Bye Bye New York

Just found out there is one bonus to staying as far north as I am in New York. The bus to the airport is just one block away and doesn't go anywhere near downtown so I would have had to commute a fair bit more to connect with it.

I'm hoping to grab some free wifi at Times Square or Bryant Park tomorrow before I leave and write a bit more about NY and post some more piccies. It all depends on a number of factors whether or not I do.

If I don't get online, then it may be quite a few days before I post (in a pommy accent), so don't panic.

Going to bed now as I was up until after 4.30am this morning with the natives letting off fireworks all night. Alright, so there is a down side to being able to legally purchase fireworks ...

Grrrrrrr - it's a few days later now and I spent nearly an hour writing more at a cafe the day after this post and was about to post it when my stupid f*cking laptop died again. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Just got it going again and am wondering whether I can travel without a heavy laptop ...

So, allow me to backtrack and tell you about my last full day in New York.

STATEN ISLAND FERRY

What glorious weather! I head to the Staten Island ferry (after checking out the Trump Tower) in order to see the Statue of Liberty for free. One can pay for a ferry tour - but why do that when the city provides free ferries that go directly past the statue?

But, again I hear you ask, are there drawbacks to grabbing a ferry freebie? You bet your booties there are. Every man and their dog is wanting a piece of the action and there doesn't seem to be any order or queuing protocol. Tip of the day is to not stress about being at the head of the pack as it will only lead to heartbreak. Yep, you may score a seat on the upper deck facing out for a magnificent view - but the tail-enders just come along and line the railing and block the view. A much better choice is to be one of these offensive view blockers which is what I do on the way back.

And don't think about standing on your seat to rise above these plebs as the muddling bureaucrat boat dude will tell YOU to sit down but do nothing about the view blockers. I can't help myself: I tell him that maybe all the people (not just militant me) wouldn't need to stand on the seats if the people in charge thought about putting signs on the railings directing people to not loiter there and block the view of others ... only to be told: Lady, you can't stand on the seat because if you fall you will sue the city. Sigh ... I wonder what they would do if someone sued them for damages because they weren't warned a cranky tourist might punch them in the nose for blocking the view!

Right, so now I'm thinking about changing my name from A Savage Wildeheart to A Savage and Vocal Wildeheart.

Anyhoo, once I get to Staten Island I am torn about whether to loiter and check it out or head straight back to the main land as my time there is running out. I dither, grab a coffee, and then join the masses waiting for the next ferry - they run every 30 minutes - skulking in the background this time, enjoying my coffee. As I am disembarking I catch sight of this mini-Darwin size tinnie of Fosters Lager being quaffed on the ferry.

WORLD TRADE CENTRE

Back in Manhattan and after a very enjoyable amble through Battery Park, I head to the World Trade Centre to check the lay of the land. I can't believe the progress being made there as I press my face against the viewing windows from the human rat/hampster tubes connecting people to streets around the worksite.

Time flies and now I'm thinking about dinner as I only had a MacDonald burger and coffee for breakfast ages ago (when my computer died).

I happen upon a flash marina (Manhattan Island is ringed by marinas etc as it is an island) outdoor dining area near the World Trade Centre and check out the prices and am pleasantly surprised. I have a gorgeous view of the marina in the heart of the money district, and with a million buck setting-sun vista I order slow baked pork with plantains, black beans, and rice (and a beer!). Ah, life is tough some days.

BEYOND
But I can't loiter for long, still lots more of NY to see. I love walking, as I can divert, linger, take piccies etc whenever I want, so I avoid the subway and walk another long walk through Soho and Greenwich Village towards Times Square again.

Along the way I go through Madison Square Garden with delightful fireflies sparkling madly through the garden beds. Pure magic - but can't capture them with the camera. Damn! So I sit for a while and enjoy this oasis of delight in a jostling city. But perhaps the Empire State Building as a backdrop is a good substitute?

But the best bit is happening at Bryant Square. Man - what a concept. An inner city park massively floodlight from high upon an adjacent building. Cafes and restaurants are here, but there is a local law saying that you don't need to purchase anything here in order to enjoy the facilities. Tables and chairs are scattered around the perimeter garden areas. There is free wifi in each corner of the large park. Chess boards and table tennis are set up in clearly marked areas.

BUT the best bit - for me anyway - is the Reading Room area. Love it! A park that has a section dedicated to being a mini-library with books and daily newspapers available for everyone to enjoy through the day. And, there is a public author talk or workshop program etc happening nearly every day throughout summer. A writer's paradise. And all for free in a magnificent setting.

After stumbling into this perimeter of delight, I slowly make my way home to my bed as tomorrow is another day. I leave New York in the afternoon for the UK, BUT plan on making sure I take in an author talk at 12.30pm tomorrow in Bryant Park as my last New York experience.

PS I told you NY was a pussy cat - here's proof. The poor guy wanted a buck for me to take a photo, but I had spent my last US bucks and only had enough to get to the airport the next day and buy a coffee and a danish at the airport for lunch/dinner before heading to the UK. So he took pity on me and let me take a photo for nix. But the bloody cat wasn't impressed with this freebie and looked away.