So I guess you may have read about or heard about the massive winter storms that have been making their way across the U.S. causing huge travel delays. We were kind of worried that we wouldn’t be able to get New York but luckily we did. Actually we had a tail wind and landed earlier than planned, to the white winter wonderland that New York has become since I was here last.
Our first full day in NYC we slept in. You know, to get over our jetlag from the three hour time difference from the west coast. Then we made our way downtown to Battery Park and caught the ferry over to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. Despite the fact that it was freezing cold (it was so cold that I couldn’t feel my toes) there were still quite a lot of people visiting the famous lady. And boy is she big close up. We then jumped back on the ferry (well not literally) and headed over to Ellis Island. This is where, for many years, immigrants came to be processed before they were granted entry into the United States. We did an audio tour here (actually we did one at the Statue of Liberty too but I couldn’t concentrate because it was so cold) which was great. Sometimes those things can be a bit stupid but it was great here (like at Alcatraz) as you got a lot more information than if all you did was read all the info they put up at each display. They even had people talking that actually came through Ellis Island.
Our first full day in NYC we slept in. You know, to get over our jetlag from the three hour time difference from the west coast. Then we made our way downtown to Battery Park and caught the ferry over to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. Despite the fact that it was freezing cold (it was so cold that I couldn’t feel my toes) there were still quite a lot of people visiting the famous lady. And boy is she big close up. We then jumped back on the ferry (well not literally) and headed over to Ellis Island. This is where, for many years, immigrants came to be processed before they were granted entry into the United States. We did an audio tour here (actually we did one at the Statue of Liberty too but I couldn’t concentrate because it was so cold) which was great. Sometimes those things can be a bit stupid but it was great here (like at Alcatraz) as you got a lot more information than if all you did was read all the info they put up at each display. They even had people talking that actually came through Ellis Island.
The other really good thing was that it was all inside and my feet defrosted.
While we waited for the ferry to take us back to Battery Park the lady in the line behind us (who, like nearly every American I have spoken to, thought we were English - what is wrong with these people? Maybe it's because we say "pardon" like the English instead of "what") asked us what on earth we were doing here in the middle of winter when it was summer back at home.
Interestingly I found out that over here their seasons start on the 21st of the month. While it might be summer at home, it started on the first of December but here winter didn’t actually start until the 21st of December. Although it certainly felt like it started before that.
Once back at the park we headed to Times Square (via Ground Zero, although you can't see much because the area they are working in is all fenced off) because we had tickets to The Lion King and while we waited stopped off in a few shops (naturally - I’m with my Mum after all) and had dinner at Appleby’s. It’s a chain restaurant and you can find them all over the U.S. You’d think they would be the same price and have the same deals everywhere. But no. In other parts of the country you can have an appetiser and two entrees (that’s what the American’s call a main - I have no idea why when most of the rest of the world know that entrée is first) for $20 but not in New York City. We had one appetiser and one entrée plus a soft drink and two wines and it came to about $78. Admittedly that included tax and tip and the appetiser was a platter (so bigger than the average appetiser) but still………..it seems unfair to charge so much more because it’s New York.
Interestingly I found out that over here their seasons start on the 21st of the month. While it might be summer at home, it started on the first of December but here winter didn’t actually start until the 21st of December. Although it certainly felt like it started before that.
Once back at the park we headed to Times Square (via Ground Zero, although you can't see much because the area they are working in is all fenced off) because we had tickets to The Lion King and while we waited stopped off in a few shops (naturally - I’m with my Mum after all) and had dinner at Appleby’s. It’s a chain restaurant and you can find them all over the U.S. You’d think they would be the same price and have the same deals everywhere. But no. In other parts of the country you can have an appetiser and two entrees (that’s what the American’s call a main - I have no idea why when most of the rest of the world know that entrée is first) for $20 but not in New York City. We had one appetiser and one entrée plus a soft drink and two wines and it came to about $78. Admittedly that included tax and tip and the appetiser was a platter (so bigger than the average appetiser) but still………..it seems unfair to charge so much more because it’s New York.
We enjoyed the Lion King and had great seats. I saw it in London about nine years ago and it was pretty much the same. It was a good show but it's not my favorite - I actually enjoy the Disney movie more than the live show althought the costumes are absolutely amazing.
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