This video is taken from a walk way within the World Financial Centre building. It looked like hundreds to police cards with their lights on in procession. On talking to a guard he said it was a trial run for the following days ceremonies. Impressive non the less.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

What a day. Started off with a very long sleep in… James and Bel awoke at about 11:30am – yes I know!!! Crazy. The night before we had had a few cocktails and dinner at another local Italian joint. Whilst it wasn’t too late a night, with out the little ones, a sleep in was possible. After eggs on toast we headed off on a “Gallery Tour” in Chelsea. To our amazement Chelsea has the highest population of art galleries anywhere in the world (probably cause they are all pretentious wankers…. Just joking…. No really!!!).

The tour stated with meeting a few of James friends. Daryl, Andrew and George. The tour was actually quite interesting. It was run by this short, aged, bald bugger… (something for James to aspire too). He took us to 7 galleries in the local area… Some interesting and some down right stupid! (image to come).

The first gallery was quite interesting. A South Korean gent who was into sculpture. These images below were of his home in Korea and then the house he first lived in when he arrived in America. The theory was how the cultures collided. The first piece was massive. Showing his old house crashing into the new one, where as the second glowing plastic house had the old house encompassed in the new – quite cool…

The only other two i liked were the horse sculptures and the collages. The horses were originally constructed out of drift wood, then each individual piece of wood was cast in Bronze. When they were all made they were then reconstructed and welded together. Very interesting. The other was a gent who tore up magazines and used these pieces to replicate famous art works.

Oh yeh – then there was this crazy one!!!!

After the tour we headed for a 4pm lunch at the Cook Shop with everyone. Good meal and interesting conversation. James, Bel and myself walked to the west village were we wandered thru looking at the buildings and shops. Bel had her photo taken at Carries house from sex and the city, then as a quirk of fate we saw Matthew Broderick come out of his house a block away..

We decided to head down to ground zero to see it all before the anniversary the following day. It was a quiet and sombre mood, as to be expected. Walking around the base of the site you would see devout conspiracy theorists preaching how the towers were brought down by the government and in contrast families wearing fire fighters tshirts in remembrance.

The police presence was AMAZING! At one stage there was a procession of hundreds of police cars with their lights on in practice for tomorrows celebrations.

After seeing the tower lights in the sky we headed to Stone Street for dinner. Think the Rocks in Sydney on a very small yet concentrated scale. After a few beers and Bel chatting up a sailor in the queue (or the line as they say here) for the toilets he came down and was chatting to us about his 15 years in the Navy. Interesting conversation how a down and out African America from a down trodden family in Texas, who married at 18 and went into the Navy. After a great walk thru downtown Federation Hall, Wall Street and Liberty Park we head to the subway.

We then jumped on the train and came home to talk to the girls on Skype. VERY BUSY day. We are home now at 1:30am with sore and tired feet…. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

HELLO LADIES!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Cracka of a day. The sun was out and it all started to heat up. James went to work, Bel was asleep and i went for a run down the Chelsea boardwalk along side the west highway. Nice paved wide track for runners and bikes. After a 9km run and a quick shower (Bel was STILL asleep when i got home), we headed up to the rockefeller centre to check out the view from the top.

After a *ahum* altercation with another tourist we took an awesome 65 floor ride. 45 seconds to the top and the ceiling was clear with starwars type lights – awesome.

The view from the top was AMAZING. After many photos (and loosing the lens cap to the camera) we heading down to the meat packing district for lunch at The Standard Grill.

VERY showy, it doesn’t help that it is friday afternoon of fashion week. We saw a fashion show in the street whilst we went for a walk on the “highline”.

The highline was an elevated train line constructed inthe early 1900′s on the west side. It has been gentrified with a nice path, plants and all. About 2km’s long – nice walk. Then to get a coffee from starbucks whilst we walked thru the Chelsea Market – great space. Was the old Nabisco Biscuit factory many moons ago.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Very early start to the day. Bel and I decided to go to Woodbury Common. This is a premium outdoor outlet site about 45 miles from NYC. Bel and Megs were there a few years ago so a revisit was on the cards.

With an “early” 7:30am kick off we headed up on the E train to 50th street to walk down and get our tickets for the bus. A few short blocks to the bus station and we were on the very uncomfortable bus.

About 75 minutes later we were at Woodbury before it had opened. Well there was a fair bit purchased so we had to buy a new very large duffel bag / suit case to transport it home… a lot of good bargains.

After wrestling the suitcase on the peak hour subway we made it home. A quick bite at a local Italian place we headed home to go thru the booty!

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Great walk across converted rail lines. All revamped with paths, gardens and break out areas. Would be an awesome spot for “sculpture by the sea” type event.

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Goodness! Miles and miles of factory outlets some 45miles from New York. Nice and misty! Gotta have a leash on the wife and the credit cards.

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Weather was still very average today. Not raining as much more misty and humid.

Dashed off to Best Buy to get a cable for the computer and a prepaid sim. No i have data and free sms and calls in the USA for $50 up to 500MB. Telstras plans are atrocious in comparison. $160 for the month and 20MB data and $3 local calls!!!!

Bel and i then had lunch at a local pizza joint “just a slice” then headed up to The Museum of Natural History on Central Park. I got my first subway, very exciting. The train took us straight to the base of the museum. We went and saw the special dinosaur exhibition, IMAX Tornado Alley and the Planetarium.

Bel fell asleep in the Tornado Alley movie and i fell asleep in the planetarium! Got the train back to 14th and 8th to the Apple store where Bel decided to buy a new ipad 2. Then to starbucks, where Bel had a coffee. I cant understand how people can sit in a coffee shop reading a book or doing their UNI work with all the noise and posers. Anyway then we head up town back to James’s neighbourhood and had Thai at “Spice”.

Spice was quite good, very large portions and good flavours. We had a pad thai and a pineapple duck red curry – interesting!! After a few beers came home to set up Bels ipad. Now off to bed as we have to get up early to head to Woodbury shopping in morning…

Posted from New York, New York, United States.