Something old ..... something new!

Despite previous meteorological predictions, today was both hot and predominantly sunny and therefore got off to a good start, as we sat in Starbucks admiring the Manhattan skyline. Being weekend, the New York transport system is full of minor traps for the unwary, but we set off with hope! We began by buying tickets for the PATH and Subway train system, an art in itself, and for anyone wishing to travel on these routes seamlessly, you must purchase a pay by journey Metro Card. We took the PATH to 14th Street and headed towards the now familiar Chelsea Market and Highline area. Fortunately, we got to the former (once a National Biscuit factory) before the hordes of tourists, but encountered them on the Highline Park walkway. The latter provides some really interesting views of the city life in New York, including some ingenious examples of how to solve parking problems ..... by stacking cars like boats in a boatyard!

We stopped for coffee in the oasis that is the gardens of the Highline Hotel and then set about negotiating the subway system to the lower east side of town, bound for the Tenement Museum. We arrived with minutes to spare before our "Irish Immigrants Tour" started. The tour was interesting and gave an insight into life within the early New York tenement buildings, outside the Five Points area of the city.

Not the best tour I've been on, but not the worst, either. After this, we beat our retreat on the 'J' line, to Broad Street and then walked down Wall Street to Pier 11. Along the way we stumbled upon a pleasant al fresco dining area and stopped off in the Dubliner Pub for lunch. Reaching Pier 11 we discovered that there were no ferries to Hobokem at weekend, contrary to the '7-day service' signs at the Hobokem Terminal! Yep, travelling around New York at weekend can prove challenging. Its good to know that ones not alone, though, as witnessed by other fellow travellers wandering around the subway platforms, voicing expletives, as they searched for platforms harder to find than 'Platform nine-and-a-half' in Harry Potter. Anyway, there was nothing for it but to make tracks for the Ocular Building and negotiate the PATH to Newport, using the modified weekend route, of course!

Maybe today's musical sampler ought to be something with an Irish overtones, perhaps something by Planxty ... the theme from Harry's Game