Pivot and Imagine

 

Whilst being well planned a feature of this trip we have not lost the ability to be agile when circumstances change. And change they have on this trip, the Hilton (free?) breakfast having meant our intentions for a final day brunch and bit of wordplay in Harlem were revisited over said breakfast. As the eggs went sunny side up so our plans went briefly something else up, and although Chrissi keen to hear a gospel choir, a leisurely breakfast and some singing from our waiter sufficed in our book.

We decided to pick off some of the things that we hadn't managed to quite get to over the last few days and also revisit a few of our favourite areas. This began with a walk that skirted the edge of Central Park and then went in a couple of blocks to Amsterdam Avenue (maybe a relevant pivot) the site of the New York (F.La Guardia) High School of Performing Arts Legwarmers not quite at the ready, and the streets not filled with dancers on yellow cabs but the inspirational soul of the Kids from Fame and a trip back to another 80s stalwart. And I can never hear Star Maker without it bringing a tear to the eye. 

It was also in a bit of an arts and cultural centre with a particularly eye catching tribute to Martin Luther King.  And also our final fire station visit of the trip with yet another tribute to the lives from the ladder lost during 9/11 Always emotional, and clearly never forgotten.

We then walked a few blocks north to the Dakota building, once reknowned for its architecture, perhaps more recently know for the site of John Lennons death in 1980.  It is is still the home of Yoko Ono I am told who was chief architect and inspiration for the Strawberry Fields Memorial that sits across the road on the fringe of Central Park. A few more moments of quiet contemplation on this Sunday morning before we suddenly realised check out was calling and had to get back to the Hilton quick smart.

We checked out at midday and then spent the last few hours of our trip in more conventional fashion, visiting shops and eating!  The shops were the US staples of Bath and Bodyworks and Macys along with the recommended book shop Barnes and Noble.  My shopping was of the window variety, Chrissi may have parted with a few dollars for a few essentials. We never did get round to Tiffanys ...

Our last meal in New York was just north of Times Square in Juniors. Like many of the meals here the food started well, the pastrami, swiss cheese and sauerkraut sandwich a joy to the taste buds. Then at around the half way point it becomes a bit more of an endurance exercise!  The banana milkshake (its ten dollar shakes these days) we had alongside was worth every cent though. Delicious!

Picked our bags up at the hotel, we have heard quite a few UK voices today with it being the beginning of half term.  One such voice was particularly familiar, one of our fellow Lliswerry runners having arrived in the same hotel lobby as we were about to leave, so were able to offer a few veteran words of advice to Maria!  Our cab was then hailed (we decided against the subway today as all sorts of engineering works) and it was a big yellow taxi to JFK, taking in the sights of Queens by road.

Check in took about an hour but we arrived with plenty of time to spare and were certainly not hungry or anything. I am actually looking forward to my post pancake day secular fast/reduction to get back on the straight and narrow!

Got a few hours shut eye on the flight home. Glad we got premium economy on outbound for free as we paid for it on the inbound and apart from the comfy seats (which led to stretching out for sleep) was unable to take advantage of the service!  

Just about kept my eyes open on the drive home, a few months before blogging again, Greek Island backpacking next on the list, popped over to Olympic Tower just off 5th earlier to start getting in the mood and ticking off a final skyscraper.  Until then ... happy travelling.