I have been a bit slack in the last few days or moreso should I say we have been a bit busy so here goes in finishing the last sew days of the Great Adventure.
Long before our departure I booked a tour with Real New York Tours a company which specialises in walking tours of the real New York and today was the day for Dozen Apples Tour.
We had to meet our guide at the paramount Plaza between 50th and 51st on Broadway and had received a confirmation email to make sure we had a Metro-Card for the subway and comfortable shoes as it was about a 6 hour walking tour.
We met a number of other people at the Plaza as well as Luke, the owner of the company and our guide. In our group there were an australian by himself, an australian with her german boyfriend who live in Dubai, an irish woman by herself and two couple from the UK. There were two other groups booked as well so we separated with our separate guides and the day was on. Luke was bred, born and grew up with a single mum and his four other brothers, Toula, Sooula, Voula dn the guppie.
Off we went to the nearest subway and emerged at Central Park to the sight of Dakota House the home of a number of celebrities over the years and the site of John Lennons murder. Yoko still resides there in the complete seventh floor. Into Central Park and to Strawberry Fields built with contributions from all over the world featuring a mosaic from tiles and labour from Milan and a lake shaped in a teardrop so that Yoko can see it every morning when she awakes. THrough various areas of Central Park to sculptures and amphitheaters and a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Robby a mate of Lukes. Onto the Sheep Meadow for a magnificent view of Manhattan.
From there to Greenwich Village and a number of notable locations including the cafe from Friends and the home of the assison of Abraham Lincoln. Past Cafe Wha? the starting point of a number of notables such as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Bruce Springsteen, Peter, Paul & Mary, Kool and the Gang, as well as comedians, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby.
Lunch was taken at Joe's Pizza the filming place of Spidermand and I think the best Pizza I have ever had. People were lined up slices on plates and out the front door to eat in the Park opposite.
From there throught the University District some parks and to Little Italy, a beer in the bar of Sopranos Filming and onto Chinatown.Past the steps of the courts in law and order and onto St Pauls Cathedral which was the resting place of tired rescuers during the 9/11 rescues. It is now a museum and backs onto the Twin Towers site.
This is where things get interesting. By this time every bone in my body, plus some where aching, my dickie knee had gone through the pain barrier and we only had Wall Street to do. Okay a photo of the Twin Towers site and then out behind the otheres through the rear gate of Saint Pauls, and which way did the others go?? Gee theres a lot of commuters at 5pm in the afternoon. Was it left or right??? Anyway its not only me but the couple from Dubai?
Petal will find out that I am not by her side. Won't she. Apparently not. She is too engrossed in a conversation with the little lass from Ireland.
Now I know what its like for the kids at the show.
Blondie the corporate lawyer from Dubai says we should go this way. I say no I am staying where I am. Fritz the boyfriend said we should go another way. No I am staying, then World War 3 breaks out and he asks why I am staying where I am. I explained that if he could take us back the way Luke had brought us weaving and darting up and down back streets, I would be happy to go with him. He then sees the light and tells Blondie we are staying. Germany run second again. We try to contact Luke by phone and get his voicemail. Blondie asks if Petal has a mobile phone and could I ring her. I said yes and pulled her phone from my pocket and said I will take it to her first and she can then ring her. Tried Luke agin and he answers and says he is on his way back and to walk a certain direction where we meet up with him with Petal and he complains about sore ribs when I give him a big bear hug.
On we go and meet the others and a short description of Wall Street which we had missed. End of a very remarkable day
Very traumatic being lost in New York but all ends well with laughs all round.
Can I say that pain aside, this was a great tour, with plenty of local knowledge which sets the scene for you on the birth and development of New York and stands you in good stead for further adventures. We saw things and were told things about locations which you would only walk by without giving any thought by yourself.
OK back to Times Square by Subway, couple of blocks and we are back on the F Train to Queens to our motel.
