Natural Bridge

On Saturday Cissi, Brenda and I went to the Natural bridge and caverns in the north. We got there for 9am (which meant way too early a morning). But we got there were there were only a few people there.

Entrance to the bridge park.

The bridge is a natural formation carved out by Cedar Creek. There is a mile walk along the creek, through the bridge and up to Lace waterfall.

Waterfall along the steps going down to the creek

Cissi with her ticket!

Cissi and Brentha in front of the bridge.

Natural bridge and Cedar Creek

Luckily no rocks fell on us.

The walk along the Creek was beautiful. And it was a gorgeous day.

Cedar Creek

Another waterfall.

There was also lots of wildlife along the way. There were butterflies everywhere. As well as a few snakes sunning themselves. The otter was too fast for a photo but the baby geese happily posed for the camera.

Lots of the trees had these huge mushrooms.

Baby geese posing.

This butterfly stayed on her hand for ages. (Even when she walk halfway back down the trail)

Looking for some sun

Sunbathing

So were the butterflies.

The water fall at the end was lovely. We couldn't get as close as I wanted to but still worth the trip.

Lace waterfalls.

Cissi at the waterfalls

There was also a recreation of a Monacan indian Village from ~1700.  There were various huts and people to explain about how they lived. Miss Elizabeth is a direct descendent but there are only about 3500 left.

Miss Elizabeth, demonstrating planting

Raccoon, also used as a glove by the Indians. (Skunks used to stored tobacco.)

Deer hides.

Turkey wing used as a fan for the fire.

We had lunch by one of the waterfalls and then headed to the shop. There was also a butterfly farm at the shop.

After the bridge, we headed up the road to the caverns. Unfortunately the tour group we were in was huge so at times it was hard to hear what the tour guide was saying. Still the caves were nice. (My camera is rubbish in low light so I didn't get any good photos.)

We had finished at the caverns by 3.30pm so decided to head to a vineyard on the way back to Roanoke before dinner. Unfortunately we managed to pick on which was closed for a wedding. :-( Next time. 

We stopped at a Taiwanese restaurant in Roanoke on the way back. I just let Cissi order. The food was nice and the people were lovely and gave us free hot tea. There was also a Chinese Zodiac on the table. Because I have a juvenile sense of humour (and a gutter mind), mine made me laugh.    

My Chinese zodiac.

Soft shell crabs

I got an email from the Gourmet Pantry a few days ago asking if I would be interested in going in on
case of soft shell crabs at some point. I have been dying to try these for a long time so I said sure and asked for half a dozen. Then Thursday I got an email about 1.30pm, saying the crabs had arrived and I needed to pick them up by 6pm that day. Because they were alive! I was not expecting this. (The following is not for the faint hearted.)

I picked them up (the lady helfully telling me to keep watch as this lot were fiesty - she was so not kidding) and got the home (apologizing to them for every bump even though I was taking them home to kill them!). I have cooked fresh live crab in France last year but apparently soft shell crabs are different. With a normal crab, I would put in the freezer for 10 mins to send it to sleep or knock it on its head to stun it and then put it in boiling hot water. They die really quickly. And then you can freeze the meat afterwards.

But soft shell crabs are apparently different. You can't just put them in the freezer. And they are best cooked just before eating them. So you have to prepare them and kill them first.
And to kill them you have to cut their heads off. :-( Then you have to clean them which involves cutting off the apron underneath (which I think is similar to castrating them) and then removing their lungs.

After half a bottle of wine (while the crabs waited in the fridge which is supposed to make them drowsy), I had psyched myself up enough to start. The first one was ok but seriously gross. They squirt juice everywhere. But he died a noble and dignified death.

First cleaned and prepared.

 And still it would not die. So I did what every self respecting grownup adult would do. I phoned my mom!
She was mostly just laughing at me, but it calmed me down enough to actually go back into the kitchen,
and not just give the kitchen over to the headless crabman (who was either trying to swim away or crawl back to his head!) My dad phoned my aunt who said to stab it behind the eyes. I assume that doesn't do any good if the head is already detached!

After over half a hour, I sucked it up and went back in. I tried cutting more off. Still moving. I stabbed it. Multiple times. It still moved. I hit it with a spoon. (Not sure why but it seemed like the thing to do at that point - blame 3/4 of a bottle of wine). It was the Rasputan of the crab world. And I should point out I still had another 4 to deal with, who I was pretty sure were planning a breakout at this point (they were warming up and waking up). So I put them all into the freezer!

After 20 mins (and another glass of wine), I took them out. He was finally dead! :-) I quickly took the heads of the other before I could think about it. It was a blood bath! I keep promising them a dazzling afterlife in Vahalla. (I am not religious so it didn't seem right to talk about heaven and after their fight, the afterlife for fallen warriors seemed appropriate. And you may think me mad, but it seemed like the thing to do at the time.) And yet they too wouldn't die. Apparently crabs dont really care it they have brains or not. (I know some people like this too.) So back in the freezer while I cleaned the actual dead ones. There was no way I was going to castrate and rip the lungs out of a crab that was not dead. That is just cruel. I was hoping to give them a quick painless death.

Castration!

 When I took the final 4 out of the freezer, 30 mins later, one was still moving! I put him back for another 15 mins deciding if he was still alive (headless and half frozen) then, I was going to fill the bath with salt water and the next day go to the coast and set him free! After all this he would have deserved it. :-)
Moving after 30 mins in the freezer!
But not necessary. After a traumatic 2 hrs, I finally had 6 cleaned and wrapped crabs ready for the freezer. There was no way I was eating them then! (I had a small plate of chips instead!) I am going to have to wait for the trauma to recede before I can eat them. (And yes I did have dreams of headless crabs!)

Finally ready for the freezer.

New York City - Last morning

On our last day, Caroline had to leave early so we went for a breakfast at a diner nearby before finishing packing. I left my stuff in the room and went with Caroline who tried to hail a cab on our street. After a few taxis past, one stopped. It was already occupied but she rolled down the window and told us to go to the corner of 3rd Avenue (next road down). Apparently the trick is to wave from the corner (and partially standing in the road helps but we weren't that brave/crazy). Eventually we flagged one down and Caroline went off to Penn Station to get her train to Baltimore airport.
I went back to Grand Central. While we were stuck on the bus yesterday evening, the tour guide was filling in time (while trying to figure out where we were going because it was not the way we should be due to something happening on 49th, either an accident or the road was blocked because someone famous arrived at the Waldorf Astoria.) She told us loads of things about Grand Central, like how they smuggled Jackie Kennedy out in the middle of the night on a train (I have no idea why that was so impressive but she and others seemed to think so.) There are lots of secret tunnels and train lines there going to the Waldorf, which is the President's hotel while in New York. It started with Roosevelt staying there and other Presidents after have kept up the tradition. The tunnels were built so Roosevelt could kept the secret he was in a wheelchair and arrive secretly. Of course, I couldn't go in the tunnels, but still pretty cool. Also they are supposed to have great shops there!
And the station itself is really is beautiful. Penn Station used to be the same but they tore it down, but thankfully saved Grand Central Terminal.

Astronomy on the ceiling.

View from the balcony.

I had a wonder around but couldn't find all these amazing shops people talk about.
And then I found heaven! Grand Central Market. Remember I have been in Blacksburg for the past few months which isn't exactly the height of civilization (though I do love it already there) but the selection of gourmet foods etc is limited. The market was fairly small but amazing. They had meat, fish, cheese, veg, and more.

Veg stall

The most beautiful cakes I have ever seen!

Spice and tea heaven!!!!

Even chocolate!

Though my favorite was the spices and teas where I brought lots of different spices and tea. (The selection was amazing!) I came away a little poorer but very happy!
After that I wondered a little, hit one more souvenir shop for a few little bits and headed back to the hotel as my shuttle to the airport is at 12pm. I then have 2 and a half hours in Terminal F in Philly. If you ever go there, take food and reading material. There is nothing!!!!!
Overall, I love New York!!!! I don't really like cities that much but I think I could live in New York. There is so much to do and am looking forward to next visit and doing all the things I missed this time! :-)

New York - Day 4

On Thursday morning, we went to Grand Central Terminal. Very pretty and by far the nicest station I have seen in a while. There is a large astronomy scene on the ceiling.

Grand central

The famous clock in the centre of the concourse.

We headed to Hell's Kitchen again, to the Cosmic diner for breakfast. (We both have a new found love of Turkey bacon!)  Then got on the tour bus down to Greenwich Village and SoHo. I recommend the tour buses. Some of the tour guides are a bit weird (Caroline got a love declaration on this bus) and you look like a complete tourist but we learnt a lot of great stuff we wouldn't have otherwise.
We got off at Greenwich and are such wimps; within 5 mins we were in a cafe. The wind was bitter and we were so cold. But at the cafe, they did tell us the better places to go for shopping, so we headed to SoHo. This area is really cool and friendly. Most of the normal shops but there is one called The Evolution Store, which has things like skulls, shells, fossils, and links art to science. We spent ages (and lots of money) there. Caroline brought an amazing necklace. I got a spider's web which is captured in glass. It's from a spider species called the beautiful one, and was found in New Jersey.

Spider's web in glass.

I also got a stone made from Volcanic rock from Mexico which changes color when looked at in different lights.
Then we walked down to Tribeca (an area of the city near the World Trade centre). We didn't really want to go to the 911 Memorial but we had a look at the new World Trade Tower which should be finished by the beginning of next year. There will be one main tower and 6 smaller ones. Mainly we wanted to see the Miracle church. It was named this as it has survived a lot. Fires. Storms. And the Twin towers falling. Buildings further away had all their windows blown out. And the church was untouched. The trees in the grave yard saved it from the debris.
It was also where the fire men slept while digging through the ruins and inside is the story of what happened at the church during that time. It was very sad and there is a flag with all the names on of people who died.

New World Trade Centre

Miracle church 

Bell given to NYC from London outside church.

In Battery Park, which is on the southern tip of the island, there is a gold ball which was in front of the towers when the collapsed. Around it is a community garden, which feeds the homeless, and a WW2 tribute.

What is left of the ball from in front of the twin towers.

Monument of WW2

Names of fallen soldiers of WW2.

View from Battery Park of Statue of Liberty.

After that, we headed back to the Fire Zone. Before the presentation, we had a look around. The walls were covered with badges from fire departments from all over the world. There was also a poster on the wall with the names and photos of all the fire fighters who died in 9/11. I did not realize there were so many! Humbling. Anyway, the presentation was more meant for little kids but it was still fun. We also promised a photo with a firefighter. Unfortunately the fireman was a nice guy but not the cute hunk we were hoping for. ;-) So we skipped.

Mascots in the fire truck

badges.

More badges.

We ate in Hell's Kitchen again. It's an area west of Times square. The food is just as good and half the price as that in Times Square. So Caroline got her New York pizza, and we enjoyed a very nice bottle of New Zealand Riesling. Then we headed back to the hotel to pack, via Times Square. The New Years ball is a lot smaller than we expected, only 6 foot in diameter. And Times Square is not even a square! It's a triangle. But there area is full of life and lots of lights and billboards.

Times Square. 

New Years ball.

After packing, it was out to the wine bar for more Pouilly Fume for our last night. Very tasting!

New York - Day 3

Wednesday, the weather was a lot nicer but much colder. We planned to get up and out early but the wine (and heater in the room which went crazy in the middle of the night) made that impossible. We eventually got out at about 9, and caught the bus across to Times Square. But we hit rush hour and it took ages. So we missed the boat we were going to catch and decided to go to a diner for breakfast. We went to the Starlight diner, which doesn't seem like the best part of town, but is where most of the cops from the nearby precinct go for breakfast. The food was good (bacon, eggs and home fries - and Caroline now likes bacon!).

Caroline the vegetarian!

After that we headed for the west river to catch the water taxi. We had a New York Pass, which gives us free entry to most/all of the tourist things we did. The taxi goes from Pier 84 on the West river,  down to Battery park on the bottom tip of the island. Up to south sea port (on the west side of the brooklyn bridge - used to be a hot spot with good bars and reasonably priced food, but is currently still being rebuilt after the storm). Then alongside the Brooklyn bridge to DUMBO, and finally over near the Statue before heading back to the Pier. (You can't go over the statue as again they are still sorting it out after the storm.)
Going down the west river, the tour guide pointed out where the Titanic was supposed to dock, which is now a Golf driving range.

View of Manhattan from the water taxi

Pier where the Titanic should have docked.

Air and space museum on a destroyer.

By the Brooklyn Bridge

We go off at DUMBO in Brooklyn, which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It is supposed to be a cool area, with lots of little shops and pastry shops. We must have missed the better parts. Still we found a few shops and saw some Brooklyn and got some good views of Manhattan.

Caroline and the view from Brooklyn across to Manhattan

Manhattan from Brooklyn

Back on the taxi, we went over the the Statue of Liberty. Both of us were expecting it to be a bit bigger but we were some distance away. It was built by 2 French guys and is made of thin sheets of copper (less than the thickness of 2 pennies) over a steel frame.

Statue of liberty

Us on the water taxi

Lady Liberty

View from the taxi on the way back

After the water taxi, we headed over to Times Square and caught the tour bus along Central Park up to the American Museum of Natural History. It's the sort of place you could easy spend a whole day. But we only had a few hours so prioritized - the planetarium and the dinosaurs! Unfortunately we got there too later for the planetarium show but had a wonder around the exhibit before heading up to the 4th floor for dinosaurs!

Giant clam - plack says "don't sit in the clam!"

Giant model of mosquito - gross!

Rose Planetarium

T-Rex used in Night at the Museum

Sad dinosaur! :-(

After we headed through Central Park to get back to Rockerfellor. Our feet were killing us! The park is a lot bigger than I expected. But very pretty. The didn't build on the park, mainly because of the huge lumps of rock which cover the area. They are the same as the bedrock which anchors the skyscrapers, but in this area apparently it was too much problem to dig them up. We only see the lower lake but it is huge. I can understand why people like jogging around it.

Central park

From the bridge looking over the lake and city

Silhouette over Manhattan 

We headed for Fire Zone, but it was finished for the day (we did it the next day).
After this we were pretty pathetic, our feet were killing us, and just sat in Rockerfellor at Starbucks for a while. Anything as long as we were not standing. We still had to walk back to the hotel, where we crashed for an hour before going to nearby restaurant for Chinese and then an early night.