From: "Philip Merryman" <phil_merryman@hotmail.com>

Date: Fri May 24, 2002 09:58:00 PM Etc/GMT

Subject: New York, New York - Part 2: New York!

Hello from the secret communications centre again!

After my hectic first 30 hours in NY I decided that the next two days were going to be at a slightly easier pace! That was a long walk from 42nd st to Battery park, in the sun, wearing a coat, carrying my bag and jersey and it took its toll! I was shattered! In fact the next day I was tired still. So I

have been using the Subway ever since! Luckily The Green Line runs North-South only a couple of blocks to the East and this has taken me to all the places since.

So after sending the mail yesterday morning I took the subway back to Wall Street. A total contrast to the night before. It was heaving with people sitting out on the steps at lunch time. The night before it had been deserted. Again just like the City of London after working hours in the financial offices. From there back to Battery park for the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.

Now there have been uncorroborated terrorist threats against various targets here in the last few days, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Subway! Understandably New York is not taking any chances and, to be fair, each time I hear an aircraft I do tend to look up just to make sure! Especially when I was up the Empire State! So Security getting out to the statue was extra tight. We all had to go through the X-ray procedure as at an airport (and also at all other major attractions these days), except that this time we even had to remove our watches and belts! Anything at all metal had to go through the machine. With all my cameras in my bag I was asked to confirm what was in it by the x-ray operator! Also the statue itself is closed, so you can only see it from the outside once you are there.

Anyway, it was still good to get out to it and get some close ups and some views of the now depleted Manhattan skyline. The boat continues round to Ellis Island, now an immigration museum but I only had a few minutes there as it was now the end of the afternoon. There was an interesting display about Scottish migration which was on loan from one of the Scottish museums, though I forget which.

After returning to Manhattan I got a couple of pictures of Brooklyn Bridge. However by now the previous days efforts, and that of this day, had more than caught up with me and I was very tired. I was also hungry. So I found a Chicago Pizza Restaurant, Uno's, on the pier nearby. Uno's back in Chicago invented the deep pan pizza. Having been caught out before by the sizes, I ordered the individual size pizza with "Mucho Nachos" as the appetizer. And they weren't kidding with the word Mucho! This was an absolutely enormous pile of nachos, cheese and kidney beans, enough for 4! I had just about reduced this pile by nearly half when the pizza arrived, which looked tiny by comparison. It is the only time I have found the appetizer to be bigger, maybe twice the size, than the main course! So I abandoned the nachos and ate the pizza. By now I was tired and stuffed!!

Today I had an even less hectic day. Just a handful of blocks south of the hotel is the flatiron building. So named for its thin triangular shape but also important as perhaps the first real skyscraper as such. From there back down the subway North to get to Central Park. The park is about 2 miles long from North to South and today was hotter than yesterday, about 25C, so I decided not to go mad and walk all of it, so I entered 'half way up' (just by the big reservoir, which was looking low) and had a relaxing walk, including a lie down under a tree for about 45 mins, back to the Southern end.

From there I went to Grand Central Station. This is now the centre for all the local trains. I wanted to see the famous main hall. I also fancied a beer. There were a couple of posh restaurants on the balconies at each end. Anyway I went to the bar of one of these and asked for a Sam Adams, my American beer of choice, but this was one of the few places which didn't have it! But they did have Bass! So I had one of those, but $7 for a bottle!!!! The going rate is usually about $3.50 to $5.00 depending on the bar. Anyway I sat down and had a rest and enjoyed my beer. After drinking half of it I went to take some film but was told by the lady Maitre D' that filming was not permitted!! So I had to step one yard sideways out of the bar to take my pictures. I don't know, you pay twice the going rate for a beer and they insist on you stepping just beyond the line to take a picture. I am sorry but that to me is just plain mean!

So tonight is my last night her in NY. My flight home leaves tomorrow evening and, all being well, is due back at Heathrow at 7am-ish on Sunday. Off tonight for a New York Steak in a restaurant recommended by the hotel. Maybe after checking out tomorrow I will go back up the Empire State Building for a farewell look at NY.

Ciao for Now!

Phil

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