New York 2015 Pictures Day 6


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Photos Thursday 7th May 2015 - Day 6

World Trade Center

I was up by 6:30AM and Renee by 7:15AM. We planned the day and got ready, and left at 8:50AM. We returned to Food World Gourmet Deli next door and we both had an egg bap and hash browns with a toasted buttered sesame bagel. I had tea and Renée had an iced coffee. Yes definitely worth returning for!

We left at 9:20AM for Grand Central and caught a Number 4 train to Union Street. Then after a noisy interchange and a bit of a wait we caught an R train to Cortland Street, surfacing at 10AM. We walked around the Freedom Tower. It was quite a view from underneath. Alas the viewing platform wasn't open. (It was scheduled to open on 29th May.) The 9/11 memorial waterfalls were pretty moving, with water seeming to disappear into an abyss in the middle of each of the two waterfalls, and names of all the 9/11 victims engraved all around the sides. The museum was $24 to enter so we decided not to go in.


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Getting right under the Freedom Tower. Mike and Renée by the Freedom Tower. Walking into the 9/11 memorial garden.

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The Northern memorial pool closest to the Freedom Tower. Looking across from the other side of the Southern pool. Wide matrix panorama of the Southern pool with the garden, North pool and Freedom Tower in the background.

New York Stock Exchange

We next walked to Wall Street and saw the New York Stock Exchange.


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Zuccotti Park from the West. Wall Street from the Broadway end. Trinity Church from the East. The New York Stock Exchange building.

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Federal Hall. Looking towards Trinity Church from by Federal Hall. The famous New York Stock Exchange front facade.

City Hall Park and Katz's

Then we walked north up Nassau Street. Near Liberty Street Renée bought a fruit smoothie. After cutting across Beekman Street to the Southern end of City Hall Park I had a quick look around while Renée sat in the shade. The water fountain was nice here.


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Renée enjoying a fruit smoothie. The Woolworth Building (right hand side) from across City Hall Park. City Hall Park fountain and tulip display. The Manhattan Municipal Building.

Next we caught a Number 9 bus at 11:15AM. This took us past Chinatown and close to Katz's. We got off nearby and arrived at Katz's at 11:40AM. It was a busy place and the staff were nice. One guy was particularly amused by my Knightrider T-shirt. But alas the meat wasn't kosher here and there wasn't much other choice that I fancied. Renée ordered a hotdog and a diet Pepsi. But I skipped. I had snacks on me and was aiming to eat them later as I wasn't hungry yet. After eating we also looked around all the walls that were covered with pictures of famous visitors. I helped Renée finish her diet coke and then we left at 12:15PM.


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Renée in front of Katz's. Inside Katz's. 360 degree panorama inside Katz's.

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Renée with a hot dog and diet coke. Sausages hung up at the front window. Looking at the walls covered in pictures of famous people, and the desk where Harry met Sally. Renée found a member of staff with a Sally T-shirt. Looking from the back of the room.

DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass)

We walked down Essex Street to Delancy Street station. I bought a banana en route. An F train arrived just as we reached the platform which whisked us 2 stops under the East River to York Street in Brooklyn. We surfaced at 12:30PM and once I got my bearings we walked down the hill to the river front by Manhattan Bridge. Under the bridge itself was a building site, but just to the South was a nice (albeit noisy) spot to pause for panoramas of the bridges and to eat the banana and snacks. Then we walked along to a carousel which Renée couldn't resist having a go on while I watched and took pictures. Then we moved on and just past the Brooklyn Bridge in Columbus Park on a wharf we found the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. After taking some more panoramas we couldn't resist sharing a butter pecan and chocolate choc chip ice cream. Delicious!


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Following the Manhattan Bridge Overpass down to the East River from the station. A miniature version of the iconic school bus. Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges panorama from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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Jane's Carousel. Renée on the carousel. A stained glass house sculpture by the Brooklyn Bridge.

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360 degree panorama from the end of the East River Ferry pier. The River Café was a pretty setting. The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

Brooklyn Bridge

At 1:30PM we walked uphill along Old Fulton Street. After a brief bit of confusion we found stairs that took us up onto a raised walkway in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge (between the carriageways of traffic). What followed was a very pleasant stroll over the bridge back into Manhattan. It was busy up here, and with such nice views and such lovely warm sunny weather it wasn't surprising. A nice pleasant breeze was blowing to take the edge off the heat. At the Manhattan end the walkway the path took us directly back to City Hall Park which we reached at 2:15PM.


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Looking for the way up onto the Brooklyn Bridge. Setting off along the promenade towards Manhattan. The Brooklyn Queen's Expressway below us looked busy. Walking to the first tower in between all the suspension cables. Looking down at the ice cream factory below us.

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Looking the other way towards Manhattan Bridge. The Eastern tower. Looking onwards to the centre of the bridge. In the distance a helicopter was buzzing the statue of liberty. The Fairfield Inn building at the junction of Fletcher and Front Streets.

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360 degree panorama at the centre of Brooklyn Bridge. Empire State Building. Renée enjoying a pause at a bench at the centre of the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking on to the Western tower as the Manhattan skyscrapers loom larger. Lower Manhattan from the Western tower.

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Sky scrapers crammed together in Lower Manhattan. Not far to City Hall Park now. Looking back towards Brooklyn. The Manhattan Municipal Building looms ahead. Spruce Street School has a curiously twisted warped looking tower.

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Arriving at City Hall Park. Looking back along the promenade from City Hall Park. Panorama of the Manhattan Municipal Building. City Hall Library.

Manhattan Mall, Herald Square and Beyond Sushi

After a pause and a think, we decided to go back to the Manhattan Mall next. We crossed the park to City Hall station. Then after a long wait due to delays we caught an R train at 2:40PM to 34th Street / Herald Square to return to JC Penney. We couldn't find the direct exit into JC Penney so we escaped to street level round the corner and walked in just before 3PM. Renée bought some tops that she had spotted 2 days ago but left, and a belt. I bought 4 graphic T-shirts for just $40 (plus tax). So it was well worth the return trip, even though Renée had to endure some long checkout queues.

We exited to the street at 4:15PM and looked around the shops, but didn't find anything else worth buying. We both needed a break at 4:45PM so we popped into Herald Square Market where Renée had a much needed iced coffee and I had a banana cake slice which was delicious (and Renée had a piece). We also discussed the dinner options. Renée fancied sushi and I was up for that too so I looked up places on the TripAdvisor app on my iPhone. I spotted a number of places closer to the hotel, but a vegan sushi place on East 14th Street which was a short subway ride away and had great reviews and not too expensive, stood out above the others. Decision made!

So at 5:10PM we set off into the subway and we caught an R train to 14th Street / Union Square and an L train to 3rd Avenue. Then after a short walk along East 14th Street we found Beyond Sushi at 5:30PM. It was a small but cosy place and we were able to watch them make the items which were very nicely presented. We both went for 'Combo 2', which was 2 rolls and 2 individual pieces. Mike had 'Sweet Tree' and 'Mighty Mushroom' rolls, and 'Enoki' and 'Snow Pea' Individual Pieces. Renée chose 'Mighty Mushroom' and 'Spicy Mang' rolls, and 'Seaweed' and 'Baked Tofu' individual pieces. They were really nice! I loved the Mighty Mushroom and Renée especially loved the Spicy Mang. We tried each others' food too. The Spicy Mang was a little spicy for me but still tasty. So thanks TripAdvisor we had a good meal! We finished and left at 6:05PM.


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Beyond Sushi. The chefs at work. The finished meal and work of art.

On the way out I was going to buy some bananas from a local supermarket called Trader Joes but it was too busy with massive checkout queues so we bailed. We walked to Union Square. Renée wanted to get the bus. So we went to a nearby stop but after 15 minutes of watching Limited busses go past without stopping I got pretty fed up. So eventually I persuaded Renée to bail and we went to the subway. We quickly caught a Number 4 train to Grand Central at 6:30PM, arriving after a slow 10 minute trundle. We were back to the hotel soon after 6:50PM to rest.

During the evening we spoke to Pamela to form up plans for tomorrow's visit to her home neighbourhood of Westchester. We are aiming to catch the 9:54AM North White Plains train from Grand Central, to arrive at Bronxville at 10:29AM, and then take it from there. Shopping, parks, and maybe food on the Hudson were all on the cards. It all sounded very pleasant and we were looking forward to it. By 9PM Renée was exhausted and went to sleep. I was up until maybe 11PM putting photos online and other internetty things. I was pleased that today, which was our weakest day plan-wise, turned good.


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