New York City, USA

Ground Zero

We grabbed breakfast at a nearby cafe on Broadway, where the coffee was expensive and the bagels, even worse. That's what I get for eating at places that have European names for all their menu items. Tomorrow, I'm buying my food off the street.

The only thing that I really wanted to do here was see Ground Zero. A few years ago, I stood atop the twin towers with my girlfriend. Now, I'm forced to look at a hole in the ground from behind a mesh fence. And it's really just that. A hole in the ground.

The girls wanted to see the Statue of Liberty, so we started southward, snapping photos along the way.

When we got to Battery Park and bought the tickets at the nearby ferrydocks, we saw that we weren't scheduled to go up into the pedestal until 3pm (it was around 11am at the time). Luckily, there is no shortage of ways to pass the hours away in New York, especially when the weather was so agreeable.

Emiko wanted to go to Abercrombie & Fitch on Water St. and Keiko wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge. Both were in the vicinity, so off we went, eastward.

At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge was a Falun Gong demonstration. Over the course of the trip, I would see these guys everywhere.

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of those things I see on TV all the time, without really knowing what it is. I know the name, but never made the connection to the visual. But now, I know.

We took a walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn and back. If I lived here, I'd be on this bridge all the time. The weather was gorgeous and the view was spectacular. We don't have nearly enough bridges back home, but that may be due to the lack of rivers.

Black and white cookie

Everything I know about New York, I learned from watching Seinfeld (and a couple of Woody Allen movies). As a result, each time I come, I have to have a black and white cookie, despite the fact that they are enormous and I don't really like the way they taste.

It almost ruined my vomit streak, like it did Jerry's. But I held my puke in and finished it like a man.

The time to head back to the ferry docks was fast approaching. As we passed by a building, Keiko pointed at the fire escapes and asked, "Does that mean they don't have stairs inside?"

Too cute. It was an innocent question, but I laughed at her for the rest of the day.

Street performers

Just before heading to the docks, we saw a large crowd gathered around a few street performers. They had a pretty entertaining act and they were making four girls bend over, so I stayed to watch. Check out the clip below. Quite remarkable.

Statue of Liberty

There's not much to say about the Statue of Liberty. I mean, if you've been there, then you already know everything I could possibly tell you about it. And if you haven't been there, there's no way on earth I could describe what it's like. You just have to see it for yourself. But maybe the photos will help.

Some comments:

1. Emiko got a little sick on the ferry from the rolling waves, while it was docked.
2. Keiko looks good with a torch in her hands.
3. Inside the statue, the frame work looks the same as the Eiffel tower because it was designed by the same guy.
4. Looking down from the top of the pedestal scared the hell out of me.
5. Emiko couldn't catch a duck if her life depended on it.

Long Gone John

You know that W.C. Handy song, Long Gone? I love that song, but never knew what Bowling Green was, til now.

Guess who's coming to dinner

No, not Sidney Poitier - Ji Eun!

I called her from Ellis Island and made plans to meet up for dinner. The girls and I ended up at an Italian restaurant, around the corner from where we were staying, on Mulberry.

Ji Eun had to go watch (the apparently disappointing) Bridget Jones movie with a friend after work, but said she would come later on. The food was just incredible and in such huge portions (gotta love the Yanks). Even when we asked for wine, they waiter came out with a magnum.

Just as we were finishing up the food, Ji Eun showed up. We asked if she wanted to order again (since we had nothing else to do anyway), but she was too polite to do so and began gabbing away at the girls in some pretty damn fluent Japanese.

I sat idly by and nodded now and then to feel included.

After dinner, we walked a little in Little Italy and settled in a nearby cafe for dessert and coffee. I must have put on at least 7 lbs that night. I don't know how the Italians do it.

The cuisine, coupled with the company made this one of the most thoroughly enjoyable nights I care to remember.

And to top it all off, the trip has just started! I am looking forward to trying to top this tomorrow.