The Last Day

So the final day in New York dawned.  Bonnie has a list of things to do when we come back. I've got a few too.  I don't think either of us expected to enjoy it this much, or to be this bushed at the end of a week's holiday.

Having packed we left the hotel on our way to the Morgan Library and Museum, and stepped out onto Madison Avenue only to find it had disappeared.  In it's place there was a street market that was not there yesterday.  So that accounted for an hour while Bonnie made some purchases to add to our packed and weighed suitcases. Just be prepared never to be surprised in New York, and you should come back in one piece.

I got tired wandering through this market that ran down Madison from 60th to 42nd - that's quite a way.  So we went and had coffee and strolled up to Bryant Park only to find that it too had been transformed.  But the oasis of Bryant Park was still there, behind the just-being-finished skating rink and the semi-permanent boutiques which this time we somehow resisted.  Towering over it is The Bryant Park Hotel, cunningly disguised as a Christmas Tree Decoration. 

Leaving Bryant Park we wandered back towards Madison to find the Morgan Library and walked into yet another treat.  We only had 90 minutes to spare, but that was enough to look at Blake's Ancient of Days, to read Jane Austen's sister's hand written account of the novelist's death, to gaze on a 14th century book of hours and more.  Another place for a longer visit next time.

Now it really was time to go home.  Our taxi to the airport reinforced my view that there is a law forbidding taxi drivers to indicate prior to a manoevre.  It is also generally considered a good idea to move to the far right lane when turning left as that way you cut across all the other traffic and prevent them getting into the turning ahead of you.  All the taxi drivers we have met have had interesting stories to tell of how they came to New York and much else besides.  The reputation for discourtesy that they have acquired was nowhere in evidence.  A couple were so interesting I'd happily have gone round again to hear more.

Once through security I could finally do what every trip to America is about for me: sit at a bar with a beer watching the NFL.  I saw the New York Giants lose to the San Diego Chargers, bad news for New Yorkers, but great for Cowboys fans like me.  By the time our plane landed the Dallas Cowboys had won against the Philadelphia Eagles, making happiness complete and rounding off a truly wonderful event.

Thank you Bon for a wonderful birthday, and Debby and Kate for helping to arrange it.