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NYC and London

October - November 2021
Illene and I spending a week with Isabel in NYC and then on to London for a week. Read more
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  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 1

    NYC Day 1

    October 20, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Early flight from SFO - 7 AM. Uber driver arrived at Illene’s at 4:15. 😩. Uneventful flight direct to JFK - with one exception. Water bottle in back pack leaked (spilled) as we were going out the door. Not much but quickly mopped it out as we were leaving. When we got to airport, I went to review the damage. Computer not working!!! 😱. Will need to deal with it in NYC.

    Arrived JFK around 3:30P to a beautiful warm sunny day on NYC. Uber to Isabel’s Manhattan condo in the snarl of NYC traffic. Isabel has appeared in previous Find Penguin’s posts, most recently in the travel to Morocco. Isabel lives on 30th street right around the corner from Broadway. Great location for access to anywhere in the City.

    After some catch up time, Isabel had a meeting at 7P so Illene and I out for a walk in the area and some dinner. As always, streets are lively with people and traffic. Ate at Wine 30, a nearby restaurant and enjoyed a glass of wine and light dinner after a long day of travel.    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    1
    Day 2

    NYC Day 2

    October 21, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Wonderful first day in NYC. The one thing that Illene and I wanted to do in NYC was walk the High Line again. A beautiful sunny day in NYC so off we go from Isabel’s - the 30th St entrance to the High Line about a mile away. For those of you who may not know the High Line, it is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan filled with art, nature and design. And it is constantly changing with new art (primarily sculptures) gardens and fantastic Manhattan skyscrapers. Entered at Hudson yard, now a wide open space with a new venue for art - the Shed. (More about that tomorrow as we found a show we are going to then.). Had a wonderful walk - enjoying the sculptures - see pics - , marveling at the beauty of the surroundings - gardens and buildings. Isabel had told us to make sure that we got to Little Island - a new park since we were here last. It is at the South end of the High Line and a whole new island built in the Hudson River. A wonderful multi-level park that looks like it is growing out of the river.

    Lunch on the island and off to the Whitney museum to meet Isabel to see the new Jasper John’s exhibition there. An artist I was not familiar with and an enjoyable hour. Early dinner on our way back to Isabel’s at a Korean fusion restaurant in the street - very good!

    First of 5 shows tonight - The Lehman Brothers. Isabel had already seen so Illene and I were able to walk the mile to the theater. A fantastic night of outstanding theater. Wonderful set and acting. Off to a great start. Tomorrow night Moulin Rouge!    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 3

    NYC Day 3

    October 22, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Another great weather day in NYC - feeling so lucky. Off towards the High Line (Hudson Yards) to The Vessel which we wanted to walk to the top however, currently closed. 😩. See picture - red ribbon edifice. Sooooo lunch with Isabel from the food carts - an old childhood - favorite- Philly cheese steak! Then Illene and I off to “The Edge”. Whn you look at the skyscraper building in the pictures below, you see a ledge jutting out almost at the top. This an outdoor “edge” on the 100th floor of the skyscraper!!! You can (for enough money) take a fancy elevator to that floor and wander around the “edge”. It’s all glass around with the skyline of Manhattan and the Hudson River as backdrops. The pic of me lying down is an are of open glass where you can see to the street below !!! Great fun.
    Had made reservations for The Drift - an immersion experience in The Shed. Interesting however not quite as understandable as the Van Gogh paintings. 😂. 4 large (look like) concrete blocks floating in the air making shadows and the lighting used to make the blocks look different lol the time. 45 minutes of this was a bit of a stretch. Several other light exhibits a well.
    Had early dinner reservations near the theater - tonight the Moulin Rouge extravaganza - winner of this years Tony award as Best Musical. A spectacular show. All the color, lights, music and dancing the makes Broadway Broadway.
    Another full rich day!!!    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 4

    NYC Day 4

    October 23, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    A late start to the day - lots of paperwork for international travel during COVID. 😡. Off without Isabel to the Frick art museum which is in a temporary location which Isabel said has done a great job with the exhibitions. Lots of the Master’s divided by country of origin. Renoir in picture below. We both enjoyed. Isabel came to the museum and we lunched there and afterwards a walk about Central Park. Primary “mission” was to see the new “Suffragette” 3 Women sculpture. Found it easily and then enjoyed a leisurely walk enjoying a fall Saturday afternoon in the Park. Saw about 7 or 8 wedding parties, ice cream vendors and New Yorkers out and enjoying the day.
    Isabel wanted to see another sculpture, Diane Arbus, a photographer who primarily photographed people in Central Park which was just outside the Park. Pic included.
    Back to Isabel’s for dinner, then Illene and I back out for tonight’s theater - To Kill A Mockingbird. So nice to be able to walk to the theater- about a mile away. Another great night in the theater!    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    1
    Day 5

    NYC Day 5

    October 24, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Spent most of the morning getting our required Day 2 COVID tests purchased. Do not need to test before we go but do need to test the 2nd day after arrival. Good news is that they now accept rapid tests so cuts down the price a bit. We have to have them delivered to our rental apartment so gets a bit complicated. Then we needed to print several theater tickets so first has to fix Isabel’s printer. 😂
    Out around 11 and off to the 3rd museum of the trip - the Guggenheim. Exhibition we wanted to see was Kandinsky. Pretty far uptown so we took a cab. Enjoyed the show but loved the building more - a very well know Frank Geary architectural achievement. Took our time and had a nice lunch there while weather looked threatening.
    This afternoon Illene and Isabel are going to the Metropolitan opera at Lincoln Center and I am going to Chicago - a new remake of a classic Broadway standard. I walked back from the theater and wandered around a bit taking pictures of the City. Thus the Rockefeller, Times Square pictures today. We got back together for a drink at Isabel’s and then out to The Smith for a good dinner ar one of the numerous outdoor dining areas that dot almost every street in this area. Back in time for a bit of Niners football and called it an early night.    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 6

    Day 6 NYC

    October 25, 2021 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    On arrival in NYC we were talking with Isabel about what to do while we were here. Isabel said she had never been to Governor’s Island so that was the plan for today. Made ferry reservations and off via subway to lowers Manhattan and the ferry terminal. The terminal is next door to the huge Staten Island ferry terminal. Had a very enjoyable 3+ hours walking around the island. Governors Island is are the South end of Manhattan in NY harbor. The island was a military installation for the Revolutionary War. And more recently a Coast Guard installation until 1996. Currently partially run by the National Park Service and a Trust. Found all 4 geocaches on the island ! 👍. Beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan. A thoroughly enjoyable and quiet hours I’m the City.
    Back via ferry and subway for a very late lunch at Isabel’s. And a relaxing several hours before dinner - good for some catch up time.
    Great dinner tonight at a place Isabel had not been to previously. Oceans - beautiful decor, quite modern and wonderful food. We were all happy.
    Rain scheduled for later tonight and tomorrow and our walk home was the warm, very humid weather that I remembered from early years on the East Coast. The pic of the Empire State Building with the green top in the fog was from out walk home.    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 7

    Day 7 NYC

    October 26, 2021 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 57 °F

    A rainy day in NYC. Poured during the night but a window of no rain from 11-7P. Did some “chores” - mailed some things home, went to Macy’s for Illene to buy socks and then to find lunch.
    Met Isabel at the NYC Public Library where they had an exhibition of the “Treasures” from the library. I love the reading room there however you cannot visit anymore unless you are on a tour. 😩.
    Walked back to Isabel’s for an afternoon “lie down” and off around 5P to Greenwich Village via subway. Walked the streets of the Village admiring the architecture and the numerous street restaurants. Ate dinner at a seafood/pasta place and enjoyed Isabel’s stories of the transition of the Village from artists and actors to now an upscale residential neighborhood. Struggling performers cannot afford the Village anymore.
    Walked to our show for tonight - Fairycakes. A comedy that is new to the NYC theater scene. A comedy and funny 😂. Enjoyable evening’s entertainment and different from anything else we have seen this trip. Great fun costumes and one of the actors was Mo Rocca, for any of you who watch the Sunday Morning show. (He should stick to his day job). Home in the pouring rain.    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    12
    Day 8

    NYC to London Days 8 & 9

    October 27, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Up and out for our last day in NYC. Night flight to London around 8 PM. Packed first and then out for one last stroll on the NYC streets. A stop at Rockefeller center to admire the Halloween decorations and array of ornate sculptures. St Patrick’s Cathedral was right across the street so we stopped in there for a look around it’s amazing interior, especially the stained glass windows. Next church stop up the street was St. Thomas - Episcopalian. Spectacular circular stained glass window here as well.
    A very nice lunch at LaBonne - a French cafe in that part of the City.
    Back to Isabel’s to finalize the packing and say our goodbyes. And one last pic of Isabel’s cat, Agnes. 😂
    Airport check in amazingly easy after the hassle to get all the prerequisites together. Dinner and wine while we waiting for our flight. Flight went fast. (Shorter from NYC than SF. 😂).
    Arrived around 8 in the AM London time. Breezed thru the airport and found out way to the Heathrow Express, our train to Central London. Then the underground to the stop closest to our apartment and a 15 minutes walk followed. A bit early for our check in so found a cafe in the area to have a cup of tea - Kay (and a Diet Coke for Illene).
    Our apartment is as advertised. Compact but all the necessary amenities. A short nap and out to checkout the neighborhood. We are in Islington section of London, sort of NW - amour a half mile from the Kings Cross St Pancras underground stop.
    Headed towards the British Library, an amazing complex of buildings with the showcase 6 story glassed centerpiece- King George III personal library- pic below. Spent a short time in their Treasures exhibit which includes one of the four original Magna Cartas. A walk and some pics at the St. Pancras Hotel - now a Marriott - in the St Pancras train station. Spectacular Gothic building. Found a nearby pub for lunch/dinner and after one drink with out meal realized that we both “hit the wall” and needed sleep. Grocery shopping doe essentials on the way home, a bit it BBC and both to bed by 7:30P!!!    Read more

  • TravelerNYC and London
    Day 10

    Day 10 London

    October 29, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    Thinking we were a bit tired. I slept 12 hours and Illene 14!!! 😃. So off for a walk! A break in last night’s rain so we decided to take a chance and try something outside. Considering the forecast is for rain almost every day we are here, 😩 there will be plenty of times for museums.
    On the “tube” to Paddington Station which exits onto the canal. We are on our way to Little Venice. If you have never done this in London, it’s a must do. We did the walk from the station to Regents Park. ( including a few wrong turns). All along the way are interesting canal boats, some are house boats and others quite in ruin. Some boat “traffic” on the waterway and lots of wonderful fall colors in the trees. The weather could have been better but still a great outside activity and away from the hustle and bustle of the City. Lunched at a restaurant on one of the many bridges over the canal. Great spot for a stop.

    Walked a mile or two in the huge Regents Park, one of my favorites in London. (I once went to the outdoor theater here and saw Peter Pan). Back to our “home” tube stop and walked around the train station and had tea in the St. Pancras hotel there. Wonderful sculpture representing the historic train station and the lovers saying goodbyes. (Paul Day - sculptor)
    Back home for a “lie down” before our evening plans. Finally into “downtown” London; Piccadilly, SoHo, Coventry Garden and the heart of the West End - the theater district. People everywhere, as usual. Wended our way to St-Martin-in-the-Fields on Trafalger Square, historic church on this site since Medieval times. Also a venue for classical music all year around. Tonight’s ensemble from the UK is playing Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart in a candlelight service. Wonderful familiar music well-performed. Still had lots of energy so stopped for a drink at The German Gymnasium. 😂. Huge, multilevel bar/restaurant and very busy at 11PM. A glass of wine and home to bed. 9.8 miles on my walking app today! 😱    Read more

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