Day 4 - Plumber Arrives

By this morning we are 24 hours on and still no full functioning toilet.  Plumber rocks up around 11am (which was about 27 hours later), has a bit of a jimmy about and tells us it was a toothbrush blocking to pipes.  None of us are minus a toothbrush and none of us saw said toothbrush.  I think the toothbrush story was a stretch as we have come home tonight and she's still blocked up and all toothbrushes are still accounted for.  Thankfully we are out of this apartment tomorrow and moving into another, hopefully that toilet will function as it should.

Pete, Sue and Boys went in one direction to see some museums, I'd done them on a previous trip and wasn't up for a museum jaunt.  So I took myself off to Bryant Park, there are some lovely winter pop-up markets that are there til 30 December and an ice skating rink.  I wandered the markets for about an hour and a half and bought a pair of cute stud earings.  At one point I heard the guy say that there was an hour wait in the queue to get onto the rink or you could pay $8 to fast track your entry.  Bugger that queue, i'd be fast tracking it.

 

I then wandered 5th Ave for a bit, people everywhere, this place is crazy at the festive season.  I met up with the family again and Nicholas got a new mini basketball and a hoodie, then we subway'd it back home to Chelsea area and had Mexican for dinner. After dinner we came home to find toilet was still blocked.

Day 3 - Plumber Required

Today we had quite the ablution situation.  When we realised that the toilet was blocked, we contacted the owner and his handyman came round to fix (or not to fix that is the question?).   The answer to that is not fix for the immediate future.  So with no full functioning toilet,  6 bodies in the apartment, one of whom has chron’s and is toilet dependant, this was not a good situation.

I had always planned to hang low this day in an attempt to get over this tiredness.  So I gladly waited about til early arvo for the plumber which never arrived.

Finally, I ducked out and bought a pair of sneakers as my winter waterproof boots were too heavy and quite frankly not required as there is no snow or rain.  Then I met up with the family attempted to get to the Top of the Rock (Observation Deck look out) but the crowds were too heavy so we split.  Headed up to times square for some photo op’s instead.

 

 These 2 talented souls in Times Square are part of a mouth organ ensemble group playing Christmas Carols (now I've seen it all)

 

After that we subway’d it on up to Madison Square Gardens to have dinner at a sports bar/restaurant over the road from MSG and then we went to watch some college basketball after dinner.  Once again I was asleep before the game had even started and I left at half time, my bed was calling me and the non-functioning toilet was looming.

 

As we popped up out of the subway, we were greeted with this beautiful view of the Empire State Building lit up like a Christmas Tree in all it's glory.  Isn't it beautiful?

 

 

Fake Selfies

Even before “Selfies” were penned in the dictionary, I have never been good at taking them, I love the idea of them, but have never been successful at them.  Yet my friend Shelley (who I will be meeting in NYC on 3 January), has been taking selfies for longer than I can remember and has always been good at taking them.  I am just totally useless at it, always have been, probably always will be.

So tech head Mackenzie pipes up with “Weezie, why we don’t we take some fake selfies?”  To which my 14 year old nephew has to explain to me how a fake selfie works.  Let’s live on the edge, so we go on a fake selfies rampage.

 

You see Mack holds my camera up and aims, I throw my arm up as if I were taking the photo and whoola... Fake Selfie

 

 

 

 

 

My Own Personal Bed Bug

New York is renowned for bed bugs.  I think we have eluded the biting variety thus far, but I have found myself with my own personal bed bug – the 14 year old Mackenzie.

Note: in Australia I am blessed and sleep in a king sized bed, Allister is away working 95% of the time, so it’s usually just me soaking up the billowy comfort of a lovely king sized bed.

Macca and I have shared a bed ever since arriving in NYC.  We have a pair of those foam earplugs each, attempting to block out the street noise and each other’s sleeping noises.

Night 1:

Mack and I are sharing a lovely king sized bed at the Hyatt. This night I learnt he is a blanket thief and every time I would try and pull the doona back, he was holding on for grim death and wasn’t letting go.  Also, this kid makes weird noises when he sleeps.

Night 2:

We are paired up in what I can only assume is a double bed, it is of good quality and more than comfortable enough.  I was finding myself elbowed and kneed like there was no tomorrow as Mack thrashes about in his sleep.  Oh yep, the noises are still there.  But I did wake to a chirpy Mack stating “ear plug down”, so he had to rummage through the bedding to find his lost ear plug.

Night 3:

I was exhausted and thankfully found myself passed out before Mack even came to bed.  I know I was woken a couple of times during the night with knees and elbows again, but I went straight back to sleep again without a second thought.  This morning as we and NYC are waking from its slumber, I find Mack’s hand scratching about at my face. I asked him “What are you doing”, his reply was “Sorry Weezie, I was looking for my phone”

Night 4:

He thrashed about like no body’s business, but I was that tired I just went straight back to sleep each time he woke me up.

Night 5:

Well let’s see what that brings.

Macca - The sleep Demon

 

 

Day 2 - "The Lady" and Three Shows

THE LADY:
Today was good clear weather, so we decided to navigate the subway and head down town to Battery Park to catch the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty, otherwise known in my circle as "The Lady".  For some reason the NY subway system will not let you buy 6x 7 day passes in one swoop, as it happened, the subway we were in only had one machine.  So there is the Duplex clan, all 6 of us, attempting to purchase our passes one by one.  Oh yeah, we are holding the local New Yorkers up. It took us about 15 minutes just to get our passes.  So on the subway we get and head on down.

On our walk from the subway to Battery Park we hooked on through the Financial District and stumbled across the big ole brass bull, photo op went begging.

Found this lovely park, don't know it's name, but yet another family photo op.

 

 



We make our way down to Battery Park, grabbed our tickets and then go through airport security. Yes, scanners, x-ray machines, the whole shebang.  Mack gets singled out and the security guy wants to know why he has a ball in has back pack, I wondered the exact same thing when I found out.  Mack's reply was... "Dad told me to bring it".  When I asked Peter why, he said something along the lines of "thought we may be looking for something to do, so I told him to bring the ball and maybe we could play with it in a park".  That is the statement I heard. But what's going through my mind is "it's day 2 in New York, I doubt your going to be looking for something to do".  So none the less, family and ball board the ferry, Lady bound.  We had an audio tour when we got there, I listened to that for a bit but was far more interested in the 'fake selfies' (but that is a whole other story), I was just happy taking in the sights and Peter was beside himself hearing about the construction/engineering specifics about the old girl.

Along the ferry ride, beautiful snaps of the Manhattan Skyline

 

Then came the lady in all her blazing glory

 

 

Another Family photo op...

 

 

So we finish up at the old girl, and exit via the gift shop (such a well positioned marketing ploy), I bought some key rings and a fridge magnet.  We grab a coffee/hot chocolate and join the queue with the other tourists to go back to Manhattan.

 

When we got off the ferry we hear a bit of 'doof doof' music and can see there is a bit of action up in the distance.  We head up that way to check things out and this is where we are met with some cooler than cool street dancers.

 

Show 1:

These guys were doing a bit of these moves as their 'warm up' to get people in. It's like 3 degree's outside and old mate is getting about with no shirt on (crowd pleaser maybe?) Shirtless guy was the ringleader, show master, what ever you want to call him, he was pretty funny.

 

 

 

 

So the show starts, they are doing their thing and then it's time for some audience participation.  Nick is called up out of the crowd and is given a nick name, the street performers called him "White Chocolate" (WC) and we call him that sometimes now too.  So basically in this stance WC is in one of the guys does a running summersault over him.  Good bit of light entertainment and certainly something you don't see every day in down town Geraldton.

 



 

Then they grab a few more people for the finale, but of course before the finale happens, it's hand the money bag around for the donations, people were handing out money left, right and centre, these guys were making a killing. And then with that, it was all over.  Time for these guys to do it all over again for the next ferry arrival.

 

 

Show 2:

Believe it or not, show two happened unexpectedly in McDonalds Wall Street.  Boys wanted Macca's for lunch so in we traipse, this placed was packed and there is a tiny little balcony where there is a chap playing a grand piano.  Who would have thunk it?  It was just beautiful.

 

 

Show 3:

The Rockette's Christmas Spectacular is a New York tradition held at the Radio City Music Hall.  This theatre alone is just magnificent and beautiful.  The show it's self really was spectacular.  I had sooooo been looking forward to seeing this and I reckon I did see the 95% of it, the other 5% was unfortunately spent with a bit of shut eye.  Jet lag is a bitch!!  Peter never wanted to see this show, but was forced into it by the women of the group, he had a tiny bit of shut eye too, but what he did see thought it was brilliant. These snaps really don't do it justice.  Check out those dancing Santa's.

 

Inside the theatre which is just gorgeous, there is this fabulous crystal Christmas Tree shaped chandelier, same story, photo doesn't do it justice, it was mesmerising.

 

Across the road and up a bit from this show is the Rockefeller Centre, it was packed.  Couldn't see the ice skating rink, people everywhere.  How we got out of there unscathed I'll never know.  There was however, yet another photo op.

 

 

So off we set try and find a subway home. Couldn't find our line, at that point we split up.  Hazza and Nick came with me via a cab, Pete, Sue & Mack wandered the streets a while longer to find a subway.  In the end the Boys and I made it back to the apartment about 5 mins before Pete & Sue.  Then round the corner for tea, where poor Nick was falling asleep at the table, and I was battling to keep my eyes open too.

 

Day 1 - Talk about feeling Nackered....

So, we have all arrived safe and sound in the Big Apple.

 

As I type, my nephew Mackenzie is sitting next to me on the bed trying to unlock an iPhone & my brother is spread across the end of the bed nocking out a few zzz's (sleeping).  It's 6.30pm, we've been here round 24 hours and are all well and truly nackered.

I flew Qantas with Harrison (Hazza) & Mackenzie (Mack) and what great little troopers and travelling companions they were.  We didn't have a particularly great sleep the night before our flight in Sydney thanks to the alarm clock that went off in the early hours of the morning, but that didn't deter the boys.  Not once did they complain to me about anything, they may have complained to each other behind my back, but if that were the case they never let onto me. They were excellent and helpful with me and my luggage situation. I flew premium economy, comfier chairs, more legroom, individual table service etc.  The boys were a few rows behind in economy, I went back and checked on them every so often and they were all smiles and happy as Larry.

One thing I had forgotten about is the amount of times you have to show your passports/boarding passes as you navigate a US airport.  Talk about frustrating, but it's just something else you have to roll with. We even had a happy cheerful chap as we went through immigration and that is unheard of, normally that are sour, surly and deadpan expressionless, so once again we were lucky.

We collected our luggage, grabbed a cab and headed into our hotel, the Grand Hyatt on East 42nd Street right next to Grand Central Station. One of the political parties (we aren't sure if it was the republicans or the democrats) were having their 'Christmas Do' that night at the Hyatt.  The boys and I headed off to grab some dinner close by.  Then back to the hotel for a big 'ole sleep.  Peter, Susan & Nicholas arrived much later than us, so we organised to see them in the morning.  And catch them we did, Peter & Nick came a nocking on our door at 6.30am while we were still sleeping.  And so our 1st day in NYC began.

We had a bit of a wander about Grand Central Station, what an impressive beautiful old building (This photo doesn't do it justice, we want to go back at night time and take a photo, it is just magnificent).

 

From there we headed a few blocks down to 5th Ave.  We saw these 2 cool Salvo Army dudes drumming up business for donations.  They were ringing their bells, doing a dance with vigour, getting right into the Christmas spirit.  Admittedly when we went back past them an hour and a half later, their enthusiasm had wanned and there was half hearted bell ringing going on. Their dancing had turned into a high school side step shuffle, so god knows what they would have been like by their lunch break, leaning on their red tripod taking a rest I reckon.

Along 5th Ave we headed into the beautiful Public Library building, for any of you that are fans of the show/movie Sex and the City, this is where Carrie almost married Big. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strolled along 5th a bit further and came across this beautiful old department store, I don't even know the name of it (it isn't one of the famous big name department stores us Aussies would be familiar with) but the Christmas window displays were just brilliant.

Then we hot footed it back to the lovely hotel so we could pack up check out.

We then headed to our first apartment, finally it was true and we hadn't been scammed. The apartment actually existed.  Peter, Sue & Nick caught the first taxi, Hazza, Mack & myself followed in the second taxi.  The apartment is 400, West 25th Street, in Chelsea. We pulled up in front of this lovely modern looking building and thought, this is looking good.  I text Peter & Sue, told them that we were in the street and could they come get us.  While we were waiting, the boys were pointing at the pretty awful looking building over the road and they boys say "Hey Weezie (that is the nickname my nephews call me) you should take a photo of that old cruddy building over the road"  next thing, Peter & Sue come out of said building.  The façade is somewhat deceiving. Once we got into the apartment, it is clearly old, but it has been nicely done up, is clean, has some nice touches and is quite inviting.  It is small, but that is what you get for New York.  None the less we are in, and with all our luggage and stuff about, there is no room to swing a cat or hang our winter coats.  We got ourselves settled, hooked our devices up to the Wifi and then headed out for a few hours to explore a bit.

We walked a few blocks up to 7th Ave, grabbed some lunch (at 3pm) then headed to get some pre-paid USA sim cards.  Let me tell you, it all happened while we were in the phone shop, a man had fallen over and was having a seizure out on the street just outside the door, no one was really helping.  Susan is a health care professional so she went outside and put him into the recovery position, something no one else even tried to do. Next thing we know, NYPD are there, the ambulance comes along and off we all walk. Job done. 

We made our way back to the apartment around 5pm, it was pitch dark.  We are all nackered.  Poor Nick has come down with a cold and his nose is running like a tap, but other than that he says he is feeling fine.  We are all tired and as soon as I've posted this, I'm off to nock out the zzz's too.

It is bitterly cold outside (we've not seen any snow fall as yet), so you layer up and dress accordingly.  Then when you go inside anywhere and cause of the heating, you break into a sweat like no tomorrow, so the layers get stripped off.  I fear that these hot and cold flushes are something that I will be facing in a few years time.

Finally, a bed confirmed for our first night in New York.

My family arrived yesterday afternoon and it was on, the land cruiser was unloaded and everything was placed on my living room floor. This is not even all of it, there is another pile and a half like this and my luggage to be added as well.

 

Those of you who know me have heard the long winded story of the New York apartment dramas.  Yes, the Duplex family have been ripped off not once but twice from fraudulent bastards renting their apartments and have left us homeless at the last hour.  I can't remember the first guys name, Adrian some one or another.  Second guy is the one who really stung us quite badly, I will name and shame him at a later date on my blog (so it will be on the web for all to see and hopefully heed my warnings). 

 

I was supposed to go to work today, but my manager nicely allowed me to take today as leave too, and just as well he did.  We only locked in some accommodation at 2pm this afternoon after spending the entire day on the hunt.  First night we are booked into a Hyatt hotel.  Nice reputable hotel, all should run smoothly and we will have lovely comfortable beds for a dreamy slumber.  We touched base with another apartment, we even Skyped with him and chatted for about half hour, so as the wonderful Kath Day-Night would say "Fingers and Toes Crossed" that this one works out for us.

 

Tomorrow is take off day, we stay over night in Sydney and then leave Australia on Wednesday. 

 

(I probably won't post again for a few days, next post will be after we have arrived in New York)