Bermuda - the long and shorts of it!

We sailed from Boston on time and had an extra sea day because the earlier mentioned route switch caused is to enter the U.S. more southerly route in New York.  Then back north to Boston. We had not been looking forward to an extra day when already so many were scheduled but the warming water and clear skies made it a very nice sailing day.

During the night between Boston and Bermuda I happened to wake up.  I think it was the unconscious recognition that something had changed.  There was no vibration and the ship seemed stopped.  My first thought was that the trip was jinxed and after the gangway fiasco now there was engine trouble.

I would have opened the balcony door to see if there really was change but Elva has the bed by the door.  If I had, I might have heard the whirring blades of the helicopter as a passenger was airlifted off to go to the nearest trauma hospital!  Apparently he suffered a more major condition, possibly heart attack, than the medical team on board could handle.  They 'stabilized' his condition and at 1:30 in the morning he and his wife were taken to safety.

In the past, on other cruises, it happened during the evening or the day.  An announcement is made to clear the fore or aft decks to allow for the helicopter to lower the basket, the paramedics are in it.  Then after securing the patient they use the basket to raise them to the hovering aircraft. We witnessed one airlift near Cuba.  As soon as we were past Cuban waters the Coast Guard was on the spot.  We could see the flashing lights in the distant night sky.  The whole operation is amazing to watch.

This night, I simply went back to sleep.  At breakfast, I commented on waking up, some others noticed the same thing.  The Captain did announce that the airlift was safely conducted but of course they don't tell who or exactly what happened.  He congratulated his medical team for doing a good job.  They did not say to where the person was evacuated.


All this would have been exciting or, at the very least interesting, had we been awake.  Now we were just glad it would not delay our 10:30 arrival to King's Wharf, Bermuda.  I had never been to Bermuda until a year ago April and then with the same ship.  That time it was Sunday and today it was a bank holiday.  They celebrate Portuguese Day.  Since we are not in a Bermudan city, but just near the Dockyard, we did not see any parades or parties.  Everything in the way of shops or museums, or things to do were simply closed.  Much like Sunday, last time!

Since Carol had never been to  this Calderic Rim before and I had only been here when it was closed, we decided to take a ferry to the capital city of Hamilton.  Okay, now that song is stuck in my head!


There was a little wait while we got our tokens for a day on public transport.  After the short ride directly across the caldera we went to our second information center of the day.  One option was to take a taxi around the city for a tour and even up to St. George.  We understood it to be fifty dollars for a two hour drive and tour.  Then we realized it was fifty an hour.  We went back to our original plan

First we had lunch.  Please note if you are coming here.  Bermuda is not in the Caribbean.  It is not a cheap vacation.  We checked out the menus of a few places.  Granted, it IS Bermuda.  But it is also off season.  But it IS a public holiday so not every restaurant was open.  However, $26 for a hamburger with an extra few dollars for fries and $4 for a Pepsi is not any of our ideas of what to spend for lunch!  Especially when not far a way is literally a boatload of food for which we have already paid.  A Silver sea luxury cruise ship was parked right at the main street, across from the restaurants.  I wonder how many of those passengers were buying lunch.


But the places were crowded so many were probably our fellow passengers.  Of course, there are a lot of lovely and even famous hotels.  We went to Bowl.  No not the game, but a noodle place.  Since I never know what I like and even noodles were $16, I just had a $4 diet Pepsi.  I definitely have eaten more on this trip anyway.  Also, just a side note, I generally walk more when traveling and end up losing weight.  It won't happen this trip.  Taking more elevators and shortcuts and actually,  most days having three sit down meals every day!  I don't know how Elva stays so thin!

We found a small wooden table, tucked away at the back, sort of behind the counter.  A large oscillating fan near the ceiling above the steam table moved the warm air around.  It was cooler inside than out.  When we finished we took turns using the tiny bathroom next to the dish washing room.  But we could not stay any longer to enjoy the ambiance.  We still had our plan to complete.

We walked up Front Street past beautiful pastel painted buildings with iron railed balconies of black or white. Narrow sidewalks made of 12 or 18 inch square blocks, or of bricks sloped one way or the other.  Scooters, motorcycles, and cars zipped along on the 'wrong side' of the street.  Pink buses with blue accents lumber down the roads.  Some have open tops.

Government building.

Cenotaph, obelisk, and war memorial all conveniently in the one gated yard of government offices.  The gate was open, so Carol and I walked in.

 

Hamilton is a very pretty island town, at least along the harbor.  Classic in a sense and Bermuda itself is a classic inspiration.  When William Shakespeare read reports of the wreck of the Sea Venture he was inspired to write The Tempest. Now a lot of famous movies are either shot here or themed here.

We made our way back toward the ferry to find the bus.  The station is just above the ferry landing by a couple of blocks up a very steep hill.  We had our tokens ready and waited about 15 minutes for the #10 to St. George.  I thought it would be fun to drive down the whole island which is small and fish hook shaped.  It wouldn't take long but for now we went east toward St. George.

There were three lovely ladies waiting on the bench.  Elva sat with them.  Carmen was well dressed and perhaps had been shopping somewhere or visiting a friend.  Next to her was a younger woman, Beatrice, who was wearing a penguin printed scrubs top.  I told her I loved it and that I had a daughter who loved penguins.  I asked if she was a pediatric nurse.  She replied that she worked with old people but that they like cheerful things.  I made some comment about her taking good care of her client indicating the first woman.  She put her arm on the ladies back and they both laughed.  "No, she is not my patient!"  I said, oh, they way you patted her back I thought she was.  The answer was that once you had talked with someone it was okay to reach out to touch them.

The  third lady, wearing a bright ink shirt as a jacket just laughed.  Her name was Lana.  More heavily set than the others she had her steel grey hair cut short and seemed very grandmotherly.  Now that the ice was broken we all chatted together until the bus driver came to open the doors of his already running pink vehicle.  All the waiting buses were running while parked.  I imagine it is better to do that to keep the air conditioning going than to stop it and restart it.

I had a definite feeling that these ladies had waited together on this same bench many times.  When pigeons scrabble-footed across the Plexiglas roof they never looked up although we all started at the sound and looked to see what was going on.  The ladies did not jump up to be first aboard but took their time.  They seemed to know that younger men, and girls would arrive at the exact moment our driver, David, took his seat.  I really enjoyed these few minutes of interaction with the locals who must lead ordinary lives despite living in an island paradise.

We  took seats at the front of the bus.  I had waited near the doors so that I could secure a first level seat for Elva.  The bus was small and about half the spaces were above the rear wheels.  On the first seats, facing each other, were three teenage girls and a boy.  The girls chattered away the whole trip, laughing, and sharing 'girl talk'.  They had back packs but there would have been no school today so maybe they were going home from the beach, or going to a beach, or had had a sleep-over or some other fun thing.

The ride was a bit jerky but the scenery was quite pretty. The driver had a playlist of his favorite island music.  But he did not play it too loudly.  I was on the inland side.  Once we were away from town the landscape opened up.  Well maintained lawns stretched up from the road side to large pale green, or blue, or pink houses.  Each had the typical white trim and white roof.  In Bermuda, roofs are white because they act as collectors of rainwater to fill the cisterns.  They appear to be very functional metal running in a stripey effect from peek to covered downspout..  The stepped roof design helps to purify the water and also makes it clear if there is a problem which would affect the water quality. More about the roofs of Bermuda.

As the bus stopped each time the bell was pressed people got off.  At only one place did one person board the bus.  As each of the ladies, Lana, Carmen, and Beatrice got to there destination they said good bye to us and wished us to enjoy their island.

When the driver announced that we were at the main stop for St. George, the ferry stop, we exited and walked the very narrow sidewalk down hill toward what looked to be the center of town.  We reached the sign for the King's Square which pointed to our right.  So we went that way and realized that although the busy street we had left was the artery of the island and city the heart was right on the water.  Small, closed shops, open restaurants and bars were strung like a shell necklace along the waterfront.  Music played, friends were gathered in laughing groups on benches under the shade of palm thatched roofs in front of the government house.  I think it is now a museum or community center since the capital moved to Hamilton..

You can clearly see here how the stepped roof I spoke of earlier can work.  The roof allows the rain water to zig and zag and flow across many of the pristine surfaces.

I had the feeling that the party would really start once the tourists left on the last ferry back to the cruise ships!

While we waited near the dock the saxophonist came over to talk to us while his CD played.  He introduced us to his friend who was waiting to great her guests when the ferry came.  Trish has an Air-B-n-B.  It is just one bedroom in her house but I suspect that a lot of people rent out their extra rooms and maybe garage apartments to make extra money during the tourist season.  I think that is a very long season, too!

The saxophonist is checking his phone under the canopy.

On the dock next to the boat gangway young men fished.  One in particular just had a line, no pole and he caught a couple.  A well dressed businessman, pressed shirt neatly tucked in and cinched by his tie, caught a fish.  Maybe his wife said, honey, on the way home stop and pickup some fish for dinner!  The coiffed grey hair, tan pants and tie with yellow shirt was just a funny juxtaposition to his extended hand carrying, by the tail, a silver - shining, wriggling fish!  Just a side note:  As I was trying to get pictures of the fishermen, all black men and all dressed in black, one noticed I was doing it and they all scattered except for the well dressed one but he just got in his car, with his fish, and drove away!

As the boat arrived the umbrellaed terrace of the restaurant emptied.  Everyone came, still carrying their plastic cups of drinks.  When we first got on board we went inside the spacious compartment.  It was so very freezing cold.  I checked out the upstairs and reported back that it was comfortable and that if Carol or Elva wanted to go up and then changed their mind they could use the stairs while the boat was moving.  Might not be a great idea but was allowed.  We all moved up top and to the back out of the reach of the spray.

As we left, night fell.  Stars overhead belied the clouds we had seen earlier.  Planes were ascending on our starboard side.  The St. George airport is right at the water but then everything is.  At the widest point, Bermuda is only five miles.  Crossing the caldera at this widest point and angle was bumpier than the shorter trip this morning.  But it was pretty quick and had we taken the bus back and changed in Hamilton again it would have been quite a long ride with not much to see at night.

Celebrity Silhouette seen from the ferry dock about 6:30 p.m. in November!

The ferry docks right by the ship so the walk to go aboard was quick.  We ate in the buffet so we didn't have to change clothes.  I wanted to go tot the show to see the comedian and to the late pool party where the Runaround Kids were going to be playing again..  Neither happened.  Elva got right up from dinner and went to the room to go to bed.  I think it was a lot of walking for her today and a full day out with no nap got to her.

Just as Carol and I were getting up to go, a couple sat at the table right next to ours.  Jeffrey is a lawyer and Joanne a nurse.  They didn't look as though they were married almost fifty years.  But Jeffrey like to talk even more than I do!  Every time we made a move to leave the conversation re-engaged and revved up.  He had a book he wanted to loan me and went to get it from his cabin.  It is about Magellan's voyage.  Then he started to give unsolicited legal advice.  This after asking us about different cruise lines and ports which is much more common talk among cruisers.  It was about 11:30 by the time we broke away.

Back at the cabin I showered.  Salt spray is sticky on you and really stiffens up your hair!  I read for awhile and our first day in Bermuda was over!

Boston's tour was Wicked!

There used to be a saying, ‘Make no beans about it!’  I did hear a fellow guest on this cruise comment, when asked what he planned to do in Boston, ‘Nothing, I can get beans at home, in a can!’ 

There is, however, a lot to do in Boston, we just didn’t do it.  We booked a Celebrity ship tour to Salem.  I thought it would be great fun to visit, especially this time of the year.  Originally we were supposed to be here on Halloween – even better.  But first let me back track.

We had one sea day between New York in order to sail back north to Boston.  Scheduled to leave at 2:15 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. arrival a day later.  When we woke up on Friday morning, we were still docked in NYC.  Now, I imagine that a lot of physical and technical difficulties can delay a shop from sailing. Announcements were made on Thursday that the predicted high winds would make it unsafe to sail in the Hudson overnight.  The captain expected to leave about 8:30 on Friday morning when the tide would be right and the winds dissipated.  But we did not.

More announcements were made early Friday to say that during the high winds the gangway was twisted and could not be disengaged from the ship.  They were working on that.  Another time the Captain, who did a very good job of keeping everyone informed, said that now our delay would mean that we would probably be very late to Boston but whatever time we missed in the morning would be added at the end of the day.  

Great excitement onboard!  The excitement began to become speculation around breakfast time and when the speakers were making their presentations there would be a sudden rush to the lobby anytime the loudspeaker could be heard.  

When are we leaving?  I want to see the city when we sail away!  Glad we didn’t sail at night because I didn’t want to get up at 2 a.m. to see it!  People were wearing their jackets onboard so that when the sailing was announced they could rush outside.  As hot as it was yesterday in the city, the rain and wind had dropped the temperature to the low 40’s!

“Attention, this is Captain George.”  Everyone listened to him announce that we are waiting for the crane to come and lift the gangway!   Wow!  Rush out to take pictures but not really easy to see since that area is blocked off.  Elva wanted lunch in the dining room and I like everyone else wanted to see Lower Manhattan when we finally sailed.  We did eat like decent people but I had my jacket in case things changed.

Next we heard they were waiting for a second crane to arrive.  We thought that did the trick because now we heard the engines stuttering.  Finally!  We are free to leave and I did join the crowd at the railing on 15.

The skyline of New York never ceases to amaze and never ceases to remind.  The missing Twin Towers were on everyone’s lips before we even reached the tip of Manhattan.  The new One World Trade is a representative salute to the tragedy that changed lives the world over forever.  It has eight sides, four for each Tower.  The width and the height are mathematically combinations of the other buildings.  I will have to research exactly what it is as I did not remember hearing this before.  One I know is the overall height, 1776 feet.  One World Trade Center

Today was beautifully clear but very cold.  Yesterday we were sweating in our rain gear and today Fall has arrived in NYC with sunny blue skies, puffy white clouds, and a high expected of 48⁰!  I am leaving in the nick of time.

Our sailing toward Boston was smooth and cold and windy.  Not very rough but not conducive to pool use.  I won’t back track through the kinds of things that we do on sea days, which, surprisingly this trip have not varied much from day to day.  The food is good, most of the entertainment is good, and the speakers are very good.  So I will skip to Boston.

Due to the mishap in New York, we arrived in Boston at 11:30 a.m.  When we first booked the trip we were to go to Boston first and then to New York overnight.  Even thought we ended up overnight in the city we could not go ashore the second day since the ship was trying to leave and another ship was waiting to take our berth.  

On the day between the two major cities of the New England states, the 9:00 a.m. speaker was about Boston and we decided to get the tour to the Salem Witch Trial Museum.  This momentary decision impacted our day in Boston greatly.  The day dawned bright and crisp.  We were in the theater to meet our tour at 11:00 and finally got off the ship about 11:50 for our 11:30 tour.  The lobby was chaos.  The line was queued back and forth and then down the hall.  We were led around the back of it to a different side of the same gangway.  There was only one as in removing the port gangway in New York the ship was damaged at that portal! 

We finally boarded the buses and set out.  Boston is very different than the last time I was there or I have never been to the Seaport area.  Elizabeth our guide said it is now more per square foot to rent here than near Wall Street.  She was speaking from experience.  

She continued to tell us a little about the city and some of the sites we were passing.  Not much about the history other than how it related to witches.  Because the Puritans, she did mix them up with the Pilgrims, were who they were they were ripe for the belief in witches.  Any person, particularly women, who might have the ability to heal with herbs, or not be totally adherent to the faith was evil and could be a witch.  She did not explain where the word came from or where the first witches were living.

Elizabeth talked steadily as we drove up the highway through Gloucester and into the countryside along the sea.  Salem was first a sailing port, more important than Boston but was never a seat of the government.  It was nice to drive through the neighborhoods of actual family homes.  Some had their above ground pools closed for the winter.

When we got to Salem there was promised free time to walk around and see the city.  It was now just coming on 2:00 and our appointment to tour was at that time.  The town looked so pretty in the chill autumn light.  Classic architecture of the time and place.  White picket fences enclosed tidy front yards of the clapboard houses.  Store fronts and shop windows had a definite seaside feel.  The Salem Commons boasted a bandstand and playground.  Across from this was the Salem Witch Museum.

Once parked we were hustled off the bus, across a busy street.  Interestingly there was no traffic signal.  The main road took an angular left turn to go around the Commons.  Another street dead ended there so cars were turning both ways at this unusual bent fork, three pronged intersection.  The building was interesting.  An old church I believe.  Inside mannequins hid in the darkened room while a red circle glowed in the center.  We sat on little benches and stools or against a wall.  Luckily we had a stool so we could swivel around during the presentation as it was in choir loft recesses over our heads on three sides of the room.  People who sat next to the walls missed 1/3 of the presentation because it was over their heads.  Hearing the recording explained why our guide knew the story so well.  She had been reciting this to us on the bus word – for – word!  

This is not an attraction that was suitable for adults unless you are in a really Halloween Spirited mood and it definitely was not as described.  Also, because of the way the timing turned out, 11:00 to 5:30, we had no opportunity to have a coffee much less lunch.  They have been training us for over a week to eat three sit down meals a day and now we had to go cold turkey, so to speak.  During the nearly 6 hours we were tied up with this we spend less than one hour in the museum.  There was no time to walk around and see the quaint houses and neatly maintained streets.  We didn’t see the hangman’s hill, the cemetery or any of the sites or building involved in the brief but stunning history of the Salem Witch Trials .

If you have visited here and have a different opinion or idea, please let me know.  I would like to have a more positive point of view.

By the time we got back to the ship we raced to the bathrooms.  We missed our cocktail hour and made our way straight to the buffet where we ate a fast dinner starting with cheese and crackers while we searched for our main courses.

We saw nothing of Boston except the narrow path on either side of the bus.  We saw the highway.  We saw a musty display of left over from the 1950’s mannequins.  The dolls blank faces must have matched our own as we wondered why we were there.  Why did a cruise line like Celebrity think this attraction fit the needs and personalities of their mostly older, mostly somewhat well-traveled and perhaps sophisticated clientele!  

I have only one photo of what was a perfect weather day in one of the most famous cities in the world!

New York, New York!

It is, indeed, a helluva town.

Good morning America!

Even in the morning rain, she is beautiful!

Ellis Island.  This is where my Dad and his family entered the United States of America.  Thank you Grandpa Taylor for taking a leap of faith.  We cannot imagine our lives if you had not!

The morning commutes on Staten Island must never get old.

I love visiting every time I am here.  This is the third October in six years that I have spent some time visiting my friend Frieda.  Seems every other year I can find a reason to meet up for at least a little bit if not a few days.  Today was a very short time, too short.

The United States of America, rightly so, has every person enter the country through and immigration process.  For citizens it is relatively easy.  You present yourself, show your valid passport, and you are in.  Visitors show their passports with appropriate VISAs and they are welcome.  Many times, when entering our country or others on cruise ships, the officials come on board and process everyone before docking.  They may come out on the pilot boat or if they are from nearby countries they get a free couple of days cruise and take care of business.  Or I have even seen, for some countries, they simply request that the cruise ship hold all the passports.  The ship sends the manifest and everyone who is approved gets their documents back and when we arrive we disembark.  Not sure what happens to the unapproved, but at the minimum they stay on the ship.

Officials in New York had a different idea.  We each were given an assigned time.  Docking was at 8:30.  Our time was 10:30.  Since the port of call had changed from an overnight visit to a long day, this two hours was an annoying cut into our valuable time.  Luckily we didn’t have amazing plans for the day.  So here is what happened.

The three of us went to the served breakfast in the dining room. We had time.  Announcements were being made and numbers were quickly being cleared.  I am sure that those who had booked ship tours were be exited with alacrity.  We finished, the last to leave the dining room, and went back to the cabin.  Elva had decided to stay onboard since her friends were not coming up from New Jersey to meet her…and it was raining!

We noticed then that number calling had stopped.  There was about a 30 minute pause.  Are they taking a second wave of tours off?  Probably.  We decided to go to the Cellar Masters area to be ready to join the line when our number was called.  When we got there and were asked our number I showed our 25.  The girl said to go ahead.  I turned and told Elva and Carol they were taking us even though they were only on 20.  I walked ahead and showed the young man my number and he said to go ahead.  He was now working with whomever was there.  He even had a radio call and told whoever was on the other end the same thing.  We got lucky! 

 

I turned around and Elva and Carol were not behind me, nor a few people back.  Then I saw Elva sit down but I couldn’t turn back.  The walk to immigration was completely as though we were exiting to the city.  Through security to exit.  Down the gangway, back and forth on the ramp from Deck Four level to the terminal ground floor.  Down an escalator and across an extremely long terminal building.  If you have ever ended a cruise in New York you know how vast those buildings are.  I reached Passport Control.  Elva and Carol were still not behind me.  I was cleared.  Walked a way further and got a green sticker on my Seapass card to indicate I had completed legal entry.  Walked on almost to the street.  Then up an escalator and back through the long hall to the gangway entrance.  Along that.  Back and forth on the ramp to the ship.  Entered through security and went to my cabin.  I will admit.  Sad to say.  I picked up a Bismarck at Il Baccio Cafe on the way by!  After all, the display case is right there!  I ate it on the way to the cabin.

In the cabin I opened the safe to return my passport and waited for Elva.  Turns out that although Elva had put her passport in her purse in the cabin she couldn’t find it and sat down to locate it.  Also the walk was a lot for her.  I had suggested that she request assistance but she had not wanted to do that. I thought it would be a long walk.  All ended well. But it was a good thing probably that she stayed aboard as the process was basically repeated to go ashore!

Carol and I set out about 11:15 and I was so glad that Carol let me follow her around New York.  She had lived most of her life in the city, and worked in Manhattan during her career. It was retirement that took her to Cocoa Beach.  The rain was not torrential.  It even seemed that each time we opened our umbrellas the rain would soon stop.  It did continue on and off all day to varying degrees.

What used to surround Times Square isn't there anymore, but the vibe remains.

Docking at Pier 88, Berth 2 was perfect.  I believe it was at 48^th and 12^th Av.  Walking straight up 48^th we headed into the core of the Big Apple, Times Square!  At noon my friend Frieda called, right on schedule.  She was finishing classes for the day and I let her talk to Carol.  Frieda loves Pret a Manger so we headed to 8^th and 42^nd and found a table.  Iced coffee for Carol and Diet Coke for me while we waited for her.  She soon arrived, had chicken noodle soup because she was fighting a cold.  Carol and Frieda hit it off right away like old friends.  Each a lifelong New Yorker and each full of life and laughs!

My friend Frieda and I hit it off together when we first met on a tour of VietNam.

We debated about which show to see Thursday night.  I had not bought tickets in advance and was glad I hadn’t for the original schedule as the port dates changed.  The plan was to get something at the TKTS Booth in Times Square.  As we know, ‘the best laid plans’!  It turns out that on Halloween New York truly celebrates.  There is a huge Halloween Parade in the Greenwich Village.  The theaters are dark!  Shows cancelled and only a few were having performances.  Phantom was seen too many times by some of us.  Evan Hansen was what I hoped to see but they had both seen it recently.  Okay. How about Aladdin! Carol sees it as soon as she gets home.  Serious plays orcomedies.  The same story.  AND because there were so few options there were no ticket discounts!  Tourists want to see something so everything would sell full price!  $100 for Phantom!  At a $199 for a second balcony seat, the viable option of seeing the story of the Temptations was not tempting!

Christmas is coming!  The Rockettes have the first performance of their iconic show on November 8th.

Instead we decided to go to the MOMA!  Museum of Modern Art!  At least it was inside out of the rain.  Carol loves Modern Art.  The nice surprise was that Frieda, as a member, was able to get us each in for just $5.00!  The museum which just reopened after a three month renovation was really beautiful, welcoming, and did not seem at all crowded even though there were hundreds of people there.  The all white interior, the open spaces and the infiltration of natural light made it very nice. 

Modern Art.  Sad to say I am not a fan of any art museums but this was very nice.  I admired some of the pieces and we were able to enter four or five of the special exhibits.  There were artists whom I knew, like Picasso and some I had not been aware of.  But some pieces just amazed me that they are art at all!  There was a room that had ten or twelve very large lumps of grey or black material that looked like clay.  They, to me, looked like melted platypuses.  Two giant black cubes, one on top of the other, the top one turned to not line up directly – art, really!

  

Candles and children's chairs make these cute birdhouses.  I liked them better at first glance than after I really looked at them.

Frieda was in the room we had just left where performance artists walked a patterned path through large sculptures.  The pieces had handles and after the stone faced people walked in a sort of macabre game of follow the leader for about 15 minutes they were to take the pieces and walk while rolling the pieces on their wheels.  We had left by then but Frieda was there watching that.  
 

I noticed this through the window on the way to the rest room.  I love reflections and this building is what I would call art!

Museumed out!

 Carol and I were sitting on stools at the charging station that we had planned as our meeting place.  Carol and I had covered all six floors of the art displays and Frieda was still on the first one we visited.  It was probably a good plan to not stick together.

We sat, Frieda perched!

Now we were sticking together.  Frieda remembered a restaurant she enjoyed a few years back.  We walked back through Times Square, which by now was quite lively.   It is always fun.  The drizzly, warm evening was falling and workers were rushing home or to parties.  Many of these sophisticated New Yorkers were dressed in the holiday spirit.  We saw a cow pushing a cart full of boxes down the street.  The Naked Cowboy was out in full force on what was probably one of the last days anyone will want to be naked in New York.  71 degrees out!  I was dressed in a turtleneck, fleece vest, and not very breathable rain coat.  Carol, too, was too warm.  I bet the Cowboy felt just right!

We made our way to Souvlaki GR, established 2010, on West 56^th Street.  

Luckily some small buildings like this still remain.  The Russian Tea Room is a New York icon.  I sure remember the first time I visited here.  White gloves and a hat was all but required!

We considered a recital at Carnegie Hall but decided we were hungrier for food than for art!

Souvlaki GR was across the street from the side of Carnegie Hall. The small place had Santorini Blue tables and chairs, candlelight and a nice corner table by the window for me.  The food was very good but I am not a fan of purely Greek dishes.  I am used to Greek owned restaurants that serve a variety of menu items.  This was Greek and involved a lot of dill.  But, it was good. When the cheese is melty I am happy!



We said good bye to Frieda, who as I mentioned, wasn’t feeling well.  Before we parted company I asked Frieda to tell Carol the 'cow story.'  She obliged and had Carol in hysterics.  Ask me some time and I will share it with you!

A path.  A narrow path.

Carol and I walked back through Times Square again which by now was quite a site to see.  All the hustlers and hawkers were out.  At the entry of the play Beetlejuice about at least a hundred people were in Beetlejuice black and white stripes waiting to gain entrance.  Further along, little Elsas, Batmen, Spidermen, and Cinderellas were Trick or Treating at restaurants along the way.  So different than what we are used to.

Christmas windows!  I love them.  And yes, I had to wedge between the gawking young Trick or Treaters, however none were harmed in the making of this blog!

 

 

 

Gotta love this Indian Summer night.  Christmas windows and flower sellers.  These were just a couple blocks from the ship and he was getting ready for tomorrow morning.

It turned out to be a very nice day in New York even though it was not what I had hoped for.  Carol and I did walk about six miles overall before returning to the ship.  We put our things in our cabins and I lured Carol to Il Baccio’s.  After all, she needed to be fully aware of all the yummy opportunities on board.  She chose a decadent slice of what she said was delicious chocolate cake.  Carol wondered why they didn’t serve those kinds of deserts in the restaurant.  I had cheesecake before we went up to our Hideaway on Deck 7.  There we found Elva.  I grabbed my usual go-cup of tea.

The three of us went out on Deck 15 to enjoy the summerlike evening air and to take great photos of the New York skyline at night.

The iconic Empire State Building is dwarf by her younger cousins but still proudly glows green and red in the mist.

The Intrepid serves as a proud reminder of American might.

12th Avenue, where we are docked, widens into the West Side Highway and is as busy as any time during the day!

We passed through the Solarium on the way to bed.  We sat in the quiet, warm, humid air and shared thoughts about our day.

The lights of the dancing fountain  reflected on the ceiling while we took a few moments to reflect on our day.

Elva enjoyed the quiet, unhurried time aboard.  Carol and I reveled, for a short time in the bustling chaos of the city That Never Sleeps.  We, however will sleep good tonight!

Back in the cabin I took a long hot shower.  At least we had had the news that the ship was not sailing until morning instead of the planned 2:15 a.m.  High winds were going to make it unsafe to be in the river at that time.  So no need to set the alarm and get up to see the sail away.  I went straight to be for a change.  I was barely able to read but a few pages before it was lights out!