We are actually staying in Jersey City, New Jersey which is right across the Hudson River from New York City, the city as the locals say! ! Not a really nice campground but right on Liberty Bay Marina and a fairly close bus ride. We can actually see the Statue of Liberty from the camp and catch the water taxi to the city. Today is another long day of touring. It is almost getting to be overwhelming because we are seeing so much and since we are not familiar with the area we cannot remember what is what. The tour guide knows so much. She lives in the city and told us that average apartments are about 600 square feet and probably start at about $600-800,000 to buy so "average" people don't live in Manhattan. Rents are about $3,600 for the same 600-800 square feet. Parking is a whole different thing. Hopefully I will post a picture below of the stacked parking. She said that that parking is $800 - $1,000 per month.
We learned that NY City does not have alleys so where to put the daily garbage?? Just right on the sidewalk, next to the street!! What a mess. By afternoon the streets are stacked high with garbage bags waiting for the twice a week, middle of the night, pickups. WOW.
Just realized that I didn't mention that in Boston we were on a bus up the street where the Boston Marathon is held. We went right by where the bombs went off. It was a very busy area and very sobering to be there. Amazing that more people were not hurt since it is also wall to wall small businesses.
Madam Trousseau's with Morgan Freeman standing outside.... Nice
All the little parks were great to see and the terrific planters with flowers still blooming that I am sure are not at home.
Grocery shopping is very different. Lots of little shops and each is different, meat, fruits and veggies and the local market. You can't carry a lot of bags up to a walk up apartment. Literally it means walk up, no elevator.
This is the stacked parking. Imagine $1,000 a month for this. SAIF people can't complain about $35 anymore!
Lunch was at Grand Central Station. The Vanderbilt's bought the building and renovated it beautifully. Did you notice in all the city pictures that there is a great deal of scaffolding around the city. Entire building are wrapped. No remodeling or renovating is done without complete scaffolding. Also, look at the amount of street work. It is amazing to see. The tour guide and the bus driver were always being surprised at the new detours.
This ceiling painting was covered for years by black from cigarette smoking and never being cleaned. Everyone was surprised when this beautiful painting and color was underneath.
This is an atomic clock, so perfect timing
More city pictures. These next ones are the United Nations, very well guarded buildings. Men with guns on the roofs
Now on to Central Park. Yoko Ono donated money for the purchase of five acres in the over 800 acre park in the middle of Manhattan, called Strawberry Fields after a song he wrote. It is a tribute to John Lennon who was shot by Mark David Chapman as he was entering the Dakota Building. The park is beautiful, a lot of it in natural rock and plants. Not just a flat, green grass park.. Many different areas. I think we were told 28 children's areas and there in a dog park in Strawberry Fields that is really small but the only off leash area for local dogs.
This is the entrace to Strawberry Fields..
More city pictures..
Terrific dinner at Mustang Harry's.
The best part of this day was getting to go to a Broadway Show, Momma Mia. It was so very good ! ! No pictures could be taken after the show started. Such a fun show. The difference between Broadway and Off-Broadway is not location, it is theater size. Seating for 499 and less is Off-Broadway and more than 499 is Broadway ! ! We went to a Broadway Show. Momma Mia is a terrific play. Would love to see more.
