New York City - Day 1

This week, myself and Caroline, a friend from Preston, spent the week in New York. I arrived on the Monday afternoon (after a delay in Charlotte - apparently the plane was missing a part so I was happy to wait!) We stayed in a hotel called Pod 51, which cool (shared bathrooms but fairly cheap). We had bunk beds, which I haven't slept in for years. (And found climbing drunk tricky!) But the hotel was very cool and close to Times Square. Have a look at Pod 51 - I recommend it if you stay in NYC.

Hotel room at Pod 51.

Straight away we went out exploring. Just to find a cafe and sit down and plan. The headed out. And we got lost. But we did find the M & M shop!

M&M Lady Liberty

In front of only one of tubes of chocolate!

Elvis M&M.

The plan was to go to Top of the Rock, which is at the GE building, 30 Rockerfellor Plaza (where 30 Rock is set) for a view of the city at night. We found it eventually. You would think it would be easy as it's a massive building (at least we did). But there are a LOT of big buildings. Anyway, got there eventually. The lift has a glass ceiling and lights going up the shaft so you can see where you are going (and falling from on the way down). Cool (and unnerving). There are 70 floors. At the top there is a great view over the city, but there was a far bit of cloud. Still got some nice photos and had a look around. 

View from top of the rock

In the cloud 

Still pretty despite the cloud!

The Rockerfellor center was built by John. D Rockerfellor and mainly as a way to provide work during one of the depressions. It is all office space except for the concourse below which is shops and cafes. There is a gap between 2 of the buildings called the Channel, which leads down to the ice skating rink (which is a cafe area in the summer). It's called the Channel as the building on one side is English, and on the other is French. At the bottom is the ice rink, and a statue of Poseidon's Brother. 

in front of the ice rink

Caroline in front of the ice rink

Statue of Poseidon's brother 

Out front is the statue of Atlas.

Atlas in front the 10 Rockerfellor Plaza

We also went in St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is beautiful. There is loads of scaffolding up as they are renovating it but still very impressive. (The cardinal is away in Rome choosing the new Pope.)

huge - photo didn't come out well.

front of the church

We ended up near our hotel at a Thai restaurant with a bottle of Chardonnay.