oct -15-19 new york overview

time to reflect now we've made it to washington.

amazing place of course and amazing pace. pleased we managed to get round most of the major attractions but 3 full days not enough. six or seven more like. for example although we did Ellis Island and the Met. Museum of Fine Art you could easily have spent a full day at each.

Ellis Island processed over 12 million people in 50 years till it closed in 1924. at its peak 12,000 a day were coming through the main hall. Great black and white pix capture the scenes.

The Met was an embarrassment of riches full of Picassos and Monets, Manets, Gaugins then Van Goghs etc etc . and that's after the earlier period represented by Rembrandt and the like. In the end it's just overwhelming. And all that is just a tiny bit of what's on show.

Broadway and 42nd Street outdo the West End in that they are more concentrated together and the taller buildings make for even more garish lighting. much of the same stuff on offer though with like London a predominance of musicals. Two stars of Equus are the very British Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe. Phantom we saw is really way over the top melodrama, saved by some super melodies.

Got used to the Manhattan skyline as we journeyed in and out by bus each. spectacular by day and night and sad we won't see it again, at least for a little while.

Overall, a great experience enhanced by four days of excellent weather which looks like continuing in Washington. Only downside was sporting intelligence from home with Middlesbrough losiing 5-0 at home to Chelsea. However, we have been following the exploits of the Boston Red Sox and are hoping they can clinch their place tonight in the world series.
Dave

19th October 2008 (3)

View from the window during flight from New York to Washington.
Jean

19th October 2008 (2)

Another stop at the local sports field with indoor facilities and Dave was delighted to find that he had been expected - look carefully at the tent fabric!

19th October 2008

Our last day in New York. Larry gave us a short trip around the local area and we stopped off at his golf course of Spook Rock. The colours of the "Fall" leaves on the trees throughout the area is amazing.
Jean

18th October 2008 (2)

We were a little disappointed with the interior of St Patrick's Cathedral as it was rather dark.

We weren't disappointed with the evening meal at the "Outback" though - see photo.

Jean

18th October 2008

Took a stroll in Central Park, walking about four miles in the process. Pictured is the memorial to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields.

In the afternoon we spent three hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and were blown away by the exhibits, notably the late C19th, early C20th European paintings, especially the Impressionists.

Jean