Manhattan

Manhattan........There's nothing like it!

We arrived at JFK midday after another alcohol-less 11 plus hours flight, gathered our luggage, cleared customs, bid our traveling buddies, Bob & Marilyn, good-by with hugs and kisses, quickly hopped a limo thanks to a very nice transit worker lady, and headed for Times Square with our maniac driver. We checked into our new home, the Marriott in Times Square, 42nd floor with a great view, for the next ten nights. We headed off to Virgil's on 44th for cocktails and food before hitting the sack early.

Not up too early on Saturday. Futile search for square bagels I remembered were so good, hit the theater box offices to beg for best seats and signed up for three shows. Had breakfast near Grand Central Station, almost killed by Halloween vampires chasing teens down the street, and spent most of the rest of the day at the monster street fair market shopping and people watching. Had dinner at a small Italian restaurant and early to bed - still Egyptian tired.

Got going late again Sunday. Bought a Sunday Times, Starbucks coffee, and a roll and sat in the third floor bar overlooking Times Square. Met a local and traded the paper for a list of his favorite restaurants. We walked over to the East side to watch the NY Marathon (43,000 on the hoof) from our favorite spot as they crossed the bridge back onto Manhattan and then over to Central Park to watch the finish. Visited our favorite haunts in the park, grabbed a quick lunch at a small café and headed for home. That night we had dinner on 8th Ave at The Playwright pub.

Monday we took the local guy's suggestion for breakfast at the Renaissance Restaurant on 9th Ave. It was perfect, the waitress even talked like Rosie Perez. We walked the city to the South hitting lots of places we'd not seen before - just wandering. For dinner we decided to try another of the local guy's suggestions and went to John's Pizzeria on 8th...it was in an old church, had great food, good prices and fine atmosphere.

On Tuesday, we walked to Little Italy with stops at the Flatiron building, Fish's Eddy (great dish store), Union square, and all points in between. We had great biscotti and cappuccino at a bakery in Little Italy. That evening it was an early curtain for Billy Elliot. It was wonderful. The pre-theater and half time tiny glasses of wine $38.00 total - not even fine wine. It was worth it......

Wednesday at 3:30 AM we were awakened by the fire alarm. We threw on some clothes and started for the stairs - were on the 42nd floor. By the time we reach the stairs the loud speakers informed us that it was a false alarm and that everything was fine. Well not really. We're now wide awake so we went down and walked around Times Square. There were still a few Yankees fans roaming around though as they had just won the World Series. Spent the day prowling the city, went to the Top of the Rock for a great view on a fairly clear day. Dinner at an Italian place on 46th, DaRosina. Then to the theater to see God of Carnage starring James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano, and a cast of stars - had wonderful seats and a great time.

On Thursday 5 we started the day with breakfast at the Essex Diner (per our local guy) consisting of huge, tasty cheese blintzes (too big for one person), and sausage followed by more walking and organizing our stuff to mail home. Dinner was at the 43rd Street Brewery and then across the street to see Bye, Bye, Birdie - not our favorite.

Friday we mailed our clothes home, talked to the Wilsons and joined the rest of New York City, New Jersey and everyone else on the subway to view the Yankee Victory Parade. The crowds were unbelievable. We ended up on the fringe almost where it started. While waiting we saw Mayor Rudy, the grouchy Reggie Jackson and Mayor Koch sitting in fancy cars getting ready to roll. It was a giant and rowdy good natured crowd. The sky between the buildings was filled with confetti and paper. They had snow plows cleaning up the mess. Afterward, we walked to Ground Zero, Battery Park to view the Statue of Liberty (it never gets old!), went to Century 21 and shopped the new HUGE discount store. We walked back to our hotel through Greenwich Village, Washing Square and all points heading up town. We had dinner on 44th at the Saju Bistro.....lovely.

Saturday, the 7th we hiked to the commissioning of the USS New York Battleship whose bow stem includes seven and a half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center's twin towers and her motto 'NEVER FORGET' emblazoned on her bridgedeck. It was very touching seeing the crowds of impacted families. One needed special tickets to get in so we watched from the dock.

We had breakfast at a neat little place in Hell's Kitchen and then a long walk up 9th Ave to the far end of Central Park. The weather was too beautiful not to be outside, trees were still changing color and great views everywhere. We strolled through the fabulous Plaza Hotel and had dinner again at Virgil's.

Sunday we had breakfast on Madison, shopped at the last big street fair market of the season. Bob visited the new Apple Store while I sat in the square and people watched. Weather was great. The Christmas windows were starting to be assembled. We packed and had dinner again at the Saju Bistro - a little wine and a great cheese plate.

Monday morning we said good-by to the Naked Cowboy, caught a cab ride to the airport, and a five hour flight home.

See you later New York!!

Go see Manhattan photos.