediately by the ferry tooting the loudest toot ever and totally drowning out the announcement.
We were on the left, Lady Liberty was on the right. We decided to go on that side on the way back. One of the workers came and announced that she was on the other side and most people went over - you could almost feel the ferry tip a little as everyone was on that side. And sitting in the centre section reading newspapers were what looked like commuters, cursing all things tourist.
You can't stay on the ferry and just do the return trip - you have to get off. It's like the Ghan and Overland changeover being not possible straight away -they make you stay an extra night in Adelaide. This had the same feel to it - "please stay and see our island..."
So we got straight onto the next ferry and cruised back to see the Lady...
Pretty cool. And it was nice to take a short boat ride. Saw a community garden on the grounds, which was also pretty cool.
Got the Metro up to Times Square, found a place to get a toasted sandwich, sat downstairs in a most depressing and sad dining area. Brett got cut off in line by some German tourists.
After lunch we split up - I wanted to find Rockefeller Plaza to do the tour. I really wanted to do the Radio City Music Hall tour but that looked unavailable on the net. And this is when I had an unexpected walking tour of new York.
I was looking for this...
..and Bryant Park (note the umbrella proving this actually was Bryant Park - home of the Project Runway finales...
On and into the theatre - it is huge! They were bumping out American Idol so the stage was full of crew - who were inadvertently demonstrating how good the acoustics were.
The massive gold curtain wasn't down, coz Idol didn't want that either. Into the foyer for a look there. Then upstairs for a video on a bit of background of the designer, performers and the Rockettes. Then into the next room were Lesley was waiting to tell us about life as a Rockette. They had a photographer take photos with her, if you wanted - I did not. And of course you can buy that on your way out.
The stage fits 36 girls in a line to fit across the stage. They do six shows a day in the Christmas season, and have two casts. They have to be between 5'6" and 5'9", if I remember correctly. That was interesting. On the way out we got a peep into a costume area.
Here, Lesley is showing how a rack is set up for quick costume changes.
On the way out they have this really great photo panel. They have done this same routine in every show since the beginning. The picture on the right is an old picture from the early days, then Each panel is of a different time frame, so the one on the left is fairly modern.
I had mentioned to Alex that I got a bit lost on the way there and a lovely guy named Marty from New York offered to walk me back to Times Square, so friendly - many of the Americans I've met have been very friendly.
The sweet hawkers are not friendly. I did have a buyer of silver and gold stop me and while he was asking me to sell him my jewels he was scanning my hands to look for gold - yeah, there is none. Another one was the African American man who asks are you too scared to shake hands with a black man. Shaun got caught with him the other night - shake hands. and he starts his spiel.
Anyway, had a bit of time to fill so got a coffee, bought batteries (camera), locks (for suitcase - the others have got lost in transit - every flight, new locks!!) Met Shaun and then Brett outside the M&M store then off for a bite. Brett had picked up tickets to Spider-Man so he headed off to that while Shaun and I headed off to Pippin.
Very cute littlish theatre and the most AMAZING show. It won Best Revival, Actress and Supporting Actress at the Tonys and you could see why. The staging, chore, performances, acrobatics, just everything was fantastic!
The guy playing the father was wonderful - great voice and comic timing. Andrea Martin played the grandmother and was brilliant. She's 66 and stripped off to a sequinned leotard and did acrobatic tricks - at one point was hanging upside down, being held by the ankles while singing. The Leading Player - too good. It was just fabulous. It was one of the best shows either of us has seen - and that is saying something!
Met up with Brett - whose show wasn't as wonderful at all. And back home.
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