Monday, 13 April 2009

New York

Chom Poo Moo was very excited to find out she was travelling with the famous Paddington Bear to New York - and she particularly liked the kilt!!

First stop in the USA was New York to stay with Alka my old university flatmate, her husband Anish and her 1year old son Ajay who I was meeting for the first time.



Ajay is very cute and I enjoyed playing with him and of course taking lots of photographs - which most of the time he seemed happy to pose for - with his squidgy smile....

New Yorks' finest go about their work.

mmmm......paranoid comes to mind!!!

We took Ajay for a walk along Long Beach.

I thought they all were.......

Well babies cry.....

But the smiles come more often - and make up for the tears.

No newspaper boys here.

A tonka truck police car......makes for easy parking!!

There are some really nice(expensive) houses in the Forrest Hill area around Queens near where Alka and Anish stay.

Then there were the grotesque, look at how wealthy I am - over the top, bad taste etc etc.....

Views from Alka's balcony. Alka and Anish watched the 2nd Twin Tower collapse from here.

New York underground - makes it easy to get around the city.


Some of New Yorks Skyscrapers.


The New York Public Library - an impressive old building.







Times Square area is one of my favourite places in New York to just wander around for a few hours - there is so much going on there are of course lots of strange characters to people watch :-)

oh and not to forget the M&M and Hersheys shops!!





Chom Poo Moo loved making friends with all the Chocolate soft toys and exploring the shops....

But she got a little too friendly with this Easter bunny!!!

But not to worry we rescued her so she could spend some time with Ajay (who is in this photo with Alka's Aunt Masi)

The Stars and Stripes fly everywhere you go.....




Ajay's first birthday was the day before mine so we went out for a meal to celebrate with his grandparents and aunts.

There may be a recession going on but at least some people are taking advantage of it.


As the sun came out I just had to go back to Times Square and get some sunny photo's!


And the sun wasn't the only thing that was out - so was the 'Naked Cowboy' who is seemingly quite famous thanks to YouTube!!

Obama Condoms - what???? Well when I heard the tag line it all made sense - "Condoms for Hard Times" - made me laugh :-)


St Paul's Church near the site of the World Trade Centre - a memorial is here to those who died as well as all those who worked on the rescue efforts who took shelter and rested here - some slept here for days.

There is also a collection of badges donated by Police and Fireservices throughout the world to showing their sympathy and support for those affected by 9/11.

The work on the World Trade Centre site is still ongoing.

Part of the memorial plaque at the site.

It is not unusual in New York to see the old buildings next to the new glass skyscrapers but this is one of my favourite scenes as it really sums up the contrast.

Locals try and make some money from the tourists.

One of New Yorks more unfortunate residents. I have to say that though there is a few beggars about that I got asked more times in Glasgow for money and here they are generally polite and thank/bless you when you decline unlike home when you get a tolerant of verbal diarohea!!

Security is high at the Wall Street Stock Exchange - as a lot of tourist and financial places in NY - you have to go through airport type security for most big attractions/museums etc.

Chom Poo Moo debated whether she should invest her few dollars whilst at Wall Street or spend them on an ice cream - there was no debate for me!

Street Signs.

A big red cube with a circular hole in it - the point??

I really don't get modern art!!




The Brooklyn Bridge.



Views from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ajay was fed up playing with his birthday presents so decided to play in the box instead.

Ajay plays with his little girlfriend - boy is learning quick!

No wonder he is happy.....


The World Trade Fair was held in New York in 1964 - you might recognize this site from the Men in Black movie where the big giant insect thing climbs up the tower!!


Spring was coming when the flowers on the trees are out in bloom.


The Mets Baseball team have their second game at their new stadium - I didn't go to the game (it was sold out) but I took a walk around the new stadium anyway.

Seems to be quite a lot of stretch limo's driving around over here....this was one of the more tasteful one's.
Keep going more to come.......