New York City
New York was planned as our last major stop on this incredible journey. And, boy, what a city to finish in (with). Noisy, crowded, interesting, beautiful, ugly, expensive (there are many words to describe New York, which is rightly the World's City).
Of all the cities we visited in the USA, New York seemed to be the least American (or perhaps the most: busy, commercial, historic immigrant neighbourhoods, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural).
We arrived at Penn Station and then walked down the road to our hotel: The New Yorker Hotel. This was a great location to stay in as it was right next to the subway and also other great locations. It is an art deco hotel with an impressive large and busy lobby. We were in room 2225. High up. Next to the ice machine (which was loud and busy - Americans love their ice). The room was teeny tiny, bed comfy and a great shower, so all good as far as a city hotel goes in the world's, probably, most expensive city.
The Highline is a pretty amazing example of great landscaping (and innovation). It is a vertical natural garden constructed on top of an old elevated railway line in the Meatpacking District of NYC.
This is a picture of the Vessel, which wasn't open when we passed. You can walk to it from the Highline.
It is also next to The Shed which is also pretty wonderful – one always thinks about how much one can do if the money is available to do it (and not wasted).
The area around the Highline is now dominated by Hudson Yards, an uber upmarket mixed use development which also includes an amazing observation deck. We didn't visit this one and instead headed for Summit One which is at Grand Central Station. It was pretty busy and there was a crowd of European youngsters on some summer tour selfie'ing themselves silly. Nevertheless when you are so high up the views of New York are just breathtaking.
There are a lot of new modern buildings still going up including the Leaning Tower Of New York City AKA One Seaport). One wonders how they are still finding space to build these towers.
SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt encompasses four floors of over 6,000 square meters of sensory immersion and includes a reflecting balloon room which one can see one's (and others) reflection in the balls.
There is a long queue to pose on a protruding glass floor over 330 meters above the city, and one of the highest glass floors in the world. People are lying on the thing looking straight down onto a NYC sidewalk. We could actually not do this. We tried. We put a foot on the glass floor. We even sort of walked carefully onto the ledge. And then we just ran off, our stomaches heaving! It was terrifying, albeit safe.
The views were spectacular and you could see, what felt like forever in the distance.
One of the highlights was catching a boat to view Lady Liberty. Next to the City she is minute. But up close, huge and impressive and beautiful.
New York was not only about the MMM, we also had some real fun and amongst the highlights was buying tickets to see The Book of Mormon in Broadway. This is a totally irreverent musical. I'm surprised that they haven't been sued by the Mormons or by Uganda.
The opening is great. Funny. And a good poke at missionaries in general.
We also had some great meals. First night was near the hotel at The Press Club Grill. Super expensive. But excellent. By this time we had also just thrown up our hands and one "WTF, we're here, let's enjoy life (a little)". We also had a meal at this "pay by the pound" buffet in Hudson Yards. You basically load food into your cardboard box/bowl, weigh and pay. Delicious selection.
Primi was also really good. It's a very large restaurant and bar which stretches between 34th and 33rd streets (entrance is on 33rd).
The one meal disappointment was Balthazar. This was our last night-in-NYC-splurge. Gavin had been there a long time ago where his friend Doug Rogers, in excruciatingly bad Zimbabwean accented French, had asked if they had a "Somalian" (to advise on the wine).
The service was great but the whole thing was just a bit meh. Sometimes past great experiences should not be repeated.
Before dinner we'd met our old friend Eric Johnson from Shanghai for a cocktail at The Crosby Bar. It was so wonderful to catch up with an old friend who we hadn't seen in more than 16 years (and, fok, he hasn't bloody well aged!).
MOMO and The Met were highlights. But, to be really honest, by this time the whole "visit another great art museum" had become a bit tiring. And our legs were now sore!
The Met is on the edge of Central Park on 5th Avenue. We had walked there as the hotel concierge had told Karen that it was a short and easy 15 minute walk. He lied.
But the park is impressive. Huge. Well used. Has some interesting statues and was a really really nice way to end our trip to NYC, which we absolutely loved.
