We set off early after the hotel proved to me why I would rather spend a bit more money on accommodation. The hotel was sad and smelly with peeling wallpaper. Daniel and Elana's room had a broken bathroom door - they couldn't get in. Kristina had the worst deal - she had bed bugs! And had to move rooms!! Yuck-o. My bed was comfortable and, thankfully, bug free.
There was a continental breakfast, which was standard fare - I did have grape jelly - but the dining room was dingy and depressing and horrid. Apparently the hotel has just been taken over and is going to be renovated, great shell to work with and it could be very nice.
Longish drive to the next stop due to road works and slow trucks. It was raining, heavily at times, which was fine - better today than yesterday! Here's the van...
Next stop was the shopping outlet - can't remember the name. We stopped here for two hours. Not my sort of place at all. Actually found it a bit scary and Stepford Wives. It's massive - outlet stores for all the big stores - Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren, etc, etc... I can imagine that many people would love it.
Had a girl in a kiosk asking to curl my hair. I think I actually snorted as I said no. Then got accosted by Dead Sea cream girl who would not let go of my arm and kept trying to get me to care about the seven dermal layers of my skin. Freaked me out! Ended up having to yank my arm away.
Wandered around, thought I should go into at least one store so I decided on Barney's but I didn't make it past the first door. I ended up making one purchase of a chipotle black bean and avocado sandwich and thought I'd try the pumpkin spiced coffee cake. It didn't taste of pumpkin. It didn't taste of coffee either.
Back I to the van and off to Liberty Park, New Jersey to end the trip. said farewell to Jeannie, who was a great guide, and on to the ferry across the Hudson. We did have a moment in the van when we spotted the Statue of Liberty and all yelled out. She was all blue/green and the flame was lit. Saw Ellis Island too. i took this from the ferry - you can see them both in the foggy distance...
Liberty is the last pointy thing on the left. And then this on the other side...
It's one big city! Got a taxi to East 51st Street to one of the hotels I was looking forward to (actually that's all the ones that I organised!) POD 51 Hotel where I got a tiny 'pod' room with a shared bathroom. A shared bathroom is something I would normally avoid like the plague but New York is very expensive and I'm literally in here to sleep - arriving late and leaving early. Anyway, it's very cute and the bathroom is right next door.
See how small and how cute.you can see in the first photo that there is a little sink. There's also a TV and a safe and a bed.
Went for a walk to find my departure point for tomorrow's tour. Went past Grand Central Station so popped in there and had a look - amazing and just like in the movies. Had a bite to eat then decided to walk up to Central Park. Went past some red carpet event with barricades and photographers and all but I didn't recognise anyone in the suits. And it's soooooooo hot!
Had a brief look in Central Park, got a soft serve ice cream walking through. Walked down to Times Square - how amazing is that?? Just incredible. Photos to come - didn't take the camera. Past Rockefeller Plaza and Radio City Music Hall. Will explore all more thoroughly next week.
Notes on New York - there are piles of rubbish bags - where are the rubbish bins?
There are a LOT of people, but even so, I did see three separate people see each other unexpectedly -"hey dude, how are you?"
Red lights and pedestrian lights don't seem to mean much.
I don't know where New Yorkers would be without their cell phones. Almost everyone has ear pieces in and is talking - the snippets of conversation are fascinating. No-one seems to be listening though...
Anyway, off to my little bed.
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