Midtown and Lower Manhattan New York

Despite the fanfare of city life outside the window we slept through exhaustion and readied ourselves for another day of exploring Manhattan.

We crossed over to 10th avenue to walk down the 'High Line' a converted industrial railway line that was built above the avenue to carry goods brought off the docks of the Hudson River in the 19th and early 20th century. The railway line was built above the avenue as prior to its construction the line had intersected with the streets below and caused so many accidents and deaths that the avenue became known as 'death avenue' and horse back riders had to be employed to ride ahead of the trains in a bid to get pedestrians out of the way. With the decline of heavy industry in the city in the 20th century the High Line became derelict until at the turn of the 21st century it was donated to the city for conversation following advocacy from residents. You can now walk along the leafy 1.45 mile route and look out upon the corridor streets that stretch eastward to the horizon.

After descending from the High Line we ventured along the waterfront of the Hudson River and down into the Financial District through the 9/11 memorial, passing the charging bronze bull of Wall Street and into Battery Park.

The 9/11 memorial with its cavernous pools of flowing water and lists of the dead was compelling in its size. However it was later that the human loss of that day more deeply resonated when several fire engines went past, with sirens and lights ablaze and tired firemen looking out.

From Battery Park we dodged through the lines of hawkers for boat and helicopter tours to get onto the Staten Island ferry. We cruised out across the Hudson River as helicopters flew overhead and jet skis jumped in our wake. We past the Statue of Liberty who stood resolute gazing back at us as an anthill of tourists clambered beneath her bluegreen copper robe.

After a quick turnaround we were back in Manhattan and looking out across the East River at the Brooklyn Bridge with its iconic archways from the South Street Seaport, where 19th century tall ships rest, slowly rusting in contrast to the 21st century sheen of the skyscrapers bearing over them.

Crossing through Chinatown and Little Italy with their distinct residents, buildings and cultures we rested in Union Square where we drank ice tea with skaters, pigeons and the NYPD.

We finished the day eating fresh hot pizza at $1 a slice that was the size of our heads (Alex's hair not included) as the sound of the city continued to flow on around us.Read more