After a good night's sleep we were ready to meet the day, albeit a very foggy one.
We had breakfast at 12 Tables Cafe a Mediterranean restaurant we had found last time, just down the road from our hotel. The Greek omelette and strong coffee was just what the doctor ordered.
Then, after purchasing a weekly subway ticket, we headed down to South Ferry and the Staten Island ferry wharf for the return free 'cruise' to blow out the jet lag cobwebs. We could barely see the NYC skyline or Statue of Liberty through the fog.
At the Staten Island terminal a group of six African Americans (and one Caucasian base player) entertained waiting passengers by singing oldies but goodies eg. Under the Boardwalk in Capella.
Wonderful!
The trip back was clearer and we got some reasonable views of the NYC icons.
Too early for lunch so we decided to make the short ferry ride to the 172 acre Governors Island in the heart of New York Harbour. It had just opened a few days before and businesses were setting up for the summer season so this was again free.
The island has been used as a military installation from 1776 during the American Revolution. From 1783 to 1966, the island was a United States Army post, serving mainly as a training ground for troops and as a strategic defense point during wartime. The island then was a major United States Coast Guard installation until 1996. Following its decommissioning as a military base, it was sold to the public for a nominal sum in 2003, and opened for public use in 2005. It is now used by New Yorkers as open space.
We walked around the perimeter through trees heavy with blossom, across green playing fields, passed old stately homes and decaying army barracks and got some great views of Manhattan.
And it was here we first came across a business that wouldn't accept cash, only cards or electronic payments. This is becoming quite common in NYC. Using a foreign CC for a $US2 bottle of water is not the best economic way to go.
Then it was lunch time and some of Luke's lobster and crab rolls in FiDi.
After another afternoon nap, we met up with the daughter for drinks at Cocette and then pizza with Nicko at Rubirosa in Nolita washed down with a good bottle of Le Marche Verdicchio.
This was our second visit here. It didn't disappoint.
Next morning looked like rain so we canned our planned rail trip up the Hudson Valley and, after a bagel and coffee, took the long subway ride to northern Manhattan to The Met Cloisters
We had forgotten we were told it was quite a climb up to the museum but took it easy up the zigzag path stopping often to enjoy the quiet of the parkland.
The Cloisters is quite a place (see separate post).
Back downtown, the co driver visited what could be the smallest quilt shop in the world. On their recommendation we had lunch at a hole in the wall Mexican which was great.
After another afternoon nap we had drinks with the daughter and Nicko at the Petite Boucherie in the Village and then dinner at Snack Taverna in west village.
It was some of the best Greek food I had had in a long time and the wine selection, all from Greece of course, presented a bit of a challenge. However the waiter's recommendation was excellent.
So with that another successful day came to a close.
We had breakfast at 12 Tables Cafe a Mediterranean restaurant we had found last time, just down the road from our hotel. The Greek omelette and strong coffee was just what the doctor ordered.
Then, after purchasing a weekly subway ticket, we headed down to South Ferry and the Staten Island ferry wharf for the return free 'cruise' to blow out the jet lag cobwebs. We could barely see the NYC skyline or Statue of Liberty through the fog.
At the Staten Island terminal a group of six African Americans (and one Caucasian base player) entertained waiting passengers by singing oldies but goodies eg. Under the Boardwalk in Capella.
Wonderful!
The trip back was clearer and we got some reasonable views of the NYC icons.
The island has been used as a military installation from 1776 during the American Revolution. From 1783 to 1966, the island was a United States Army post, serving mainly as a training ground for troops and as a strategic defense point during wartime. The island then was a major United States Coast Guard installation until 1996. Following its decommissioning as a military base, it was sold to the public for a nominal sum in 2003, and opened for public use in 2005. It is now used by New Yorkers as open space.
We walked around the perimeter through trees heavy with blossom, across green playing fields, passed old stately homes and decaying army barracks and got some great views of Manhattan.
And it was here we first came across a business that wouldn't accept cash, only cards or electronic payments. This is becoming quite common in NYC. Using a foreign CC for a $US2 bottle of water is not the best economic way to go.
Then it was lunch time and some of Luke's lobster and crab rolls in FiDi.
After another afternoon nap, we met up with the daughter for drinks at Cocette and then pizza with Nicko at Rubirosa in Nolita washed down with a good bottle of Le Marche Verdicchio.
This was our second visit here. It didn't disappoint.
Next morning looked like rain so we canned our planned rail trip up the Hudson Valley and, after a bagel and coffee, took the long subway ride to northern Manhattan to The Met Cloisters
We had forgotten we were told it was quite a climb up to the museum but took it easy up the zigzag path stopping often to enjoy the quiet of the parkland.
The Cloisters is quite a place (see separate post).Back downtown, the co driver visited what could be the smallest quilt shop in the world. On their recommendation we had lunch at a hole in the wall Mexican which was great.
After another afternoon nap we had drinks with the daughter and Nicko at the Petite Boucherie in the Village and then dinner at Snack Taverna in west village.
It was some of the best Greek food I had had in a long time and the wine selection, all from Greece of course, presented a bit of a challenge. However the waiter's recommendation was excellent.
So with that another successful day came to a close.
1 comment:
WE? "We had forgotten...." Who is this WE that you speak of????? puleeeeease.......
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