I awake early for a day in New York, which is odd as California time is minus 3 hours. So 4am on the left coast.
We drag Max out of bed and head to Ellens Stardust Diner. As expected, there is already a long queue. Each time we visit Suzanne and I are glad we went in 2008, and again in 2015 when Max was younger. We will try again tomorrow.
We end up in the very orange diner that is Juniors. It serves the usuals, and on this day we are served by a very cheery Amanda already armed with a coffee pot. She offers us a cup, without hesitation.
Being British, of course we opt for tea. She retreats but soon returns with our drink of choice.
The place has a mix of tourists and locals. First impressions are tourists in the booth and at the tables, locals at the breakfast bar. Presumably a regular spot grabbing their breakfast before their busy New York day starts.
Back to the orange. There is a lot of it. The benches, the seat, the menus. From the 3 inch coasters on the table to the 3 foot letters adorning the wall reminding you where you are.
Max sips his apple juice. Orange juice would have just been too much.
Cheesecakes fill the cabinet near the entrance, but we resist.
We jump on the subway, and join the Redline towards South Street Seaport. A quick change of plan, and 3 stops later we are getting off.
It was always our intention to do The Highline, so we walk over to 10th Street.
The walk along West 28th St street shows off a slightly run down area it feels. Industrial. A small, functional rather hard looking play-park has more homeless people in it than children. Many keeping to themselves, but one being rather vocal.
The High Line
Before we know it though, we are climbing the stairs to the High Line, joining on 28th St
Despite the bitter(ish) wind, it is a very pleasant walk. The buildings vary, with new, modern glass fronted ones flanked by smaller, more attractive worn out ones. Oddly enough, neither look out of place, and they somehow compliment each other perfectly.
The 1 mile walk should take us 20 minutes, but at least 60 pass. We exit at Gansevoort Street, which is just south of 12st Street.
Keen for a warm seat and a coffee, a place called Bubbys looks inviting, but they only offer us seats at the bar. Not ideal so we wander down to the Kava Cafe. Nice and inviting, it is not long before we are seated at the window, with our drinks watching the world go by.
The staff of 3 appears to be more than they need. Being seated at the window, we have a view out to this world that is this part of Manhattan.
Watching the world go by during a day in New York
Dog walkers, professionals on lunch and what looks like a shopper-holic walk by. This despite the fact I haven’t seen that many shops to fuel her passion. While finishing at Kava, the post-person delivers their mail, and a road cleaner the other side of the glass plus his trade.
We reach the subway station thanks to directions from the Kava barista and as it reaches South Ferry, it is getting emptier and emptier.
Before long, it is just the the three of us, and a man who was muttering to himself. Gradually, he gets louder and louder. This puts the heebee jeebees up us and Max in particular, but that is the colourfulness of being in New York city!
We emerge from the subway just a short walk from the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
A large throng of people gather at the doors waiting for the imminent opening. They slide, and everyone piles forward.
There were rumours that there was a man with a knife on the boat, but with the onboard police and the many people, nothing happened.
We disembark, and next up, the Bull in Wall Street. This was surreal. For some reason the people seemed to be as interested in the back end of the Bull as the front. Tourists!!
It was drink time, so we headed to TGI Fridays, where Beer, Wine and Apple Juice for all. I’ll leave you to decide who had what.
Over to DUMBO
Next up, it was a trip to the other side of the East river to DUMBO.
No, not the elephant. DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.
Obligatory photos were taken, then headed to Juliana’s, getting some great views of Brooklyn Bridge on the way.
We visited Juliana’s in 2016 and loved the pizza. We have come back and are not disappointed.
It was then a subway ride back to Times Square, saw the Delorean hanging out again, then headed to the hotel for bed.
It is our last day in the city tomorrow, before we head off to Long Island to visit family, before heading home in 5 days.
