Started off at the World Trade Centre’s pretty Winter Garden building for an elevated view of the Ground Zero site. There was a large school party in there with what must have been an inexperienced tour guide. On describing the events of 9/11 he summed up by stating “so, not really a good day.” No shit mate. Walked through the palm tree-lined Winter Gardens on to the promenade that runs along the Hudson River. Nice way to start the day as the weather was fresh and beautiful.
After taking in a bit of the River, we cut inland and through Wall Street. That New York Stock Exchange is quite something, but the sight of the impoverished beggar sat underneath one of the main buildings was typical of New York City. This is truly a city of those who have and those who do not. From here, we walked round the corner for a tour of the New York Police Department Museum. We thought it would be free with the NYC passes we bought, but found we were practically forced to hand over a $15 donation. Cheeky twats, the museum was massively uninspiring given the huge history involved with their bobbies. The recovered weapons and firearms exhibit was good though. We were shown round it by a guide who got a bit too much of a semi about guns and knives etc.... detailing the benefits of each and the sort of damage you can do with them! Al Capone’s hat and machine gun was worth the look though.
From there we jumped on the Subway to Penn Station to go and have a look at Macy’s. Some people would call this heaven but I found it no different to Selfridge’s or Harrod’s; very boring. Got out of there almost instantly to head for the Empire State Building, but only after negotiating some aggressive rap twats on 34th Street trying to peddle their CDs to intimidated tourists. I gave them 10 seconds too much of my time and engaged them in conversation. One of them asked me if I was scared of him!? Don’t think he liked it much when I said no, laughed at him and walked off.
So anyway, The Empire State Building. Finally got on the lift, which shot us up 86 floors in seconds to the Observation Deck high above Manhattan. Never seen anything like those sort of views before and I know I never will again (unless I come back obviously). It felt bizarre being able to see this endless expanse that high up, perhaps the best part of the visit so far.
One of the shittest parts of the visit was next though. I should have known the ‘NY Skyride’ would be shit when I saw just 3 people waiting to get on it. After being bombarded with adverts for other NYC visits owned by the company, we were made to endure an annoying 15 minute ‘journey’ on one of those moving seat rides that accompany a film that makes you feel as though you were flying around the city. Proper shite it was. Apparently it costs $36 to go on it without a pass. No wonder there wasn’t a queue.
After a grease-filled burger in Wendy’s (naffer version of Burger King) we took the Subway up to 72nd Street and on to Central Park. Walked up 72nd West to the Dakota Building where Lennon lived and was subsequently murdered.... stood in the same spot in fact. Was odd seeing people having their pictures taken in the spot where he was gunned down, but I guess it was done in the name of fandom and adoration. Those apartments look unreal though. Crossed the road to find ‘Strawberry Fields’ and the ‘Imagine’ mosaic before taking in a relaxing afternoon’s walk around Central Park. We were offered a tour around the park on one of those bike-taxi things where you sit in the back and some geezer peddles you round. Their sales tac is so transparent. One of them comes up to me and informs me that “John Lennon lived there” pointing at the Dakota. No shit. Then he went through the routine of asking where we were from before going in for the kill. I lost my tumescence when he asked for $50 each. The second bloke came up and got talking to me about Finidi George of being a shit Ipswich player fame. He came up with the sum of $67 each! Fuck that. Walked around the park and saw the sights on foot including the many freaks and cultists who get up to weird ritualistic things amongst the trees. The couple dressed in tie-dye chanting aloud in an enclosed bush invited us in to join them. Needless to say we gave that the swerve.
At this point we were starting to feel particularly knackered. Moved quickly through Lexington Avenue and on the Subway again to catch the Circle Line Cruise by night only to find the bastard closed. Probably should have checked opening times more closely, then I would have known the night one only runs on weekends. Bollocks.
After a small chain-smoking session, we headed for what the landlords of ‘Landsdowne Road’ classed as an ‘Irish Pub’. Full of ridiculous Irish paraphernalia and prices that make drinking in Dublin sound cheap, with no Irish people working in there or drinking in there by the looks of it. One small bottle of Heineken and a pint of the black stuff came to $15. Fags cost $10 a pack over here too, so combine the two when going for a night on the piss and the result is a hangover and an empty pocket. We had one each and did one.
Walked up to Times Square again which is simply dazzling by night. It’s quite something by day, but when the place is lit up it’s simply spellbinding – a sight I’ll never forget (unless I develop Alzheimer’s obviously). The Naked Cowboy (a singing cowboy in just a pair of pants and guitar) was typical of Manhattan by night. Great stuff. At this point the feet had gone and the legs didn’t want to know. Poor Small Irish was proper fucked, but being the selfish sort that I am, dragged her up six blocks back to the Rockerfeller Centre for the ‘Top of the Rock’ skyline view. I nearly had to carry the poor girl up 7th Avenue! We got there to find there was 0% visibility once again.... gutted.
Got back to Newark to find last night’s cabbie looking at us with dread as we headed to the car for the 0.5 mile fare (that’s $2.50). Another cabbie took us this time and spoke in a thick patois we didn’t understand (he didn’t like that much). Slept like a baby, before our last day in this awesome city. Think I’m going to miss this place.
