I just love NY. Even though this trip is short …. It is still sweet.
I do miss not having Jordan & Rob here. We had such great visits with them when they lived here. We usually stayed near them in West Village.
This time we stayed mid-town. It was close to our Avis car drop off. And close to our friends.
It was so wonderful to catch up with my Brisbane therapy friend Sharyn ( therapy as in a group of girls who catch up a lot ) She recently moved here to be near her daughter and especially her first grandchild
We met at Grand Central station. This is a beautiful station. The spaces are grand, it’s like stepping back in time. Built between 1903-1913 there are 56 passenger tracks. Built in the Beaux Arts style you could think you were in France – until you spot the eagle on the clock. There are cafes, wine bars, an oyster bar, shops if all kinds, a whispering corner, and of course trains.
We chatted for ages and even visited the ‘whispering corner’. It’s a trick of building and sound! You stand in opposite corners of a wide corridor and turn your back and whisper. The other person can hear you. Works like magic.
When we finally left – Sharyn to work & Steve to shopping & finding the best Reuben sandwich, I explored the station.
Then I walked and walked which is what you do in NY. Not to Central Park. I headed south.
I browsed shops and book shops. I bought nothing ! It’s not sales time and we can get everything in Australia now. And I haven’t got too much room in my suitcase. Justify. Justify.
I love the food trucks on each corner. Never short of a place to eat in NYC.
I was hot from walking so headed to my happy place. The NY public library. Outside there are tables and chairs set under the trees. I bought a cool drink and sat and people watched. Always interesting.
I visited the library, wandering and sitting. And of course visited the shop. I bought another book to share with Ollie , Leo & Alby. I’ve a little collection from places we’ve been.
Back to our very big room for a rest just before a rain storm. With thunder & Lightning. The full show!
Fortunately, it stopped and we left to walk the 10 blocks to our friend Lynn’s stunning apartment on the river near the UN.
We were meeting up with Bill and Marie-France, who we’d met up with in Edinburgh. They made the effort of cruising on the Queen Mary to NY so we could all have dinner. Such a sacrifice! Thanks Bill & MF.
Also joining us were James & Aline – whom we met at Lynn’s beach house. Great company and they lowered the average age!
Starting with a drink we moved on after the rain to Patroon a really lovely NY restaurant. Great food. Great service.
New York I still love you.
Such great ladies who have become great friends. Both still involved in their professions – Journalism and Landscaping. Lois did the landscaping on Roosevelt Island several years ago. It’s worth a visit.
We ordered beers and cocktails and settled onto the bar stools waiting for Rob & Jordan who were riding city bikes over.
John and Lisa found it last week and what a find. That’s if you enjoy singing ‘Show Tunes’ with a bunch of talented strangers. It was hilarious and so much fun. The pianist sits in an enclosed area with a bar with stools around it. 
Everyone else just stands around the small floor space and just joins in. The tunes are all from musicals and it’s amazing how everyone just knows the words.
Well it used to be – back when alcohol was banned so went ‘underground ‘. It was behind an unmarked door, a dark bar found after climbing down steep stairs. A jazz trio played and we had one last drink before bed.
We headed up to Lynn Sherr’s apartment near to the UN building opposite Roosevelt island where we’d been this morning.
frans travel tales 