New York 2014 - Day 3

I think I have lost track of the days already! Today is the start of the dreaded shopping. Naturally before embarking on this arduous task any man must start the day correctly and when in NYC that means only one thing - a morning visit to the 24 hour diner.

All of 50m across the street is the Cosmic Diner with all the usual fare. I chose corned beef hash with 2 eggs over easy. All breakfast came with fried potatoes and toast. The other thing they do very well over here is the bottomless cups of corfee (no, not a spelling mistake). $20 later we were set for the task ahead.

First stop, Macys, allegedly the largest department store in the world. I am not going to disagree with them. It is set in 2 inter-connecting buildings over 9 floors. Interestingly the first department you meet through the doors is not the usual women's perfume and make-up but refreshingly the mens fashion and accessories. First target achieved within 2 minutes. 2 pairs of Levi 501's in black and denim. Cost £60 for both compared to £80 for 1 pair in the UK. Bargain!! This was immediately followed by target 2, a man-bag from Tumi (yes my friends you can all laugh at me when I get back!)

The downside to all this man activity is the knowlege that the next 2-3 hours is going to be spent going through every single women's fashion concession available. I offered the "I will only slow you down. Let's meet back here at 2pm"......and it worked wooo hooo.

So off to the cooking department to see what latest gadget I could buy.........and then the angels were smiling down on me, Sharing the basement with the kitchen section was Macy's Bar & Grill otherwise known as the men's creche. Cold beer, 3 large sports screens, one of then showing Premiership Football, I knew I would not be seeing much more of the shop.

The frenzied shopping session had even taken it's toll on Mrs CT a usual stalwart of the Saturday activity. The suggestion was to make our way back to the hotel to deposit numerous bags and then nip around the corner to an Irish Bar I had spotted earlier in the day for a spot of lunch. No more shopping, more cold beer and food, what more could a man want!

Approaching the Irish bar, Mrs CT exclaimed that they had misspelled Michael's as the name of the bar. 'Look she said it says MCHALES" I pointed out that being Celtic, it probably said McHales! Oh she is lovely but sometimes the hair colour really does let her down.

Anyway, Mac & Cheese and a plate of Calamaries all washed down with Heineken completed the daytime agenda.

For the evening I had pre booked a table at Maze by Gordon Ramsey situated in The London Hotel. All I can say is "Gordon take your name off it". Average food, above average prices, below average service. Nice surroundings but nowhere near your usual standard.

Amusement of the night was watching the waiter try and find the Pinot Grigio in the red wine section, Needless to say we were not going to point him in the right direction - not a good start!

There are better places to spend your money in NYC. Onwards to tomorrow when a long walk in Central Park is planned for first thing. Weather - no rain but -6c. Oh good! Laters.

New York 2014 - Day 2

After a flight of 8.5 hours, due to strong headwinds, we finally made it to Newark. The queue for imigration looked daunting as usual but as it turned out only took 59 minutes :( After being photographed, giving fingerprints from both hands and a sample of bodily fluids, I was finally allowed into the good ol' US of A. Guys you really do need to relax a little.

The next, and final part of our journey would be by the iconic Yellow Cab. 5 litres of V8 gas guzzling inefficiency matched with a driver of undoubted skill bordering on lunacy. The speed he attained down 10th Avenue in and out of 5 lanes of traffic was truly admirable if not a little pant wetting scary!

The one real problem.........like most NYC cabs it STANK. An industrial dose of Febreeze would not of overcome the contents of the cloth seats and carpets. As for Fittapaldi at the wheel, I am sure that a lunch of fish tacos with chilli garlic sauce was not the best idea.

Anyway, we arrived at Novotel Times Square in one piece. A beautiful modern creation in a great location with stunning views. Our room on the 32nd floor kept the noise of the city at bay.

No time to waste, NYC beckoned. After checking out the location of our diner for tomorrow's breakfast, we wandered down Broadway into Times Square. Early Friday evening for the locals, 11pm for us in reality. The place was unsurprisingly heaving. We have come on this venture with a list of "must dos". One from Mrs CT is dinner at Bubba Gumps, a shrimp restaurant chain loosely based on the exploits of Forrest Gump from the film of the same name. Whilst the food is of okay quality, the theme, service and surroundings is A1.

Now full of shrimp and sauce and Brooklyn Lager the hotel beckoned. Mrs CT straight to bed, I to sample the bar which is to become my local for the next 4 nights. Great view down to Times Sq and some interesting bar compatriots. The New Yorkers will talk about anything and everything very loudly. Have some shame girls!

The one slight annoyance, due to their numbers and noise volume was the presence on their last night, of 200 sixteen year old girls from a Latin country which turned out later to be Brazil, on a school educational trip. If only I was 30 years younger! (Mrs CT please don't take offence, you are a beautiful English rose). Guys I have no pictures as it would not have been right to get my camera out and start snapping pics of a large group of long haired, tanned, jean filling schoolgirls! All I can say is that the World Cup this year should be good viewing.

Off to bed. Shopping tomorrow!! Laters.

New York 2014 - Day 1

As some of my readers may remember, we ventured forth to NewYork at Halloween 2012. A treat for my 50th birthday.
The Frankenstorm that met us, cutely named Sandy, ensured that we saw little of NYC apart from Irish Bars that didn't give a damn about the weather. God bless the Celts.

So here we are, New York - "part 2, the less windy trip". Currently we are enjoying the benefits of World Traveller Plus courtesy of BA onboard a Boeing 777 doing 524mph somewhere just south of Cork.

Only another 7 hours 8 minutes and 3431 miles to go. Fortunately the bar trolley has just been on its first visit, depositing with us a Vodka & Tonic and a beer. Well it is 7am in New York!

Mrs CT, who managed to get on board with no fuss, is currently sitting comfortably and giggling very loudly, because of her headphones, whilst watching Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

My view from seat 19B

So here we go 6 minutes to landing. Hudson River to our left, New York straight on. No wind, no clouds, no rain. Woo hoo!

We are here. 32nd floor of the Times Sq Novotel. We are off out to explore. Laters.