This is the friendly tarantula I ran into yesterday, while hiking at Bandalier National Park in New Mexico.  He looked a lot bigger in person!

Final day - Wednesday

Since last night's rain abated and another gorgeous day broke, we decided to forgo the art museum and spend time outdoor.  Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library has a Paris feeling to it.








 

It seemed nearly empty until we chanced upon a film crew. They were shooting scenes for a CBS show called "Person of Interest"

The guy in the center is Jim Caviezel, one of the lead actors. I looked this up on the internet as I never heard of the show. I may be trying to find this episode though. 

  The camera is certainly impressive.

 


We passed around to the front of the New York Public Library. Should have gone in, but I have done it before. Heading to Grand Central Station. Along the sidewalk are plaques honoring the world of books.

 

This one was most amusing.  I especially liked it since E.B. White wrote

Charlotte's Web and other children's books.

 

Outside Grand Central

 

Inside



But, it is so much more than trains.

 

Love the little jackets on these guys

Food is everywhere.  There are shops as well.

After another visit to the film crew in the park we went over to 7th Ave. to the Fashion District.

My shop awaits me.  My style would be vastly different than what's in the window!

 

If you are as bored by fabric and trimmings as Dan, this is the end.  If you are NOT please step on over to my other blog, Thimble Fingers http://csturgeo.blogspot.com/ 

and learn more about the fabric and trim stores.

 

Tuesday with Dave and POTUS

Today was a TV day that began with a tour of NBC studios. It was OK.  No pictures can be taken on the tour. (boo-hoo) I captured a few of the grand buildings at Rockefeller Center.

Outside in Rockefeller Plaza

 

Interior of the GE building which is home to NBC Studios

 

We saw the studios where Brian Williams broadcasts from and 8H where Saturday Night Live is done.

Near the end of the tour they, of course took the obligatory tourist photo which they want to sell you. But then we entered a studio where they asked for volunteers to try out being the anchor and the weather person. One person spoke up and I gave a moment for someone to jump in, but when no one did I raised my hand. The other woman and I were given a choice of roles and I jumped at the anchor job since I know I can read out loud after years of reading to kids.  Also I could sit down!

 

When we were finished we found out they had actually taped us and we could get the DVD to take home (for a price). We jumped and I didn't look at it until today.  The lighting and sound for my part is not very good BUT I think I did a great job of impersonating a news anchor. I was hoping to add it to the blog but I have no idea how to get it transferred to the blog or even youtube. 

 

THEN

 

 

After a lunch we headed off to the Late Show with David Letterman. I put our names in for tickets back in August and we got a call that we were in!  Then a day later they called back that they needed us to be at the theatre between 1:30 and 2:30 ( an hour earlier than previously told). I had already found out on Thursday that the guest for our night was to be The President   of the United States! So much better than some ditzy actress promoting a film, no matter what your politics are.



This picture is grabbed from GoogleEarth street view. Not actually us.

 

When we arrived at 1:15 there was already a huge line snaking around the corner.  Security was tight and police where everywhere.  There were even two enormous construction vehicles parked in front of the theatre to block ANYTHING. As it was spitting rain we wondered how long we would be on the sidewalk, but the nice Letterman pages herded us into a bar around the corner!






Also a street view steal

We entered and were sent upstairs to a tabl e where we were handed our tickets with our group number on it (E).  And then...wait, visit the restroom, get a drink, chat with other folks, etc. When our group was called we went through security with a sniffing dog but we got to keep our shoes ON. Our seats were EXCELLENT. Only a few rows back and I, if not, Dan could see Dave AND Obama. The hour goes really fast when you don't have to watch commercials. The orchestra plays and you watch all the crew doing what they do.  The President, as usual, cannot give a short answer so when we rewatched the show later in the hotel we saw that the TOP TEN LIST had been cut out. I'll still vote for him!!

 

 



Lifted from Google Images



 



 

 



 

Monday in New York

What a gorgeous day and with rain predicted for Tuesday,  we choose today to venture onto the subway to the other end of Manhattan. (We are staying at Times Square.) The ferry ride includes both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.  In October the renovations will be completed and people will once again be allowed inside. But I'm sure the weather will not be as nice as this!

View from Liberty Island back to Manhattan



Main reception hall at Ellis Island where immigrants first arrived

 

South Street Seaport was our next stop, but only long enough to go to the half-price tickets booth where we got tickets to "Mama Mia" which is right near our hotel and we felt our feet could stand the walk and the music would keep us awake. It was very well done and really enjoyable. (Note) We went to an off-Broadway show the previous night..."Newsical, the Musical" which was a lot of satire on politics and pop culture.

As we headed towards Wall Street and on to the Sept 11 Memorial we were redirected at numerous blocked off intersections by police who said there were demonstrations going on. Funny thing is, we ended up at Zuccotti Park where the whole thing started one year ago to the day.  We witnessed signs, costumes, and talking but it was all pretty benign.  Even some cops seemed to be enjoying themselves.  This one was not holding his ears I happened to click at just the moment he did this:

 

Well, not today since we were barricaded OUT!

 

 

We learned too late that we supposed to have tickets (free) to get into the memorial, but Dan insisted we persist and they  sent us over to talk to a nice young guy in a tent who asked if we were miltary or airline employees or EMT or nurses or whatever. We said  we were only retired school teachers and DARN! 

He  gave  us tickets!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





New York City - delayed posts

I bought just a few of these

Sunday was our first full day in NYC and it was a stunningly beautiful day for a stroll. Since most strrets are crowded and fast-paced we left for the less-traveled paths. We visited the "Hell's Kitchen Flea Market" named for the neighborhood where it is located.

Once a bastion of poor and working-class Irish Americans, Hell's Kitchen's proximity to Midtown has changed it over the last three decades of the 20th century and into the new millennium. The 1969 edition of the City Planning Commission's Plan for New York City reported that development pressures related to its Midtown location were driving people of modest means from the area. Today, the area is gentrifying.
The rough-and-tumble days on the West Side figure prominently in Damon Runyon's stories and the childhood home of Marvel Comics' Daredevil. Various Manhattan ethnic conflicts formed the basis of the musical and film West Side Story. Being near to both Broadway theaters and Actors Studio training school the area has long been a home to actors learning and practicing their craft. (Wikipedia)




Not very far from the flea market is a relatively new addition to the city. It is the HIGH LINE.
The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. It is now the non-profit conservancy working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to make sure the High Line is maintained as an extraordinary public space for all visitors to enjoy. http://www.thehighline.org/

 

Lots of plantings and benches and great people watching 

 

 

View from our 15th floor window

Who is this strange statue?

Left holding the flowers

New York Adventure

Here are a few views from day one. Buildings are cool but the real fun is watching people.

Slus is in Jackson Hole

Late additions

Just received the pics of the white water rafting from our last day.  I am quite prominent in the pictures since I had the front row seat!

Final adventure

Today was our journey over the continental divide toward the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We went 6 people per raft down the rapids. The river is fairly low this time of year so we only encountered easy rapids but it sure was fun. Since we couldn't take our cameras without risking losing them, I don't have pictures of it. We bought a CD with pictures the raft company took and I will get them later. Meanwhile, enjoy these.