New York Oct. 10-16

New York is quite the place!  The place that we are staying has worked out wonderfully well.  It feels like a luxury showhome apartment with a view of the Empire State Building and New York from our bedroom window and another view out the front room window.  The two |Johns here are great guys and so warm and inviting.  \Having said that we are out all day and they have been gone all weekend. 
It was so cold for a couple of days that |I wore long underwear, my hollowfill jacket, outer jacket, toque and of course a merino base.  So lots of clothes.  Clive wore his winter coat! |Having said that yesterday was comfortable.

We are enjoying the shows, the buildings and just seeing what New York is about.  It is a very large and densely packed city.  We have ridden the buses and the metro and as usual we are pretty good at getting around.  Tons of restaurants and places to choose from...it is a hoppin' place and the number of venues with music or theatre boggles the imagination.  Tons more than |London!..and Broadway does have a lot of musicals.  By the way the term Broadway show means that it has an audience of over 400 and is staged in a theatre near Broadway (the street name)...go to the original Monopoly board and these are the place names.  We have tried to minimize the walking as Clive's groin and now sciatic are giving him major problems.  He can walk slowly and not too too far...not like we usually do but still pretty good.
Having said that, we have managed a lot of shows ...sitting down though that can be an issue as well if Clive can't stretch out the leg.  Hope that it mends quickly after we get home!..and I expect that he will need a doctor and chiropractic visit.  We went up the Empire State Buildding, saw the Chrslyer centre, Rockofeller Centre, public library - amazing, the lines to visit the memorial at Ground Z|ero (40,000 per day), caught the ferry to Staten Island, saw the Grand Central Terminal and little Italy.  It goes on forever.  After glossing over, one can take the time to do a couple of museums ...that was going to be yesterday but the Metroplitan Museum is closed Mondays and we were also trying to get opera tickets. ...so another time.

We did see War Horse which we couldn't get tickets for while in London.  Great puppetry...it take 3 actors to move as one horse so amazing.  We were disappointed with the big name catching show Peter and the StarCatcher...too much fantasy for us but entertaining. We caught the bus to Harlem and went to a Baptist Church in a 100 year old theatre.  The preacher shouted his whole message that we have to let go of grudges and find peace within now.  The people swayed and shouted and the music was involving.  A highly recommended experience not to be missed. Then in the afternoon we saw the New York City Ballet with a relatively modern piece and that was interesting as I have not seen much ballet.  Then we managed to get standing tickets for Carmen in the world's largest opera house - 4000 capacity.  Sat in the back of the orchestra after the intermission but standing was really quite fine.  We tried to get the cheap seats on the day but the senior tickets were gone by the time we registered and we were not prepared to stand in line so standing seemed a good option.  It was a fantastic performance...music that is quite familiar, a huge cast, a Spanish setting and all at the Met.  So a great way to finish off. 

We are relaxing this am....we were going to go to the local town but Clive really can't walk and I am catching up writing you guys.  We hop on the boat today so will not have internet connection there unless we try when we are on shore ...and I am hoping to be too busy for that.

much love to all,
take care, mom



tips for next time possibly
The library does an am and pm tour.  Karen Stockbridge was like an actor and so passionate.  She told us that she does tours at the Waldorf Astoria on Thursdays (order from the menu) or Sat. when the buffet at Oscar's is included for the $50 charge.  It would be worth having her as your guide.
Jazz: met someone who suggest the Small's Club in Greenwich at West10St and 7 Ave. and lots of comedy place and so on in the neighborhood....minimum charge and not so many tourists as Broadway.
The Metropolitan museum is closed Mondays and so are most Broadway shows.  We saw the opera on Monday.
Metropolitan Opera.org/rush for senior tickets on the day of but must be preregistered or you won't get the tickets.
Lottery tickets are a possibility for top shows.
Other possibilities that we didn't fit in High Line, Tenement Museum, Morgan Piers Library, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Ellis Island, etc.

June 17, 2013  I guess that writing and recording is not as important for me as it used to be.  Enjoying, seeing, living but all pretty tame from some of our third world experiences.  Having said that I would go back to New York in a minute...go to the Opera again and to church on Sunday are definite repeats.
The Princess cruise was very good.  A port every day.  Clive still struggling with his groin so I often went off for a run or longer walk.  One highlight was cycling through the autumn maple leaves through lots of countryside...hardly anyone out on the trails.  Spectacular and relaxing and lots of km.  The pouring rain in St. John's and the long walk along the seafront to the bore were memorable.  Quebec City was a good wander and from there we drove the minor road to Montreal to catch our flight.  Everything worked out perfectly...a little challenging navigating into the airport in Montreal.  The cruise itself was good...not excellent...the food good but not over the top, the shows entertaining but a bit short and not too much of it.  As usual I enjoyed the steam room and being served in the dining room.