Sunday 9th July – more NYC sights!

Today started with Simon’s choice of attraction – visiting the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid.  And I thought we’d done all of the aircraft and military museums available!  It was a different experience altogether, however, to see the planes in front of the dramatic backdrop of NYC. 

In addition to the planes this museum is the home of Space Shuttle Enterprise.  Although never making it into space, Enterprise (completed in 1976) was vital as the prototype to the other shuttles.  Gliding tests using Enterprise triggered vital changes to the space shuttle design which meant that it would be too expensive to refit for space, leaving Enterprise instead to act as an ambassador around the globe educating the public about the shuttle program.

 

We’d been in the City for nearly three days but I was yet to complete a very important task.  It was time for US sandwich number 10!! In order to successfully complete my quest I did a little research and we walked towards Hell’s Kitchen which appeared to be choc-full of deli’s.  It wasn’t as straightforward as you’d expect to find a pastrami sandwich but after a brief explanation of what I needed I was served up this beauty.   

 

 

It was mighty tasty with stacks of meat and a kind of sauerkraut that gave it a tangy twist.  Giving it 8/10 I had concluded my task, making this my fourth favourite sandwich in the states, behind the top three of:

3  3)      Philadelphia’s Steak and Cheese

2  2)      Miami’s Cuban sandwich & ….. (drumroll please!)

1  1)      The French dip deliciousness in California

We continued our walk on to Time Square.  It was time to follow another handy hint.  If you queue in enough time, they release that evening’s unsold Broadway tickets at 3pm at a much-reduced price. Queuing wasn’t exactly a struggle with so much going on around us.  

The Chicago girls entertained the crowds

We had agreed a short-list and when the list of available shows appeared on a screen we went ahead and secured two tickets for Avenue Q – the sesame street-like play with puppets but with adult content. 

 

Having made our evening arrangements, we hopped on the subway to the Empire state Building.  Another chance for a high-rise view of the City, but this time in daylight.  Other friends who had been to New York had advised us that the view from the Rockefeller Centre is actually superior to the more famous Empire State.  Having visited both I can see why they said this.  There are so many rails, bollards and security guards at the Empire State that getting a clear and unobstructed view is a bit tricky.  But it’s a must-do building so that you can appreciate the art-deco architecture in addition to the views.

A selection of views from the Empire State....

We had planned to return to the hotel to get changed for dinner and the show but we had run out of time.  It was far more important to find somewhere that offered a decent steak for Simon, who wanted to try a New York Strip whilst in NYC.  We opted for Guys Kitchen, who appears to be the American equivilant of Jamie Oliver, mostly because it was the only place we could get into even though it meant eating at the bar! 

It was a short walk to 50^th Avenue for the show (it was near enough Broadway).  It was very funny, if you get a chance to see it I thoroughly recommend it.  The characters of the puppets are done so well that you focus on them and forget that there’s a human dressed in black blatantly carrying them round the stage! There were some hilarious songs, like ‘everyone’s a little bit racist’ and ‘the internet is for porn’ so, as warned, the show is definitely not for kids. The show finished about 10pm so we didn’t have too much of a late night after we walked back to hotel at the end of our last full day in the big apple.