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The second day of sightseeing in New York City started earlier and as frenetic as the first one. We dedcided to go bike riding in central park first thing in the morning, as we could get on a tour at 9am for free with the card. Alas, we were a little late and were only able to get bike hire for a ride in the park. My goodness, it was tough! Combined with being unfit and residual fatigue from the day before, there were some hills that were very tough to overcome. We rode around til about 11.30 and by this time I had had enough and was starving (no breakfast as we were running late). We returned the bikes and went and found a Sub-way to have a breakfast, brunch, lunch combination.
As we were in the 50 streets anyway we headed over to the Rockefeller Centre to visit Top of the Rock. On the way we stopped at an Irish Pub to have a drink and they had a replay of the Manly and Bulldogs game on from last Friday night (so we got a little taste of home).
The Rockefeller Centre is a stunning building that provides lovely views of the city and its surrounds. It has three different observation deck levels (although not as high as the Empire State Building). We ventured onto two and took some stunning daytime photos of the city. Exhaustion was setting in again and so we headed back to the hotel for a nanna nap and for me a shower to feel a little refreshed and human again.
After a nap we were going to go to find a place to book tickets for the baseball on Friday night, but the ladies at the front desk were really helpful. We have pretty good tickets to see the Yankees play Tampa Bay on Friday night. Apparently they are both at the top of their division/conference so should be a good game. Our hotel are pretty awesome actually. They had an ice cream truck provided out the front for hotel guests. The flavours were a little strange, but in the end tasted ok. Mick had a fried chicken and waffles ice cream with a pancake cookie. I had a more simple pancake cookie with a salted chocolate icecream.
We then ventured back towards Times Square to visit some shops, head to an exhibition and head towards our night time dining experience Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Our first stop was at the Spy Exhibition. I actually really enjoyed it. It was about espionage over time and how different strategies have been used by spies from all parts of the world to gather intelligence and prevent catastrophic events happening. (I did have some quiet questions to myself as to how no intelligence was gathered that massive attacks were planned on American soil - something that we have discussed over the last couple of days as on Sunday night one of the Special Forces involved in the raid on Osama Bin LAden's compound was interviewed on American 60 minutes). The technology however that has developed over time is amazing. Camera's can be hidden where you keast expect them to be.
On the way we stopped and bought some Yankees hats and a shirt for Michael for the game on Friday night and a few small souvenirs.
Then we got to Ellen's. This Diner is staffed by singing and dancing waitstaff. Most of them are fringe Braodway actors and actresses trying to make a living while waiting for their big break to come along. The food was simple (50s style home cooked). But the atmosphere was fun. This is a place I would recommend to anyone coming to New York and wants an entering time.
After this we were getting tired again, so headed back through Times Square, stopping to look in a couple of shops. We were blown away by how cheap things like Billabong are here and will probably look to buy some of their stuff when we go shopping in Orlando and Las Vegas.
- comments
Kim Glad to hear your holiday is filled with heaps of adventure, excited for you both seeing a baseball game, did you get to see a Broadway Show?, Luv ya both xx