4th of July in New York

Happy 4th!

Jan and I are still on UK time....we were both wide awake at 4 am! We tried  to find something to watch on TV, but despite the large range of channel options here there was still nothing we found worth watching.

At the earliest opportunity we went downstairs for breakfast. We sat there for some time chatting and gradually others staggered downstairs in various stages of what Jan describes as "wine flu". That condition you feel after the waiter has kept topping up your wine glass and you have no idea how much alcohol your have consumed until you are attacked by a massive hangover the next day. Apparently the youg'uns continued partying well after we left and ate all the left over pizza from the rehearsal dinner washed down with beer.




Bronte, Nanna and Sharkies

Bronte playing with her toys

Pam and Zach

Pam said we should have a quiet relaxing day today. Just a simple walk along the Highline gardens. Then come back for an afternoon nap (read "siesta" ,John)
Well that was the plan.

We walked and walked and walked!

We walked down to catch the subway up to 34th Street where we could then access the top end of the Highline and walk down it to the Chelsea Markets and have lunch. On the way to the station we passed the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed on the 4th July many years ago. There was quite a crowd there waiting to watch the re-enactment, so we joined in the fun for a while.

sisters on the 4th of July

Re-enactment of Declaration of Independence

When we got to 34th Street we had a few blocks to walk before we reached the Highline. We went past the huge  sporting complex of Madison Sqaure Gardens and down seedy looking grubby streets piled with garbage bags. After being in Holland where everything is so clean and beautifully kept, Jan was feeling a little shell-shocked by this unlovely city landscape.

Pam and Jan on the bubway

Barb on the subway

Jan and Barb outside Madison Square Gardens

garbage in the street

getting directions from the police

When we got to the Highline gardens there were at least some flowers and greenery. This 10 metres (or so) wide patch of gardens runs along what used to once be an elevated trainline, and in some places the old railway lines can still be seen amongst the plants. Pam says that real estate prices have rocketed around here since the garden was done. It still looked pretty slummy to me although there was a lot of building work going on and a few new modern apartments.

 

 

It was a loooong walk to the Chelsea markets. We went in to find somewhere to have lunch. We saw many amazing food stores, such as a speciality biscuit store, cupcake store and a spice market.
Pam and Jan found a really interesting sushi place but I chose a sandwhich instead elsewhere to avoid potential sulphites.

At the chelsea markets

After taking a look around the markets, we then caught a subway to Soho and had a look around the shops there. We were sucked in to a wonderful kitchen store called Sur La Table. It had every possible kitchen gadget you could imagine in there (as well as many you couldn't have imagined!). Pam chose some pretty and non breakable serving plates for her boat and then we went on to Bloomingdales so Pam could make use of the free gift with purchase deal that I'd got yesterday. After being served by a supremely dis-interested girl in the Estee Lauder cosmetics department Pam cancelled the make-up session she'd booked for the wedding. We didn't like the look of the girl's own make-up and we don't want a clown face for the Mother-of-the-Groom tomorrow.

Garreth and Barb

Sarh, Pam and Garreth

On our way back to the hotel I was so keen to get back I accidentally jaywalked across a road.....right in front of a dozen armed policeman and seven cop cars who were there supervising security arrangements for the 4th July fireworks tonight. Fortuneately they didn't book me. We asked a policeman for advice about where was the best vantage point to watch the fireworks from. His reply: from inside your hotel room on TV!! Wise advice.

We went out to dinner at Adriennes with Tio and Diana who'd amused themselves separately for the day. The young crowd went to the Dubliner and many of Zach's old school friends also joined them for pre-wedding drinks. Hope they aren't all too tragic for Saturday's wedding.

I fell asleep during the fireworks in the comfort of my hotel bedroom. Such a party animal!

Diana and Pam

Tio and Diana

Jannie