Friday, May 16, 2014

Thursday, May 15

Thursday was a busy day....took the Hop-on Hop-Bus around Downtown South Side of Manhattan passed all of the main atraacations including the new World Trade Center 1 still underconstruction, but impressive nonetheless. The building towers over all of the others and is 50% taller than the Empire State Building. We got off to walk around, but since Obama was there dedicaing the Memorial the place was a Zoo. News cameras everywhere.
From there we walked to Battery Park and looked across the Bay at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It had been raining so  it was cold and blustery. Most of the tall buildings were shrouded in clouds.
Our hotel is only a few blocks from Times Square , famously named after the first tall building in the area the New York Times Building. Talk about activity...all sorts of people milling about. Lots of Police presence and generally a safe festive atmosphere. Say what you want about New Yorkers, but we found everyone friendly and helpful.
Last night we went to the Iridium Jazz Club, made famous by Les Paul who played there every evening. A guitarist named Mike Zitto performed. Quite good and LOUD....our waiter brought Ann ear plugs unsolicited.
As I said yesterday it rained, but we were provided plastic panchoes by the Bus Guide so we did not get too wet.
Friday we board the QM2 bound for England

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Day 1

Escaping te heat!

As Seal Beach sizzles and fires surround the LA Area, we left our hotel at 4 and flew to New York arriving at 2:20 Local Time. Smooth flight and cooler weather.
Dinner at Carmine´s at 44th and 7th Avenue. Only GIANT plate sizes so we could not eat all that they gave us, but excellent anyway.  Obama is in town trying to collect money so Times Square and surrounding area was a zoo. He is to speak at the opening of the 9-11 Memorial Museum tomorrow. We will take the Hop on-Hop Off Bus tomorrow to tour the South area. Tomorrow night I want to go to the Iridium Jazz place. This is where Les Paul played eveery Monday evening. Now they host a number of Jazz players. I am looking forward to it. Just before I left I traded my Taylor T3 for a Taylot T5Z. I played on the instrument for aobut 30 minutes and really like how it felt in my hand. SO I am lloking forward to practicing on it when I get home.

Sunday, May 4, 2014