Act 7

3 September 2008 – 6 September 2008

 3/09/08           Another beautiful morning waking to a sunrise over the Falls.  It truly is a magnificent site and like all of Mother Nature’s other wonders that we have seen they have a uniqueness and beauty all of their own.

This morning we are meeting up with Don and Sue (gofish4), who will be on our Dawn Cruise, and going out with them for the day.  Don had told us he would meet us wearing a funny hat well we spoilt their bit of fun as we were waiting outside.  But we closed our eyes while they put on their hats and greeted us.  Sue had big Christmas hat and Don had a Canada hat so it did start us all off with a good laugh.  A wonderful ice breaker and great way to start the day.

Once underway we did a short tour down around the fall before heading on our way.  We stopped at the Botanical Gardens and went for a little wander through them.  As we walked around chatting and having a laugh the gardens were lovely and we took the opportunity to get some photos of all of us.

After leaving the gardens we stopped to show Don & Sue the power stations (one on the US and Canadian sides of the river).  They had never seen them before so we were able to tell them something about it.  Thank Paul and Sue for the great info yesterday.  We were then able to tell another couple who were having a look a bit about it as well.

From here we continued on our way stopping at a scenic lookout which looks out over the Niagara River and the town of Lewiston.  It was lovely and definitely a photo op spot.  We left shortly after a large tour bus pulled.

On our way again we turned down a road which leads to the river itself.  Here we got out and walked over to the bank of the river just taking in the beauty and also the quiet.  There were only the birds and the noise of the river such a lovely peaceful spot.

As we continued on we drove around having a look at some of the housing which varied from small cottages to very large homes.  We have definitely noticed the different style of architecture.  From the bitumen roof tiles to the very high pitched roofs (to help the snow fall down easier) as well as the building materials.  It was all very interesting and there were some very huge and beautiful house to be seen.

Don also stopped to show us Laura Secord’s house.  Laura informed the British of the American’s intention to attack in 1812.

Sue had brought a picnic lunch with them for us all and after a short drive around town we headed back to a lovely shady picnic spot we had seen near the river.

Lunch looked delicious with chicken, coleslaw, home grown tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, prawns (shrimp) and dipping sauce, rolls and of course some beer. 

Well I took a sip of my beer, it was good but when I put my glass down it went everywhere and all over Sue.  Oh dear how embarrassing but it was not my fault as there was a ridge on the table and it was uneven.  No you are not to believe the stories that Don, Reg and Sue tell as they are not true. LOL.

We had a lovely lunch and we were all chatting and having lots of laughs and Don couldn’t stop stirring me about the beer and oh boy when I used the pepper and then it fell over well it was on for young and old then.

Sue also brought fresh fruit of melon, grapes and wine grapes.  Now the wine grapes were really quite nice and as Sue explained they can only get them at this time of the year and they a kind of sweet yet sour taste.  Reg and I both enjoyed them.  She had also baked a zucchini, cranberry and walnut loaf and it was delicious.

The picnic was just such a great idea and it was so good to share it with two great people.  We also helped them a little with their tour plans once they land in OZ.

Time was marching on and it was after 3pm and well Reg was not 100% in fact he was feeling a lot worse than earlier so it was time to get them to take us back.  They very kindly found a drug store for us so we could get some cold & flu tablets and some lozenges for Reg.

Then as they dropped as back at the hotel it was time to say goodbye.  We had a wonderful day and the picnic was great it was just so nice to sit by the river and enjoy good conversation, laughs and some light hearted stirring.  We will be looking forward to catching up with you both again on the Dawn.  This time I will try not to spill my beer. Lol.  Thank you both so much for making our day so very enjoyable we really had a great time.

4/09/08            Today was an early start as we were being picked up by the Limo to take us to Depew Train Station for our train trip to New York City.  We arrived at the station just after 7.30am and realised we definitely were much too early but then better that than too late.

After checking in we grabbed a coffee and a tea out of the vending machine and read the paper.  It is terrible to say but I think I have read more of the US papers in the last 3 weeks than I would read of ours in a couple of months.

The train was only 10 minutes late and once it arrived we boarded it and found our sleeper car.  Then we were able to head to the dining car for some breakfast.  After this we settled into our compartment and Reg nodded off to sleep (he is still not very well) and I dozed for a little while and then started updating our travels ready to post once we are in New York.

It was a good trip and we arrived at Penn Station around 7.45pm.  By the time we claimed our bags and got out of the train station and caught a cab to where we are staying it was getting towards 9pm.  We are staying at the Ivy Terrace which is on East 58^th Street between 3^rd and 2^nd Avenues.

It is a 3 story walk up and we are on the first floor, only 11 stairs, but the room is very nice and quite large.  It has a kitchen, there are breakfast provisions in the fridge and we do intend to cook a little bit for ourselves.  There is also a patio so we can sit out there with our breakfast and watch the passing parade on 58^th Street.

After dumping our bags we headed out to find some dinner.  We stopped in at the diner just up on the corner.  Dinner completed we headed back to our home for the next week and was getting ready to collapse after the long day when we had a phone call. 

It was from Jeff, who helps the owner with the running of the Ivy Terrace, welcoming us and also to pass on a message that our Big Apple Greeter would be here at 9.30am in the morning for our tour.

After uploading all the updates it was off to bed for these two very tired travellers.

5/09/08            Today we were up at 7am and enjoyed our breakfast on the patio.  There were a few passersby that were staring at us so we waved.  This morning is our tour with a Big Apple Greeter so a little before 9.30am we went downstairs and he was there already.

We introduced ourselves to Phillip and then he started explaining lots of things about New York from how the streets and avenues are set up to the subway system.  There is actually a subway stop about a block away which will come in very handy.

Phillip was full of information as we started walking toward the West side.  He told us about a lot of the buildings, the architecture, showed us Bloomingdales and explained how the stores work in the city, took us down into the Apple Store (this was for Reg).  It seemed very busy to us but he explained it is usually a lot busier.  The store is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  He also explained that if you need to go 20 blocks then it is 1 mile so it is easy to work out how far you need to walk and get an idea of the time it will take you as well.

From here he showed us an Art Deco building which on the inside in the foyer the wall is painted with a map of New York and how it is laid out and then on the wall above the Reception desk there is a painting of a Dutch man buying New York from the Indians for $US24.  It was really interesting.  He explained how you can often pass by these buildings if you don’t take the time to just have a look as you walk around.

Then he headed us off to Central Park where we sat and had a coffee and a chat for a little while before he showed us down to the Bethesda Fountain via the Mall and the Elm Trees (it looked beautiful), the lake and the Boat House.

Phillip left us at the boat house (it was 1pm).  We had a brilliant tour with him and he was so knowledgeable about New York and so eager to share his city with us.  It was great and for anyone coming to New York we would highly recommend the program to them.

At the Boat House we enjoyed a cold beer and something light to eat before continuing on our way.  We sat enjoying the beer and the view of the lake and everyone out in row boats for awhile and then it was time to head off. 

Central Park is just beautiful and was very easy for me to get around as well.  I have to say the knee was holding up very well after over 3 hours of walking.  I think the anti inflammatory tablets I got in Niagara Falls have kicked in.  It is good as this really is a walking city.

So we walked back to where we were staying which was about 18 blocks, definitely a fair walk.

Once back Reg investigated the price of the Laundry (3 doors down) so we could get our washing done.  It turned out it was $US0.85 per lb washed and folded.  Oh what a bargain so he took all our washing down (a week’s worth) and it is going to cost $US17.00.  Well that sure beats standing over a hot washer and drier and it will be ready the next day.

After a short rest and freshen up we were off again.  This time we needed to get to the Grayline terminal to pick up our Hop on Hop off tickets.  It is on 8^th Avenue between 47^th and 48^th Streets about 16 blocks away.  I have to say this proved a more difficult walk but mainly because the body was tired.

As we walked we detoured into MOMA (Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art) as it is free after 4pm every Friday.  Well needless to say it was wall to wall people and very difficult to get near much of the art but we tried our best.  What we did see was interesting and good but the crowd did get us in the end so we headed off again on our journey of discovery.

Finally we reached the terminal and exchanged our receipt for tickets.  By then we had decided we would do the night time loop so we headed over to the bus which was going to be leaving in around 15 minutes.

The tour was excellent and very informative and we travelled through Times Square, past the Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, little Italy, Chinatown and over to Brooklyn.  We are both very taken with the great mix of old and new building, the people and the whole atmosphere of the city.  It really has a very vibrant feel about it.

After the tour finished we started walking back towards home looking for a deli or similar so we could get something for dinner.  We found a ‘deli’ (not quite like home) and picked up some take away and grabbed a cab from there.

We were home in no time so we sat on our patio and had our dinner which was not that good.  So we have learnt another lesson – find a supermarket and get some better supplies.

With dinner over and a bit of a rest it was time to hit the sac for a well earned sleep.  It was a long but thoroughly enjoyable day.

6/09/08            We had a lovely sleep in this morning and woke to an overcast day with the threat of rain and very strong winds which are from the tail end of Hurricane Hannah.  Reg went and got us some bacon so we had bacon and eggs and toast on our patio.  As we ate we watched the passing parade and it was such fun.

There were workmen working on the road, directly in front of us, so they had part of the road blocked off.  Then a van wanted to park at the kerb not far in front of where they were working so that it made it even more difficult for the traffic to get through.  The workman did their best to get him to move but he had furniture to unload and he quite pointedly told everyone he was not moving until it was unloaded.

The funny thing is the furniture was being delivered to the B & B where we are staying so we thought it all quite amusing.  Yes he did move the van after it was unloaded but not before driver’s that could not get around easily were tooting their horns madly.  Horn tooting seems to be a major thing here in New York and it is not just one toot but continual honking.

Breakfast over it was time to get going so we headed off to the Subway to catch a train down to Union Square and then a train over to Brooklyn as we are heading to the Brooklyn Brewery.

The subway was barely 2 blocks away but boy it certainly is not friendly to people with mobility difficulties.  Anyway lots of stairs to go down and then we had to work out what type of ticket we wanted.  Once we had the ticket then it was into the subway and more stairs to find our platform.  I have to say the subways are in need of a major spruce up (paint that sort of stuff) and as I said to Reg they certainly look as dingy as they appear in some movies.

But the ride was quick and we found our connecting train easy enough and we were in Brooklyn in no time.  We had about a 6 block walk to the Brewery and when we arrived we had just missed the start of the 2pm tour so we decided to have a beer while we waited for the 3pm tour.

Well that was the plan but we had a couple of beers and were just enjoying the whole atmosphere in their bar area that we didn’t even make the next tour.  When we left the Brewery it was raining quite heavily and yes you guessed it we had no umbrella’s with us.

So we called a cab and headed back to our New York home.  Reg picked up the laundry and went to the market and got us something we could do for dinner so we are set.

Although a quiet day it has been a good and we had fun and well the very tired feet have had a good rest today.  We will be back into it tomorrow.

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