Into the Madding Crowds!

[Bushcraft]

A great experience for Brat

Does he prefer Kruger and the bush though

[Flutterby]

Definitely Kruger and the bush!!

We did have a Kruger trip booked for August but when this American trip came up we cancelled it. Since we've been back the Brat has been looking for accommodation in August but I'm too scared to broach the subject with SO!

[Flutterby]

Now we have come to the part where I joined the Brat.

I left ORT at 8.15pm on Friday 24th April. I managed to sleep quite a lot on the plane and arrived at JFK at 6.25 am feeling very excited. Of course, as soon as I got off the plane I had to find somewhere to have a cigarette, and joined the other social outcasts in a little plastic booth outside the airport! I had pre-arranged to get a shuttle from the airport to our hotel in midtown Manhattan, and only had to wait about half an hour to be picked up. We then had to pick up a few other people at different terminals and then we were on our way.

Just a bit of info before we get started. New York City is in the State of New York and is made up of five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, all situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The Hudson river separates NYC from the state of New Jersey. Manhattan Island is probably considered the 'centre' of NYC, and is laid out in a grid made up of streets and avenues. The streets run from east to west, and the avenues from north to south. 5th Avenue is the centre of Manhanttan and everything is either east or west in relation to 5th Avenue. Manhattan is divided into Uptown (where you will find Central Park), Midtown (Times Square and Broadway) and Downtown (financial district).

My first sight of the Manhattan skyline (and a cemetery) from the Brooklyn Bridge.



After dropping off 2 other guests, we finally made it through the morning traffic to our midtown hotel which was on the corner of the famous Broadway and 32nd Street. It turns out this is quite an historical site. The hotel opened in 1897 when Broadway was the place to be in NY. In 1916 the Charter for the Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) was signed at the Hotel Martinique, and in 2011, the PGA Gallery at the Radisson Martinique was officially opened.



You will find these huge pots of daffodils and tulips all over the city.



Just outside the hotel, this steam vent is just one of hundreds around Manhattan, and steam billows out 24 hours a day from the steam system beneath the city.



I couldn't check in until about 3pm (worse than Kruger ) so I had to find something to keep me busy till then. I left my bags at the hotel and ventured out into one of the biggest cities in the world on my own! The Empire State building was just around the corner from the hotel but I didn't go up then as the Brat and I were going to do that together.



I decided to do a downtown tour on one of the many hop-on hop-off tourist buses that drive all around Manhattan, which also included a boat cruise to the Statue of Liberty. Mid-morning traffic in downtown Manhattan!



This is the Flatiron Building. When it was completed in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in the city, with only 21 floors!



Cherry trees in Greenwich Village. This is the 'arty' area of Manhattan and one of the more expensive areas to buy property.



A common sight is racing fire engines, and you can almost always hear the sound of sirens in Manhattan. I don't know where all the fires were, but added to the noise of hooting cars, subway trains and general hubbub, the noise in the city is incredible!!



United States Court House

[Lisbeth]

I was in New York when the Empire State Building was still the tallest building in the world and the UN building all glass was a sight

The traffic was not much different though

[Mel]

Once again I'm back to a place I have visited before - thanks to your pix and to your narration, Flutts!
Although I'm not particularly keen on NYC, I'm quite happy to have visited it twice. Lots of interesting places to visit - as shown -
and I'd love to have only half their restaurants that cater for my dietary needs over here.

Apart from the noise, I found the smell of the city disgusting! But that applies more to the warmer month than April, I guess.
I went once in July - horrible and the other time in April - okay'ish.

[steamtrainfan]

We have never been to the USA so this TT is proving so very interesting.

I am sure that Flatiron Building has featured in quite a few movies.

[nan]

I was there too... with all the towers...

magnificent pictures to show all these buildings

[Pumbaa]

Never been to NYC so far but once I will for sure do especially to visit some of these famous museums

The Brat nearly saw everything already and great that you still could spend a bit time together

Believe it or not some people who have never been to South Africa thinks is it a developing Country - So the students of the school Brat and his classmates visited must thought as well

[Flutterby]

I was in New York when the Empire State Building was still the tallest building in the world and the UN building all glass was a sight

The traffic was not much different though

The world is growing too fast!!

Once again I'm back to a place I have visited before - thanks to your pix and to your narration, Flutts!
Although I'm not particularly keen on NYC, I'm quite happy to have visited it twice. Lots of interesting places to visit - as shown -
and I'd love to have only half their restaurants that cater for my dietary needs over here.

Apart from the noise, I found the smell of the city disgusting! But that applies more to the warmer month than April, I guess.
I went once in July - horrible and the other time in April - okay'ish.

Thankully there was no smell when we were there! Ja, so many restaurants, too little money!

[Flutterby]

We have never been to the USA so this TT is proving so very interesting.

I am sure that Flatiron Building has featured in quite a few movies.

Yes it has stf! I'll be honest and say I'm glad I've seen NY, but don't think I'd do it again!

I was there too... with all the towers...

magnificent pictures to show all these buildings

Thanks nan!

Never been to NYC so far but once I will for sure do especially to visit some of these famous museums

The Brat nearly saw everything already and great that you still could spend a bit time together

Believe it or not some people who have never been to South Africa thinks is it a developing Country - So the students of the school Brat and his classmates visited must thought as well

It was great to explore with the Brat. I know that many people don't know much about South Africa, but when they don't even know where it is?!! The clue is in the name!