Day 9 - New York

Day 9 – Saturday 18^th January 2014 – New York

Awake at 06.00 and up on deck for the arrival in New York.  We had crossed the Atlantic and sailed 3200 miles at an average speed of 18 knots. You pass under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and head up New York harbour.

Statue of Liberty

At 07.30 we were passing the Statue of Liberty and in the early morning light with it’s floodlights still on, I can see how the immigrants to this country were so inspired by it.

It is a wonderful monument in a unique position within the harbour.

Next to it is Ellis Island where the immigrants were processed before being allowed into the country.

The sky scrapers are becoming more evident as you approach lower Manhattan on Staten Island to the right and New Jersey to the left and you are now in the Hudson River.

The tallest building in lower Manhattan is the replacement for the demolished World Trade Centre. 

Lower Manhattan

  Though it is a cold cloudy morning the visibility is good.  After passing the piers and an aircraft carrier now used as a naval museum on which there are parked various aircraft including a stealth bomber, while alongside it has a submarine and on the quayside the Concorde aircraft. Also on the deck of the aircraft carrier in a newly constructed hanger is a space shuttle.  I would have enjoyed visiting this lot with it being very close at the next pier but time was going to be short and not achievable.

We were tied up alongside Pier 88 at 08.45 and went down for breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant to be served with eggs benedict and very nice.  The ship is now being processed by the Immigration and Border Agency with 2800 people to be seen, while the ship’s crew are put through their paces by the Coastguard Inspectors.  There are also 700 passengers leaving the ship today, to be replaced later with an equal number.  We were given permission at 11.45 to go ashore and off the ship, we were held in the quayside shed in a crocodile line to pass through immigration and were outside by 12.15.  With seven hours allowed ashore, it was New York here we come.

Central Park

We turned left and headed up towards Central Park a stroll of about half an hour.  This is not the best part of the city but we slowly got used to the grid street system of the avenues run from north to south and the streets east to west.  Around 72^nd Street we passed the Lincoln Centre, the arts and culture centre.

 New York being in winter with an icy blast the week before, all the trees are without leaves and the grass short and weary.  There are lots of people around, joggers, dog walkers and tourists; some have taken advantage of the horse drawn carriages which meander around the park.  The spectacular bit is the park is surrounded by sky scrapers and this is an oasis of peace in this hectic city.

United Nations Building

   We left the park and headed in the direction of the East River

and started to walk into the busier areas with the Avenues being six lane highways, crossing  streets is a bit daunting and you have to have 360 degrees vision.  Reaching the United Nations Building was a bit of a disappointment, with the security you could not get near and from the many flagpoles which stand outside, not one flag was flying, except one UN flag at the entrance.  This is where they bring peace to the World. I feel like writing to the boss, Ban Ki Moon for my money back.

Chrysler Building

On our way now the short distance to Grand Central Station and the description is in the name.  You may never see another station of this grandeur. 

  The marble interiors on all levels are magnificent with its ornate grand hall.  Just before you enter, there is the Chrysler Building, a wonderful sky scraper with its Gothic design, stands out amongst the other buildings.

Subway

  Down into the subway and we took the downtown train.  Always wanted to do this, after seeing a few years ago Rod Steward’s video of his song, On a Downtown Train.  After about twenty minutes came out at the City Hall and made our along the Brooklyn Bridge linking Manhattan to Brooklyn. We walked half way along above the East River and wondered on the fine views of Manhattan, to the north and the Empire State Building and to the south of the newer Lower Manhattan buildings.

      

Colin

Alex

All dressed up for the cold, the wind is blowing a little and it is raw.

Off the bridge and on our way to Wall Street, the financial district, I was surprised at the narrowness of the street .  Crossed over Broadway and came to Ground Zero, there were big queues trying to go in.

Ground Zero

The replacement building for the Twin Towers is very impressive and of course around this area there is still a lot construction going on.

We are now starting to lose the light as the evening sets in and it is back to the subway and a half an hour train journey to Times Square.  We come out into the not so square and it is full of people, it is dark with lights everywhere.

             The amazing light shows with the hustle and bustle of the place.  The temperature now is at freezing point and we head into Starbucks for a warming coffee and try their free wi-fi; but still no luck in contacting the UK.

Times Square

We leave there and head back to the ship about a ten minute walk to Pier 88 and get back on board for 19.15.  A wonderful run ashore, taking in most of the city sites, in which Colin turned into a most knowledgeable guide and I had only spent six dollars, it could be a record.

A good wash and brush up and into the ship’s Weatherspoon’s, the Old Speckled Hen went down a treat.  Dinner consisted of sea food salad/salmon/ice cream.  My abiding memory, during dinner, of being sat at the dinner table while out of the panoramic window, the flood light, Statue of Liberty, gliding by.  

In the theatre, the show was for our new guests, the forthcoming artists who would be appearing in this part of the voyage.  We ended the night in Café Carinthia and by 12.30 the ship was dead with everyone off to their beds, it had been a long day.

New York certainly a bonus, as I had previously been here fifty years ago, a pleasure to return and I would once more like to come back.