418 W 46th

Jet lag works for us again. We’re up and out by 08:30. We need to be over at Pier 83 on the Hudson by around 08:45, so stop at a bodega for a quick breakfast sandwich on our walk over. The Circle Line was one of our tourist highlights on our last trip - so we’re doing it again. Honestly, if you’re ever in New York, I cannot recommend it highly enough. As a way of seeing a huge chunk of New York, and particularly Manhattan, of getting your bearings, it can’t be beaten. It’s properly chilly this morning though - sunny, but cold. On the ferry, we’re definitely feeling the wind-chill. The views of downtown Manhattan are sensational, we have a fantastic sight of the Statue of Liberty. The tour then heads up the East River (which becomes the Harlem River) to the East of Manhattan. Heading under the Brooklyn Bridge is a bit of a moment. Looking West towards the Empire State and the Chrysler Building gives a fresh perspective. Further North, the ferry starts to turn Westwards back towards the Hudson. As we turn the corner, we see one of the most fascinating parts of New York - the Palisades. These are wild areas just North of the city, that have been protected by donations from some of the areas wealthiest families over the years - the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, the Stuyvesants. As a result, they are completely unspoilt - rocky bluffs rising 200m from the shores of the Hudson. It’s quite surreal…

Back on dry land, we pick up the High Line - a park built along the route of an elevated train track. It had been due to open around the time we were last in New York, but had been delayed a little, so we missed it. It’s a fascinating oasis in the middle of one of the busiest cities on the planet. We walk 20 blocks to the south, passing fascinating native flora species. There are art installations, some incredible architecture to take in. At the southern end of the High Line, we take a walk through Greenwich village.

We thoroughly deserve a drink, so stop at a bar called Tavern on Jane (it being on Jane Street). It’s an awesome little place. They have a sensational Chardonnay by the glass, some hugely random barflies, and a bartender called Johnny Pompadour, who regales us with stories of his life working behind New York bars over 5 decades. We plan to stop for one glass of wine, which quickly becomes 4. Acknowledging that we need to eat before anything else happens, we head to an amazing BBQ place called Mighty Quinn’s. The brisket is some of the best I’ve had. The mac and cheese deserves a place in the hall of fame. We congratulate ourselves on a) finding something to eat at our time of greatest need, and b) it being both banging and a bargain.

We head further south into Greenwich Village, passing an utterly random Tardis sticking out of the side of a house. A few doors down, Vicki swoons in front of what was Carrie Bradshaw’s house in Sex and the City. Two blocks further down, we pause outside the apartment block used for exterior shots in Friends. We’re a coin toss between grabbing more drinks, and heading back to our hotel for a ‘rest.’ We opt for the latter, and start raiding the mini-bar, which in our hotel is a fulled sized Smeg fridge full of goodies. Neither of us is particularly hungry after our afternoon’s mighty meat feast. Instead, we hit the lobby bar for a couple of glasses of wine, and play some fairly amateur games of ‘Heads Up.’ We’re both pretty tuckered though, so are in bed and snoozing before 23:00…Read more