What a great day!! Chucky and I headed off mid-morning, and caught the train from New Rochelle into Grand Central Station. Was a nice warm day (7 degrees)! 
The station itself is wonderfully clean and in beautiful condition. Lovely marble lines the walls, with a hand-painted ceiling.
Heading out from the station we went across the road to the Chrysler Building, which was the world's tallest building before the Empire State Building. Great Art Deco interior!
So guess where we went next - yep, the Empire State Building. It was being renovated inside, and I was feeling too stingey to pay the $20 to go up to the viewing deck, especially since my $50AU I exchanged came back as $26US!!
From there we header down to the financial district, where I saw my two favorite ATMs!!
The American Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. I was really looking forward to going inside, but since 9-11 they have been closed to the public. However Chucky assures me that next time I visit he'll call on some old mates to get us inside for a look.
Next stop was 'Ground Zero', where the World Trade Center towers stood. The whole area was cordoned off with high fences due to the construction going on there. Couldn't see a thing, well except for solid high blue fences!! So, on we walked down to 'The Battery', which is on the southern tip of Manhattan, from where we could see the Statue of Liberty (wayyyyyyy in the distance), and Staten Island.
After lunch (a burger made by some famous chef whose name I can't remember), we wandered down to Central Park via The Plaza (a famous hotel). I had imagined a green leafy park, but of course being winter what we had instead was snow, ice, and bare trees! Still great to see...
We finished off the day with a walk down Fifth Avenue (apparently has the claim to fame of being the highest priced rental for retail space in the world). I noticed Janine's heaven, and so had to take a picture!!
All in all a great day - we saved a few places to visit when I'm back here with Janine and Jordan - Times Square, Little Italy, China Town, visits to the various viewing decks, Madison Square Gardens...
Chucky assures me that New York looks it's worst in Winter, and is magnificent in Spring and Summer. That being the case I can't wait to see it then, as it was remarkably clean, and pretty with the snow. The people were friendly and helpful, and my preconception of New York being dirty, dangerous and full of grumpy people has been totally destroyed!! Another belief structure shattered!!
Tomorrow we are off to visit Nick in Philadelphia, so off to bed I go excitedly looking forward to another day in the USA!!
The station itself is wonderfully clean and in beautiful condition. Lovely marble lines the walls, with a hand-painted ceiling.
Heading out from the station we went across the road to the Chrysler Building, which was the world's tallest building before the Empire State Building. Great Art Deco interior!
So guess where we went next - yep, the Empire State Building. It was being renovated inside, and I was feeling too stingey to pay the $20 to go up to the viewing deck, especially since my $50AU I exchanged came back as $26US!!
From there we header down to the financial district, where I saw my two favorite ATMs!!
The American Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. I was really looking forward to going inside, but since 9-11 they have been closed to the public. However Chucky assures me that next time I visit he'll call on some old mates to get us inside for a look.
Next stop was 'Ground Zero', where the World Trade Center towers stood. The whole area was cordoned off with high fences due to the construction going on there. Couldn't see a thing, well except for solid high blue fences!! So, on we walked down to 'The Battery', which is on the southern tip of Manhattan, from where we could see the Statue of Liberty (wayyyyyyy in the distance), and Staten Island.
After lunch (a burger made by some famous chef whose name I can't remember), we wandered down to Central Park via The Plaza (a famous hotel). I had imagined a green leafy park, but of course being winter what we had instead was snow, ice, and bare trees! Still great to see...
We finished off the day with a walk down Fifth Avenue (apparently has the claim to fame of being the highest priced rental for retail space in the world). I noticed Janine's heaven, and so had to take a picture!!
All in all a great day - we saved a few places to visit when I'm back here with Janine and Jordan - Times Square, Little Italy, China Town, visits to the various viewing decks, Madison Square Gardens...
Chucky assures me that New York looks it's worst in Winter, and is magnificent in Spring and Summer. That being the case I can't wait to see it then, as it was remarkably clean, and pretty with the snow. The people were friendly and helpful, and my preconception of New York being dirty, dangerous and full of grumpy people has been totally destroyed!! Another belief structure shattered!!
Tomorrow we are off to visit Nick in Philadelphia, so off to bed I go excitedly looking forward to another day in the USA!!
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