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Day 23. Awoke to another fine day in NYC. Availed ourselves to a giant muffin each from the complimentary breakfast to have with a coffee break later on in the morning.
Took the subway uptown to Columbus Circle were we had a tentative reservation with a bike hire company for a 2 hr. hire. Upon exiting the subway on to the street, we were immediately pounced upon by a fella touting bike hires from his shop. It's pretty easy to spot the tourist in NYC - they're all reading maps or looking up at the skyscrapers. After considerable bargaining, Tony managed to get a full day hire for 3 bikes for a just little more than the 2 hr. provisionally arranged on-line deal. Helmets on, we ventured forth to Central Park and proceeded to bike around the anti-clockwise circuit. People everywhere biking and walking with many people also enjoying rides in the many horse drawn carts. Central Park is fascinating in that it has many rock formations shaped by glacial action eons ago which many people climb to rest, meditate or simply chill out.
Stopped at the carousal and enjoyed the ride with music blaring out unnecessarily too loud. Pity the poor young man who had to sit at the center of the ride listening to the music all day long! The carousal used to be driven by horses below the machine, controlled by the operator above stomping his feet with certain commanding actions.
Continued around the park to Strawberry Fields and the John Lennon mosaic memorial. Droves of people here too, all wanting to have their photo taken on the mosaic circle. Former hippies from the 60's also found in the vicinity, all selling their wares as a privilege under the First Amendment to the US Constitution - The Freedom of Speech.
Exited the park and headed west on a one way street system to the cycle way on the banks of the Hudson River continuing on to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Grabbed a hot dog each for 3 bucks here by a kerb side vendor. Everything on Manhattan Island is jacked up in price - apparently hot dogs are $1.00 each off the island.
Bought entry tickets to the museum, which essentially is a retired WW2 aircraft carrier and post war was used by NASA as a vessel for recovery of space orbiters in the 1960's. The highlight of the museum is the Space Shuttle Enterprise which was transported to New York atop a modified B747 in 2012 and then floated on a barge up the Hudson River and now sitting enclosed and on top of of the USS Intrepid. Very exiting to see the machine up close and once again as in all tourist spots, everyone wants to pose or take a selfie in front which of course is exactly what Tony did!
Carried on to view the rest of the carrier which when in service carried around 3000 personnel. Today's class of warship aircraft carriers carry around 7000 personnel ! The carrier was used by the FBI as temporary headquarters during the September 11 attack investigations.
Mounted our trusty steeds again and in rush hour traffic began the 2 mile trip back to the other side of Manhattan. Temporary grid lock at all intersections with cars honking on horns everywhere. Safely made it through, to check out the NY Public Library, which was one of the many items on Nikita's trip list to borrow and read a book emulating a scene from many a NYC movie. Alas for her, the library reading room was temporarily closed. A good reason for her to return to the Big Apple.
Time was marching on and again we took on the frenetic street traffic in the fading light returning the bikes safely - (never ride through there again said Nikita !!! )
Caught the subway down to Times Square and all dined on some tasty gyro's (Google it it you want to find out more, or better still, travel to NY and devour them yourselves) and ambled north to the Square proper. Tens of thousands of bods here, with many foreign languages heard. NYC fact: The city has the most diverse range of cultures with around 700 dialects spoken ! Very colourful displays on the numerous video screens surrounding the Square and many a person dressed up as Batman, Spider-Man and Woody from Toy Story etc, to name a few - all wanting their tip for photos taken with them. Tony was approached by two young ladies, totally top less but graciously decked out in USA Stars and Stripes body paint - which of course he had to oblige and get his pic taken. (Check out the photos when they are uploaded)
Finally exited Times Square after buying a couple of iconic I LOVE NY tee shirts returning all quite weary from the days expedition by Subway to our quiet hotel. Enjoyed a beer and re packed our bags for the mornings departure flights out of LaGuardia airport.
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Daniel New York - a city I'd happily visit again. Not in winter for me next time, I think!