Friday 6 July 2007 - New York

Caught a bus down 2nd Avenue to City Hall and walked to Battery Point from where the ferries leave for Staten Island, Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. The Park has lots to look at including sculptures, monuments, street performers and vendors. One of the most remarkable sculptures is that which had stood in the foyer of the World Trade Centre.

After taking in the sights and photographing several, we took the Staten Island Ferry to get a closer look at the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The Harbour is very busy and we had an added bonus as the new Queen Mary II was in port.

New York

On our return we visited the New York Vietnam Veteran's memorial and then walked along Wall Street in the Financial District.

We needed lunch, even though it was about 3pm by this stage, so we found the Mudville 9 Pub which has a baseball and sports theme and which proved to be something like the bar in Cheers where everyone knew one another. By the time we had our lunch and a couple of beers we knew Vinnie, the owner; Wendy, the barmaid; Nash, a 6 foot 5 inch regular who is an electrician who commutes two hours each way from his home in Long Island to work on the tallest building being built in New York since the Empire State Building. We had also chatted to several other regulars. Great fun!

Took the subway back uptown to be closer to our hotel and walked around the area. Chatted to a lady who was walking her Sydney Silky. We have found New Yorkers to be very friendly, despite their reputation. Called in at the Blue Room before going back to the hotel for our last night in the US.