CENTRAL PARK

BOATS IN CENTRAL PARK

TRUMP HOTEL - CELEBRITY MEETING PLACE

Friday is my last day in New York for a while so, since the weather was so beautiful again, I decided to take a wander around Central Park. The Park is huge and needs a full day to do it justice. By following the miles of walking paths, I was taken past statues, fountains, boating lakes and even a full-blown reservoir. I visited Strawberry Fields, in front of The Dakota apartments where John Lennon was shot, and chatted to Charlie, who was playing guitar by the Imagine mosaic.

There are lots of museums around Central Park but generally I limited my exploration to just their foyers. The exception was the New-York Historical Society Museum, which I fully toured. I am sure that friend Steve Bridge and neighbour Jane, who help to run a History Group near to my home, will be delighted at my choice. The shameful truth, however, is that it was the only one that would let me in for free.

As I passed by the Trump International Hotel and Tower, comedy actor/writer James Corden and his family were leaving to catch a taxi. His small son, Max, walked straight into my legs and fell over, so I lifted him back up onto his feet while his mum gently scolded him for not watching where he was going.

There you go. I'm in New York for less than a week and already I'm hobnobbing with celebrities.

Tomorrow I move on to Washington D.C., but come September, "I'll be back!", to rob a catch phrase from another celebrity I might just meet in Hollywood.

WORLD TRADE CENTER

ONE WORLD TRADE CENTRE

SOMEONE WAVING AT ME

Today (Thursday), I made for Manhattan's financial district by walking the waterside path down the west side. I passed through several attractive parks, but the view ahead was soon dominated by 1WTC, the tallest of several new buildings which replace the destroyed World Trade Center complex. I was irresistibly drawn towards it, and soon found myself in the queue for passes to see the 9/11 Memorial.

The Memorial itself comprises waterfalls cascading into two pools set in the footprints of the Twin Towers. The names of the, almost 3,000, victims of the terrorist attacks are inscribed in bronze parapets around the pools. Surrounding the Memorial is a beautiful tree-filled plaza in which to wander around and contemplate - eventually in peace and quiet, but not right now. The Memorial is presently surrounded by a noisy army of builders who are in the process of completely reconstructing the site. I think this was what impressed me the most. There was a real sense of: 'We've been hurt, but we're coming back stronger'. The new 1WTC is taller than the original Twin Towers. Indeed it is now one of the tallest buildings in the world, and probably the most expensive. Along with its unofficial name of Freedom Tower, a statement is clearly being made here. I found the whole experience of visiting the Memorial quite an emotional one.

I continued my walk around the waterfront, and might have paid for a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty had Tam not told me that the Staten Island Ferry goes almost as close, and it's free!! I noticed a Coastguard Gunboat escorting us as we crossed the water.

On my return I walked past Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges before returning to my digs via Chinatown, which seems to have its very own Chinese-style McDonald's - Gutbuster Double Prawn Burger with Noodles and a Herbal Tea, no doubt.

PENNSYLVANIA

ONE OF US IS DEFINITELY CRACKED

A ONE HORSEPOWER VEHICLE

In contrast to the showers of yesterday, Wednesday's weather was clear and sunny - perfect for my guided coach trip to Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love and capital city of the USA before Washington D.C., and the Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The guide explained all sorts of fascinating stuff about the colonisation of America, the War of Independence and the foundation of the United States. It was interesting that the Liberty Bell was cast in London - were we actually trying to get rid of them? The Bell cracked when it was first rung in Philadelphia so, assuming it had a 12 month warranty, they probably didn't pay for it anyway. I expect we argued that it was broken by misuse, but I guess it wasn't worth starting a war over it.

After learning about minor American heroes such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, I was excited to visit the statue of a real hero, Sylvester Stallone's fictional boxer Rocky Balboa located by the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The trip continued on to Lancaster County where we visited the Amish community in the village of Intercourse which, for all you mucky-minded titterers, means fellowship and community. They do have lots of children though, and the 55 year old buggy driver I spoke to had 9 grandchildren, which beats me. They were warm and friendly, and didn't seem to be suffering too much from their avoidance of cars, television and higher education. Indeed, their farmhouses were immaculately maintained and I got the feeling that they were smart businessmen - they were certainly adept at removing money from tourists.

CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

86TH FLOOR OF EMPIRE STATE BUILDING



TIMES SQUARE AT NIGHT

With so many things going on, another blog entry is necessary already. On my first full day in the USA, I initially headed back to Penn Station to sort out the little matter of some Amtrak rail tickets that I had paid for on-line, but didn't receive. Not for the first time I find myself impressed with US customer service, and the necessary tickets were printed out for me without delay.

From there I go walkabout and happened to pass the Empire State Building. I hadn't intended to go in, but the lack of any queue persuaded me that I should part with $25 to take the lift to the 86th floor observatory. I was glad I did, because the view from the observatory was worth every $, and enabled me to gain an appreciation of where everything else in New York City is.

I subsequently headed for Grand Central Terminal, then the Flatiron Building, and then I walked the length of the High Line. I'll let you look these places up on Google yourself.

After returning to Tam's apartment for a cup of tea, I headed out again, this time to experience Times Square and Broadway at night. And what an experience!

Everything I have seen so far in NYC has given me a real buzz. People are friendly, even those not after your money, and I can understand why they call it the city that never sleeps...it was gone 10.00pm when I ate. Although I'm not really a city lover, there is definitely something rather magical about this place.

NEW YORK AT LAST

TAM'S PLACE

The flight was 7 hours 40 minutes, but didn't seem that long. This was partly due to the 3 generously large glasses of fruit juice and vodka passed to me by the pretty Virgin stewardess I kept smiling at, and also the fact that I was seated next to a young Irishman, Mark, who was as chatty as me. Indeed, given that my ex-wife Sheila is Irish, I felt that we were practically related. On landing, we stuck together as we navigated the vagaries of the rail transportation between JFK Airport and central Manhattan. When we emerged from Penn Station, the sight was almost overwhelming as sights that I had previously only seen in films came into view. Mark and I took a couple of pictures on each other's cameras with the Empire State Building in the background. We then spied an Irish bar over the road and consummated our brief friendship with a drink. I had Guinness, of course. Mark had a lager!! Whatever has happened to young Irishmen these days?

My digs in Manhattan were just a block away from Penn Station. Fortunately, the New York street numbering system is so simple that, even with 3 vodkas and a Guinness in my system, I couldn't get lost. I was greeted by Tam in her small but homely apartment. My bed is a futon in her lounge/dining room/kitchen. For those used to more spacious hotel accommodation, just think of the advantages. I can cook myself a meal, then jump into bed and eat it whilst watching films on the huge television. I think I will be happy here!

In the morning, I pretended I was still asleep as Tam crept past my bed on the way to work.

CHOCKS AWAY

MY RIDE OVER THE POND

Well, last chance to add a post before I fly 'over the pond' as us experienced transatlantic flyers say. This is my second time, after all.

It's lucky I'm awake enough to write this. I didn't get to bed until 3.30am and I was up again at 6.30am. Why? Because I was cutting, bending, drilling and filing metal. I had promised to fit some panniers onto Chris's pushbike but, without the additional metalwork I was making, they would have swung into the spokes and destroyed themselves, and probably Chris and the bike too. I was still finishing the job when the taxi driver arrived. He even waited patiently as I fitted a bell to the handlebars. This wasn't so much for Chris's safety as everyone else's. I hope she has a nice cycle ride in France while I am away.

My journey to Heathrow was uneventful but, looking out the window of the standby lounge, I did notice that the aircraft I was about to board has a huge fly on its nose (see photo). Obviously some technical feature to do with guidance or lift. Anyway, I'm on board now and, looking out of the window, I have just seen a leather jacketed guy with a pair of goggles perched on his head climb the rickety stepladder into the cockpit. The mechanic has just hand-cranked the engines into life and, with the cry of 'chocks away', the huge machine rolls towards a newly mown strip of grass. This is it!! China here I come?? Damn. I thought I was in the wrong queue.

ONE WEEK TO GO

Just when you think you are on top of everything, something crops up to disrupt the planning. Nothing to do with the North America trip itself, it's just that my central heating boiler has a problem and I can get any hot water. British Gas have been called, but if it doesn't get fixed before I go then it will just have to wait until I get back. I won't be needing heat or hot water while I am away anyway.

I have been keeping up the walking over the past few weeks, including two 15 mile sections of the South Downs Way with musicians 'John Jones and the Reluctant Ramblers' (see their blog), and a challenge walk of 100km (62.5 miles) to help raise funds to maintain Shedfield Old Church Tower, which aside from being an historic building, provides a home for bats. Starting at 10.00am on Saturday 8th June, I followed a circular route around Hampshire, walking through the night, to get back to the start point early on Sunday morning, having completed the walk in 20 hrs 28 mins. I slept most of the remaining weekend and my feet still ache. I'll be fine for next Monday's flight though.

ME, IN FRONT OF THE OLD CHURCH TOWER