US/Canada July - September 2015

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 16 Boston

Woke to rain, which could prove to be problematic as I had a lot of walking planned, and had only brought with me an under armour water repellent hoodie. Strolled once more through Boston Common, before heading up Commonwealth Avenue and Back Bay to get to Fenway Park. It was at a stop at a traffic light that I got a bit of a concerning message from my body, when i felt a bit of a jolt in my back. I had had some back trouble the year previous that took me a long while to shake, and I was hoping that I would be problem free for this trip. Message received, would have to temper things and take it easy for a day or two.

Continued the walk, and eventually cam to Fenway, and Yawkey Way.



As always, I had arrived early so was a little bit of a wait before the ticket booth opened, but I was soon away on the stadium tour.

It was a fantastic old stadium, and despite getting wet from the rain, was a very informative and enjoyable couple of hours.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 16 (cont.)

It was still raining when the tour ended, and I set off on the walk back to the city, still with the back feeling a bit stiff.



I headed straight to Sam LaGrassa's which was a not to be missed while in Boston. A chipotle pastrami on Italian bread roll certainly didn't disappoint.



Jumped on the subway and headed up to Harvard, with the rain getting heavier. Didn't stay long, as the bottom half was getting very wet, and walking around in wet shoes and socks with a tight back was quickly losing it's appeal.

Subway back to the city, where I pushed myself to keep wandering, having a look at some historic sights, and making my way towards the Modern Bakery.



Picked up a Boston Bun and a tiramisu to go, loved the way it was boxed and strung, and headed back to the hotel to get dry and warm.




Was able to contact my friend who is also my physio, and got some exercises to do, while I also had the hairdryer going drying my shoes and socks. Weather was getting rather wet and woolly, so stayed in and prepared for my next morning move to the city of ........................

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 17 New York

Walked down to South Station, arrived about an hour early for the train, which is usually par for the course with me. The back had loosened up, but I played it very careful getting my bag up to the rack above the seats - 1st to the seat, then up to the arm rest, up to the top of the seat, final lift to the luggage rack. The journey was quite scenic along the coast, and would be somewhere where I would like to spend a bit of time visiting in the future. Soon enough, the train arrived at Penn Station, and I made the trek on foot along 34th St, past the Empire State Building, to my accommodation for the next 5 days, The New York Budget Inn.



Hostels don't really do it for me, as I'm well past that stage of my life. however for Manhatten I went against my usual rule. For less than $100 AUS a night, and a 5 minute walk from The Empire State Building, I had my own room, bed made every day, donuts and coffee in the morning and clean towels every day. Had to share a toilet and shower, however they were always spotlessly clean, the building had an interior security door after reception, and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Would definitely stay there again if traveling on my own.

Headed off towards Grand Central Station, where I had to find a building to trade in my voucher for my New York Pass. No matter how I tried, or how many people I asked I couldn't find this building, so had to change tact and head to the alternate location at Times Square.

Grand Central gets lost amongst the buildings around it.



Arrived at the location at Times Square and was advised that the 3 Day Pass would be activated from the moment I exchanged my voucher. That didn't fit my plans, so would have to come back the next morning when it opened at 9, which also put a bit of a halt on my plans to get going early.

Walked down to Madison Square Park, where I got in line to try the highly rated Shake Shack. Definitely worth the wait, best fast food burger, although cooked to order and not so fast, i've had.



Headed back up on Broadway towards Times Square, ducking in stores here and there, and finished with some people watching in Times Square, particularly the Super Heroes hustling the unsuspecting for money for photos. Had been an extremely hot day and night, and upon arriving back at my room cranked the air con up, bit of late night TV, and off to sleep.

 

[RooFlyer]

Very much enjoying this TR. A different - and pleasant - perspective from what we usually read.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 18 - New York

A later start than I wanted, as I had to wait until 9.00a, until I could pick up my New York pass. Pass sorted. and off I went to the Top of the Rock. I had to wait about half an hour for a slot, then a bit of a wait through security, and off course the photos that the tourist spots rip people off on. Well worth the trip to the top, fantastic views.



A stroll down west 46th to the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum, where there was a good 30 minute wait out in the open. Again, through the airport like security, and then through to the exhibits. After 10 minutes standing in a non-moving line to walk through the submarine Growler, decided it give it a miss and have a look through the aircraft carrier and exhibits on deck.



After some wandering around, left the Intrepid and went a couple of wharves down and picked up a ticket for a half island circle line tour. Had 45 minutes or so, so found a patch of grass under a tree and watched the world go by.



Boarded the boat, and to get a decent spot for spme photos, had to be out in the open under the blazing sun. Perth boy, so didn't mind, and well worth it for the views.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 18 (cont)

The boat gets quite close to the Statue of Liberty, and gives a good view of the business district as it moves around the southern tip of Manhatten.



The cruise continued up under the Brooklyn and Manhatten Bridges and turns around and heads back at around the Empire State Building mark.



Cruise takes about and hour and forty five minutes, and afterwards I headed back towards Times Square, where a line was starting to for for the Gray Line Night tour of Manhatten and Brooklyn.



As can be seen by the photo, it was still pretty bright when the tour was in progress, found out later that there were more buses operating later in the night.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 18 (cont)





Got back to the starting point at Times Square at about 8.30, people watched for a while, bite to eat, then headed off to The Empire State Building at about 10 o'clock. Another bit if a wait, security, waiting while they too everyone's photo, not me, used my pace Il lost long ago to charge through the photo area.

Bit of a wait for the last few floor for the elevator, ushers were telling people they could bypass the crowd and use the stairs, no brainer for me, up the stairs I went. Photos, stairs down a few flights to get down, and off to bed.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 19 - New York

Set the alarm on the phone for 6.30am, giving me plenty of time to get the 7.16 subway, and on to the Statue of Liberty Ferry at my booked time of 8.00am. Woke up, looked at my phone, 5.50am. Beautiful, relax a bit, leave a bit earlier get some time to have a look around Battery Park. Fortunately, I turned the TV on watching a breakfast show, and saw the time on the bottom of the screen - 6.51am. As I hadn't turned my phone on since Chicago, it had remained on Chicago time and I was an hour behind, or 21 minutes behind, and in a bit of a panic.
Jumped out of bed, into the shower, grabbed my wallet and paperwork for the Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Museum, and off I went. Not being early or on my schedule throws me off a bit, and I jumped on the first train that came. Unfortunately, this one was going to Brooklyn, so again plans had to change, Got off at Canal Street, and then was a brisk walk down to Battery Park, following 1 World Trade Centre as a guide. Really panicking, as it was getting close to 8.00am, ended up in a run - shouldn't have bothered, looong line for security.



Safely on my scheduled boat, and of to the podium. 15 years ago, walked up to the crown, so no inclination to do that this time. One of the first off the boat and up to the podium, not great for photos of Manhatten as was a little smoggy. Had a look around the museum, then the outside, have visited the statue twice now, next time would probably be happy with the view from a boat.



Didn't get off at Ellis Island, hopped off at Battery Park, and jumped on the nearest on/off bus to get me to close enough to Katz's Deli. Listening to the guide on the bus before we left, was a Professor at NYU, keeping busy during the summer break. In discussion he asked someone how old they thought he was, I was thinking mid-50's, he said 74. Fair enough explanation as well, New Yorkers walk a lot, so they stay fit and look young. Hopefully I was taking a couple of years off with all the walking I was doing this trip.

Got off at Forsyth Street, jumped across to Orchard, and off I went to Houston St and Katz's Deli. Very ordinary to be honest, pastrami was quite fatty, bread was dry, and expensive, Not a patch on the pastrami I had in Boston, however it's a to do in New York, and now I've done it.



After lunch, was the walk back down to the World Trade Centre Memorial and Museum, passing through Mulberry St, and what is left of Manhatten's Little Italy.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 19 (cont)

Continued the walk down to the World Trade Centre, able to get some photos on the way. Woolworths Building is one of my favourites.



On to the memorial, very tastefully done, and everyone very respectful.



There was still about 30 minutes until my timed entrance in to the museum, but thought i'd have a go at getting in a anyway. No dramas, in I went, through security and in to the exhibits.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 19 (cont)






After the museum, jumped on the subway and headed over to Brooklyn, then walked back to Manhatten over the Brooklyn Bridge.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 19 (cont)

After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, got myself on the hop on hop off bus again, and did most of the loop up unitl Central Park, where I walked down to Times Square.



I'd never been to a Madam Taussads, New York Pass gave me entrance, so thought what the hell, lets have a look.



Raised the ire of a couple of employees when I bypassed a line of people waiting for the photo stop - saying 'you can't do that' - 'Just did it', and off I went to line up for the lift up to the exhibits. I wasn't expecting much, however I was very impressed with how lifelike the majority of the models were. One exception however was the Elvis, bit more work needed on that one.

Bit more of a wander around, don;t remember what I had to eat, then another sleep after a long day on the feet.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 20 - New York

Had a spot on the Food on Foot Tour which didn't start until 10.00am, so had a bit of time for a wander around after a lazy start to the day.



Meeting spot for the tour was Grand central Station, so an opportunity to explore , take some photos, and best of all get close to my favourite New York Building - The Chrysler Building.





Soon enough was time to find the tour leader, Cory, and after some pleasantries the group of 20 odd was ready to go. There was a couple of other Aussies, a Kiwi couple, some Canadians, Germans, and a family of 5 Israelis, which included 3 young children. If you plan to do the Food on Foot Tour, do not take children. Also if you don;t like the following, do not do the Food on Foot Tour - walking, being told off/spoken to shortly by the tour Leader, cramped spaces. If you like food and finding small hole in the wall places, do it.

As a teacher I could see where Cory was coming from with the way he spoke at times, he knows he is encroaching on everyday New Yorker's going about there daily lives, and big groups of tourists getting in their way day after day would probably grate a bit. A bloke did actually have a crack at the group while we were standing at the lights. Also, he continually told the Israeli mother to stop talking when he was, as a gain he needed to talk to a large group, and the mother trying to translate to the kids meant others in the group couldn't hear. Anyway, I liked him and the way the tour was run. More information have a look at the reviews on Trip Advisor, Cory isn't backward in coming forward.

Anyway, the tour started with going into Grand Central, and everyone hopefully getting on the right train and off at 14th street. A walk east, and another opportunity for a photo of the Chrysler Building.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 20 (cont)

Off we went walking through the East Village, until our first stop - Vanessa Dumplings. Old Asian ladies serving and cooking, 4 dumplings for $1.63 - were sensational.
A few sights along the way, as well as information about the neighbourhood, and the lamenting of losing small stores due to high rent until the next stop - Artichoke Pizza, where I had a gigantic slice of Margharita.





Next stop was a sweet one, not an ice cream, but a cupcake from Butter Lane.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 20 (Cont)

Next up was a hot dog place, and as i'm generally not really one for hot dogs, I gave it a miss and stayed outside having a chat to the Kiwi couple. A porchetta followed, and although small and expensive was very tasty.

We all had a break while Cory fielded questions and gave advice on places to eat, before the last stop of Veneiro's Bakery. All looked great, but I was in a hurry to get back up to Times Square, and a last 3.00pm departure of the Harlem on/off tour bus. Veneiro's was kept in the memory bank however, as I would be in the East Village again the next day.

Headed back to the 14th Street subway station and jumped on a train, and met with probably the two most drug affected people I have ever seen. Each to their own, people do what they want to do, the unfortunate thing was they had a staffy in tow, so wasn't feeling too good for the dog with two dropkicks hardly able to look after themselves, what hope did the dog have.

Anyway, transfer of trains, walk through whatever station it was, low and behold the two dropkicks come walking through, with the male now making an impassioned plea for some money.

Off at Times Square, and on to the hop on/off bus.







The tour took a couple of hours before coming back to it's starting point, and the I took off to Discovery Centre and had a look at the Body Worlds exhibit. Was fantastic, only a few places where you were permitted to take photos, but well worth visiting.



Found a place and had a Philly Cheese Steak, bit of commotion when a obviously known troublemaker came in, got shown the door quickly by the cook. More wandering around, picked up some tacky bits and pieces before calling it a day.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 21 - New York


The city that never sleeps - a lie. New York definitely has a sleep in on Sunday morning. Headed west along 34th St, with just me, a few bums, and people heading to the Mega Bus terminal, while I was heading to the Highline. Reviews had said how busy it gets, and how that ruins the experience, no such problem for me, as can be seen in the pictures very few people around.

 

[kermatu]

I have also been very surprised at how quiet NYC can be at times -- especially a Sunday morning.

 

[VPS]

Also love the Chrysler building and the high line was great - keep going - making me feel guilty that I haven't written a TR from last September to the US and Canada

 

[BAM1748]

Day 19 (cont)



Bit more of a wander around, don;t remember what I had to eat, then another sleep after a long day on the feet.

View attachment 70555

What's this, terrorists of the past.

 

[BAM1748]

Ah, if only Alco RS's were still running the NYC high line.

https://whyhaventwebeenherebefore.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/nyc-rs-3-with-6593-in-background.jpg

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Day 21 (cont)

Kept waling the High Line, stopping and relaxing, taking pictures, and as always the Empire State Building acted like a magnet to me, always looking at it, always snapping pictures of it.


Plenty of interesting art work along the way



All the way to the end to the deserted Meat Packing District