la gran siete
Distinguished Member
Heck meant to write this upon my return on thursday but now is as good a time as any . What can I say about the Big A = mad ,bad ,sad ,crazy interesting, energetic ,full of variety ,expensive not so expensive, friendly( for sure if you've got a British accent), the single most cosmopolitan city in the world so much so so that only one cab driver seemed to be a Yank and he, for some reason, wanted to take us to Cincinnati??????
Anyway we arrived on Friday 14th tired and hungry at about 7pm . First stop after checking in was BB King where they do some great food and show some good bands too. Booker T and the Mgs were on that nigjht but they wanted 50 bucks extra so we foregoed that and watched blues band playing in the smaller bar. They were very good indeed.
Saturday first stop Central Park. My mate is in no mood to walk round it ( its huge) so we opt for a horse buggy ride. Bit of a rip off . 40 bucks for twenty minutes. Still between four of us its not so bad.We then go to the toy shop as Julian likes to rekindle his childhood. MASSIVE CUDDLY TOY ELEPHANT DOMINATES THE MAIN ROOM .At $13000 I'm thinking this is a mecca to bad taste.Also several replica cars for kids selling at $25000 or so.They only do about 13 miles an hour but are almost exact copies in every other aspect except size.
That evening we go to the Empire state building thinking,WRONGLY, the queus would be smaller. The line zig zags indoors several times then we go through security then up the lift then climb six flights of steps to reach the top and a wonderous view.it took about two hours all told at a cost of $13.We took a cab to Grand central for a meal at the oyster bar only to be denied entry by a snotty Maitre'd. Last orders was 5 minutes ago sir.
Sunday we go back to BB king for a brunch as much as one can eat , and the wonderfull sounds of the Harlem Gospel singers.Pm we visit China town - largest outside China. Incredible market. We decided on a Chinese meal but have to say I was disappointed. Too bland.
By this time we have acquainted ourselves with a number of bars two of which were Irish.In one of them a footy match involving Spurs was being shown. Scottish matey sitting to my left wearing a Celtic shirt tells me he was watching Celtic the other day when Rod Stewart taps in on the shoulder and asks for the score. Small world.
We got to meet a few cab drivers too One froim Guinea, two from India, a Polac and one from the Balkans somewhere. All characters.
Monday we did Liberty and Ellis islands the latter is forgettable as its just an empty shell with a few photos.Groiund Zero left one feeling sad but the rest of that district including Battery park and the view from the harbour was awesome.
We head back up to Houston strreet on the corner with a fifth av.( I think) in search of Katz deli ,famous for the episode in When Harry met sally We check with a cop for directions and she says YOU'RE HEADING THE WRONG WAY, YOU SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO CANAL STREET ??????? I show her our map and she says she doesnt live in that area.??? As Houston street is well known I can only think she is pulling a stunt on us.
We arrived at Katz nad tuck into a cheesesteak and a Pastrami sandwich washed down with a few jars of Bass nad followed by a few lumps of New York cheesecake.You get a lot of food in NY but it pays lip service to any concept of healthy eating.
Visit more bars. One in Soho ,very smart it was but a bottle of wine came to $40 . Pint of beer=$9
Tuesday we hit Greenwich village surely the prettiest district. Very Victorian with lots of quaint shops and restaurants.Eggs Benedict getswashed down with Bass followed by a couple of double Jack Daniels. Luvly Jubly!
Wednesday we haead back home to sanity.
My most enduring memory is the helpfulness and general friendlines of the people( apart from the policewoman that is) . I cant think of a single occasion where I wasnt talking to someone.A very sharp contrast to London where if you speak to a stranger he looks at you as if there is something wrong
Anyway we arrived on Friday 14th tired and hungry at about 7pm . First stop after checking in was BB King where they do some great food and show some good bands too. Booker T and the Mgs were on that nigjht but they wanted 50 bucks extra so we foregoed that and watched blues band playing in the smaller bar. They were very good indeed.
Saturday first stop Central Park. My mate is in no mood to walk round it ( its huge) so we opt for a horse buggy ride. Bit of a rip off . 40 bucks for twenty minutes. Still between four of us its not so bad.We then go to the toy shop as Julian likes to rekindle his childhood. MASSIVE CUDDLY TOY ELEPHANT DOMINATES THE MAIN ROOM .At $13000 I'm thinking this is a mecca to bad taste.Also several replica cars for kids selling at $25000 or so.They only do about 13 miles an hour but are almost exact copies in every other aspect except size.
That evening we go to the Empire state building thinking,WRONGLY, the queus would be smaller. The line zig zags indoors several times then we go through security then up the lift then climb six flights of steps to reach the top and a wonderous view.it took about two hours all told at a cost of $13.We took a cab to Grand central for a meal at the oyster bar only to be denied entry by a snotty Maitre'd. Last orders was 5 minutes ago sir.
Sunday we go back to BB king for a brunch as much as one can eat , and the wonderfull sounds of the Harlem Gospel singers.Pm we visit China town - largest outside China. Incredible market. We decided on a Chinese meal but have to say I was disappointed. Too bland.
By this time we have acquainted ourselves with a number of bars two of which were Irish.In one of them a footy match involving Spurs was being shown. Scottish matey sitting to my left wearing a Celtic shirt tells me he was watching Celtic the other day when Rod Stewart taps in on the shoulder and asks for the score. Small world.
We got to meet a few cab drivers too One froim Guinea, two from India, a Polac and one from the Balkans somewhere. All characters.
Monday we did Liberty and Ellis islands the latter is forgettable as its just an empty shell with a few photos.Groiund Zero left one feeling sad but the rest of that district including Battery park and the view from the harbour was awesome.
We head back up to Houston strreet on the corner with a fifth av.( I think) in search of Katz deli ,famous for the episode in When Harry met sally We check with a cop for directions and she says YOU'RE HEADING THE WRONG WAY, YOU SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO CANAL STREET ??????? I show her our map and she says she doesnt live in that area.??? As Houston street is well known I can only think she is pulling a stunt on us.
We arrived at Katz nad tuck into a cheesesteak and a Pastrami sandwich washed down with a few jars of Bass nad followed by a few lumps of New York cheesecake.You get a lot of food in NY but it pays lip service to any concept of healthy eating.
Visit more bars. One in Soho ,very smart it was but a bottle of wine came to $40 . Pint of beer=$9
Tuesday we hit Greenwich village surely the prettiest district. Very Victorian with lots of quaint shops and restaurants.Eggs Benedict getswashed down with Bass followed by a couple of double Jack Daniels. Luvly Jubly!
Wednesday we haead back home to sanity.
My most enduring memory is the helpfulness and general friendlines of the people( apart from the policewoman that is) . I cant think of a single occasion where I wasnt talking to someone.A very sharp contrast to London where if you speak to a stranger he looks at you as if there is something wrong