Two days in one

Free city tour is our morning destination. Norm has arranged a tour of mid town. We meet at Times Square after a refreshing vendor breakfast sitting in Bryant Park. Then for the next 2 1/2 hours we got an interesting look at Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, NewYork Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, MetLife Building (most expensive real estate), Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and 5th avenue. I am sure there was more but those are the highlights. The tour guide, Garett was entertaining and informative. Once finished, Norm and I checked out some of the spots we had only briefly seen in the tour - the NY Public Library and walk along 5th Avenue to Central Park.






Central Park was beautiful and the weather was perfect. Lots of walking! As we headed back to our room and seeing the line up for half price tickets for theater (TKTS) we decided to go right to the box office at the Jacobs Theatre and buy tickets for the musical show, Once.
Dinner was at a really nice restaurant at the Bryant Park. My meal was fresh rigatoni with grilled tomatoes, ricotta and rapini. Norm had a tasty dish of mushroom risotto, spinach, and some kind of "foam". It was really yummy. And of course dessert, hot chocolate cake with ice cream!
The show, Once was a great evening. Our seats were in the balcony and excellent views of the singing and dancing. The love story between an Irish male guitar player and the female Czech piano player. Live theatre in New York!
Since it was late when we got home, didn't finish till today........

This morning we tried oatmeal in the city with New York bagels, not bad. Then off we walked to Central Park and on to the Guggenheim Museum. On the way we stopped by the Dakota. When it was designed in 1880-84, the Dakota was way out west hence the name Dakota. It was New York's first luxury apartment and where Lauren Bacall, John Lennon, and Judy Garland have lived.



On to the park. It was wonderful. All of a sudden the noise level drops, and you'll find lush meadows, fantastic out cropping of rocks to climb on, lakes to row, thousands of trees and baseball diamonds. It is 843 acres. And today was a balmy 70' F.




The Guggenheim had an exhibit of James Chamberlain, a three dimensional abstract artist using car parts for his sculptures. They were amazing, mostly large and twisted metal, brightly coloured. The names of the pieces were equally unusual - Miss Lucy Pink or Lord Suckfist.








The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and finished after his death in 1959. The design is unique. We went up to the top by elevator and then slowly walked down the ramp looking at art as we descended. Nice!
With such a beautiful day we decided to eat (street vendor) as we walked to the other park- the High Line Park. What a great space. From the meat packing area to West Chelsea, raised railway lines have been transformed into walkway above the traffic. It is one continuos garden pathway. An oasis in the busy city.







We were surprised as to how many people were walking there on a Friday afternoon. Now we had to walk home. I guess we could have taken the subway but the weather was so nice we didn't want to be underground. Our sore feet got us home for a rest then we went out for a snack. And since it is Friday night we thought we should see what is happening at Times Square. We saw Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Batman, Captain America, Hello Kitty, Statue of Liberty, Naked Cowboy, a wedding proposal, and more all in the square. New York has it all!



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Location:Midtown NewYork