America Day 2 - New York

I AM WRECKED!!! I did so much walking around today!


Firstly, I got out of bed a ready for the day around 9-10... then decided to go to the Empire State Building first. I started walking and then after about 10 blocks looked at a street sign and realised that I was going to the wrong way (later I learnt an interesting fact that every 20 blocks is about 1 mile, so the length I walked and the way back was an extra mile I didn't have to be walking). So I turned back and walked down to the Empire State Building at 34th street all the way from 55th street.


Can you tell I am getting the hang of the streets in New York? All the streets run east to west and all the avenues run north to south. I also now know that if something is on West 42nd street that it is on the west side of the street (closer to the high numbered avenues) and is something is on East 42nd street that it is on the east side of the street (lower numbered avenues). That took me literally all day to figure out!


So I walked through Times Square again and stopped to take a few photos this time...

Times Square advertising

After heading in the wrong direction... Broadway sign... although it's a long street!!

Disney store!! 3 levels of Disney fun!!

It's no Cadbury... but the Hershey's store is pretty cool!

So back on track I headed to the Empire State building. Oh my god... at the front of the building I got talked into buying this package for the hop-on-hop-off buses that go to all the tourist attractions and passes to both the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. He told me I had today and tomorrow to use it but then a lot later I actually looked at the ticket properly and I only have 24 hours to use it. I bought it at 12.30 so I have to get out to the Statue of Liberty very early tomorrow morning. It will be good to get it our of the way though!

Also, while I was buying this ticket, a young black guy was asking if he could show me around New York. I tried to say no... I said that he needs to work and not to be silly. He said he'd finished. I had no other choice but to say yes. He wasn't coming to the top of the Empire State Building though cause it costs a bit of money and I'm assuming he had seen it a few times already. So I took my sweet time up there. It takes a long time to go through all the security, the lines and elevators to get to the top anyway but I took a long time looking around. When I eventually did come down I walked out quickly, couldn't see him and then I walked in the other direction. I'm sure he was nice but I really didn't want to spend a lot of time with him! Thank god I got away without having to make up an excuse why I had to go back to my hotel room. I was going to say I had bad jet lag and needed to go sleep.

Anyway, back to the top of the Empire State Building. It was amazing. Seriously one of the most breath taking views I have ever seen! I bought a guide phone thingy. Basically, when you were at the top you would stand in front of a number they had marked and press the corresponding number on the guide phone. It would then describe the buildings and tell you what they were. It was awesome because without it you would not have a clue what you were looking at. It also told you lots of historical New York facts. Well worth the extra money! With this guide phone I know the following about these buildings...

Chrysler Building

United Nations Building

Still not sure what this bridge is but doesn't look so much like Sydney Harbour Bridge?

Statue of Liberty

Brooklyn Bridge

So then I met my first American who actually recognised my accent as Australian. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm British. I sound nothing like a Brit! This guy said he'd been in Australia a couple of months ago. He was in Canberra when Julia Gillard was finally announced as Prime Minister. It was nice to have a little chat about Australia besides as soon as I tell someone I'm from Australia they say 'G'Day mate' or tell me how many crocodiles we have in Australia! It's a little funny!

Me at the top of the Empire State Building

I then wandered a little and thought about going to the Statue of Liberty then but I decided against it and went back to the hotel room instead. I bypassed the HBO store to check out all the Sex and the City and True Blood stuff! I accidentally went into the offices though and was looking around until a security guard asked me what I was doing and kindly directed me outside the building to the store next door! Bummer that Candice Bradshaw wasn't there and walking out as I was wandering! haha... doubt that!

Also passed Macy's... I was so tired though I couldn't bring myself to go in and shop... but their signs where beautiful.

Believe... in Macy's!!!

Then went back to the hotel and booked a ticket to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! It was really good cause there was a ticket left four rows back and in the middle which I got really cheap cause it was a lone seat. There's probably a benefit of travelling alone! 

The show was amazing! I love shows!!! The sets were so big and amazing and it was just lots of fun! So glad I decided to go see Mary Poppins!

Then back to the hotel again and now I cannot sleep! I'm planning on getting up really early tomorrow too so not sure how that it going to go since it is 2.10am here and I'm still wide awake! Oh well, I bought a Red Bull for the morning if I need it. The caffeine should get me through the trip downtown and then I can have an afternoon nap at the hotel.

Okay, I am going to try get some sleep now so I can half function tomorrow!

xx