Creeque Alley (New York)

Another lazy start to the day.  I must be getting used to the noise at night because it hasn't really woken me the last few nights.  And the 7:30(ish) wake up is something that I could get used to - although I have a feeling that the time adjustment between here and London is going to upset my sleep patterns.

The day began with dropping the laundry in and then walking back down to the East River to walk in the opposite direction to yesterday, towards the United Nations building and the 59th Street Bridge. We didn't eat breakfast as has become our custom.  In fact, we are pretty much down to one meal a day and maybe the occasional snack.  As usual, the more we walk the less hungry we feel.  Jayne quipped the other day that we have probably seen more of New York than most New Yorkers.  So far we have walked over 210km in this fair city with a 17km+ day being the biggest.  Not bad.

I neglected to mention yesterday about the couple we came across in the next street over, having a very public break-up.  She stood motionless in the middle of the footpath, close to tears, while he kept walking away and then coming back to add some more to the situation.  She had the moral high ground and the dignity.  This exchange was why yesterday's post was going to be titled: Breaking up is hard to do, but after the excitement of Fuerza Bruta, it slipped my mind.

Back to this morning's walk.  We didn't get as far as the 59th St Bridge because FDR Drive intervened.  There was a makeshift walkway with concrete baricades, but it somehow lacked the ambience of walking beside the river.  We probably got down as far as 36th Street, passing the ubiquitous Empire State Building.  It seems to be visible from every vantage point and the skyline around it appears so uncluttered - it dominates the skyline.

Walking the boardwalk toward the 59th Street Bridge

Despite a truncated walk, the good news is that we found a restaurant for our final night in NYC. Jayne wanted to have a meal near the river and just watch the world go by.  The restaurant I selected had a dress code *sigh*.  I do not have a coat or tie.  I play dress-ups 5 days a week when I'm working; I'm not about to do that on my holiday.  Maybe my money isn't the same value because I don't wear a tie to dinner.  Anyway, that ruled out the River Cafe over in Brooklyn.  I booked The Water Club on this side of the river, walking distance to our apartment and no pretentious dress code.

I haven't really commented on the petrol prices in New York.  A gallon (US) which is different to a gallon (imperial) converts to about 3.8 litres rounded up.  So, even the top of the line fuel would be the equivalent of 90 cents a litre and the cheaper stuff comes in at 76 cents. That's a nice saving on what we pay in Australia.  I haven't been driving so I am unsure if they are subjected to the same price-gouging cyle that the fuel companies employ in Australia.

In breaking news: we stepped out of the path of a cyclist as he rode past and he said 'thank you'. WOW, that is amazing.

Went back to Flinders Lane for coffee and a sausage roll for brunch.  Dinner is not till 7:30 tonight at the jazz club.  Coffee was the best - still and the sausage roll was pretty good too.

We walked home a different way, down to 4th Ave then on to East 11th Street and home.  Saw this great gothic shop.  Here is their gargoyle:

Isn't he beautiful?

Jules Bistro

Jules is a French restaurant and also a jazz club and is only a few blocks from the apartment.  Dinner was 7:30 and the jazz begins at 8:30.  Well, they called it jazz, it was a 4 piece, the singer also played trumpet.  He danced like Peter Garrett (of Midnight Oil fame) and sang like Lou Reed's love child.  It was difficult to talk while the music was happening prompting Jayne to comment that this would not be a good place for a first date.  Depends what you want really.  Half-way through the first set, they literally passed the hat - à la the Mamas and Papas in Creeque Alley - and at the end of the set the singer came around with a cup, thanking people for "watching my show".  There was no donation from us.

The food was OK, the music not so much. We heard (for our taste) a better three piece that was playing in a take-out place on 14th Ave last night on our walk home.  It was also closely packed in Jules and, as the night wore on, quite 'close'.  Garlic, blue cheese, it tends to invade the atmosphere. When it was time go I offered my Amex card - they accept Amex or cash only - but their system was down.  Fortunately they had an ATM on site, curiously there was a queue to use it and while I was away they offered a 10% discount - there goes the tip, which we accepted.

A short walk home to be sprawled on the lounge tapping the keys to finish this post while cheering the New York Mets on to a win, hopefully, to go through to the final of the world series (yes, yes, I know, but Americans think America = World).