The Bus Tour on Foot!

After doing loads of research, we decided to book a 3 day hop on/hop off bus pass, that includes loads of extras, like VIP entrance so you don't have to stand in lines and night tours, boat rides, the works.  Today was the first day of the pass.

We walked 13 blocks to collect our tickets, realised we were across the street from Grand Central Station.  So we went there and had a great time taking pictures.

 Then we walked another 5 blocks to catch the bus to take us down to the ferry terminal.  But got off at the 9/11 Memorial.

That was an amazing experience,  having to walk all around the fencing to get to the entrance really gives an idea of the size of the construction site.  Then finding the pools and all the names, there are really no words for that........and on some of the names are white roses. These are to commemorate those people's birthday.

   Someone's Birthday

Alan's photo

Our goal today was to catch the Staten Island Ferry but I needed to eat first.  So we stopped at the first place after the 9/11 Memorial. This happened to be Bill's Burgers and how lucky were we?  I got the perfect New York Hot Dog, with sauerkraut and sweet pickle relish, and Alan got a great burger.  We also got Cold Ass Beer - considering how cold it was outside (22 F) this seemed appropriate!  Fabulous!  If I ever get to NYC again, I will make a point of returning to Bill's!

Next stop the Staten Island Ferry, and we walked to it!  This is free and takes 25 minutes to get across. During this time, you get fabulous views of the Manhattan skyline, go past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  Even if you had to pay, it would be worth it.  Once we docked, we just ran to catch the ferry back to Manhattan.  A very peaceful and beautiful hour was spent doing this.





Alan's photo again!

After this, we decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  But the day was getting too long and physical for me, not to mention too cold. So we got almost to the water line and had to turn back.  We will do the whole thing before we go home.

By this time, the tour buses had stopped, so we had to take the subway back to our hotel, stopping along the way at a bakery for New York Cheesecake and coffee to take back to the room.

No dinner for us tonight, we have eaten enough.  Maybe not exactly a healthy day, but I sure wish I had brought my pedometer.  We covered some miles for sure!

Later, a wee jaunt to the Empire State and Flatiron Buildings for some night shots and back to the hotel to rest our feet.

There is a huge storm predicted to hit the city beginning at 1am.  So we are not even certain if we will be able to use our bus tickets tomorrow!









And New York is the most beautiful city in the world? It is not far from it. No urban night is like the night there…. Squares af ter squares of flame, set up and cut into the aether. Here is our poetry, for we have pulled down the stars to our will.Ezra Pound