Final day--July 11 from L

Our last day in Manhattan began with a breakfast with our son across from Bryant Park. It was hard to say goodbye to him.

Then, we decided to be brave and subway to Williamsburg in search of "The Chosen." We didn't see any signs of that from the subway windows. In fact, we were surprised to see that the areas around the subway stops in Brooklyn didn't seem much affected by the presence of a transit station. Where were the highrises and cafes that surrounded subway stops in DC? Anyway, we changed trains at Broadway Station to a subway that ended its route at Far Rockaway. We watched a few beachgoers join us and the anticipation of sun, surf, and salt began to grow in all of us on the train. Unfortunately, we could not find the beach in Far Rockaway. It seems to have been covered up with low income housing and scary nailshops and hair salons. When we reached a huge fenced project (?) we decided to take our obvioulsy tourist selves back on the train.

We picked up our bags at the hotel, took the airport bus to the Newark airport and lounged in the President's Club until it was time to board our plane.

When we left the NO airport, we were greeted with 90 degrees, 90 % humidity, and quiet, empty streets. Home!

July 10 from K

Sunday, and a good day to see New Yawkers out enjoying their city. We spent about an hour reading at the little tables and chairs set up in Union Square, where about thirty or forty people were doing the same thing. Later in the day, while L and M were attending a big-time Broadway musical, I returned to the Sheep Meadow in Central Park, where a couple hundred people were sunbathing, throwing frisbees, kicking soccer balls, and ---two people at least---hanging from a tree limb with these sort of very long scarves, a circus act right there for all to see. I saw also sand volleyball courts in full use and hundreds of joggers and bikers. It is nice to see a public area get such use.

With one more day in Manhattan, we are re-reading the tourist material to see how to best play tourist one more time. We have been averaging about three or four hours of walking a day, so we may give in to the temptation to ride one of the hop-on, hop-off tourist busses. If we go in search of one, it will ironic because roughly fifty times we have been offered such a trip by people hawking such rides wherever we walked.

July 9 from L

Saturday, here in the Big Apple. The day started with a walk to Grand Central Station. We ate breakfast across the street at a very cool restaurant built into the granite supports of an elevated roadway. We watched cabs pick up and deliver travelers newly arrived and soon to depart. We gawked at the big room in Grand Central Station before hiking to Union Square. Union Square has a regular Farmers' Market which was interesting for the variety of fare. There was meat (lamb, smoked birds, sausage), vegetables, and many plants. Then, we walked over to Stuyvesant Square and discovered a many-blocks-long outdoor fair with booths of cheap stuff imported from countries without unions. K got his blood pressure checked by the staff from the NYU Bone and Joint Hospital, learning that all of the walking was having a beneficial effect on his health.

We arrived at our son's apartment in time for a quick tour before walking to Little Italy (another street fair) and Chinatown. Everywhere we walked, the streets teemed with people of various sizes, colors, and languages.

By then, our feet were beginning to ache, so we took the subway back to our respective rooms. I soaked my feet in the bath, and I hope everyone else did likewise. There was tme for a quick movie at the 25-plex below our hotel. We saw "Larry Crowne" which was sweet if not great. That left just enough time to get cleaned up beofre another hike over to 2nd avenue to El Pote for a perfect meal of paella, arroz con pollo, and tortilla with our son. The return walk was more leisurely, and allowed for a nice stop at Bryant Park which was lit up like daylight with sodium lightss aimed at the grassy quad in the center. People were sitting in folding chairs, pretending it was daytime, holding on a little longer to the day.

July 8 from K

We had a fun day with walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and then taking a free ferry to Governor's Island, where on Friday there are free bike rides. So, back to back, we found the only two free things in New York. I guess, technically, the air is free, but you have to suspect you are going to pay later for breathing in all that stuff.

We suggested a restaurant to eat at but wound up going to one nearby that was a little less formal. This was a classic New York restaurant with old wooden fixtures and, for us at least, a snidely surly waiter to complete the big city ambiance. The prices were too high to mention, which is good since I am not supposed to be mentioning prices. It's kind of like when they are giving you the menu, they are saying, "I know our prices are high, but don't worry.

After the meal you can go back to whatever little place you came from and earn more money there and then bring that money back here to us in New York."

I can't wait to see how we spend tomorrow.

July 7 from L

After we checked into our hotel, we wandered around Times Square, tripping over small immigrants and big curbs because our eyes were grazing the top of tall buildings. We had managed to forget that we are RUBES!!! One way we now know this to be true is that we don not have a single tattoo or facial piercing.

In Manhattan, we think, everything is a possible merchandizing opportunity. MOMA sells plastic bus pass covers with "fine art" stamped on one side. Every TV show advertises itself with a lanyard, coffee cup, board game, and tee shirt.

Also, NYC smells. Lots of the smells are really good and some are really bad. Apparently public urination is permitted. Also, the US will need to figure out how we are going to fund the electrical needs of Manhattan. There are millions of brightly buring lights, and air conditioning floods out of doorless shops. Perhaps this is why the temperatures lagged by about 10 degrees behind those at home?

We had dinner with our sone who looked dashing eating his foil-wrapped Mexican food whil wearing a lovely summer suit and a crawfish tie. His BlackBerry kept reminding him that he was only on loan to us. As we walked him back to his office, I asked him what the long line of black sedans along the curb was. He said that they are hired cars to take late workers home from his office building. Apparently, he is not the only one who works late into the night.

July 7 from K

There are so many photo ops here in the Big Apple that today we bought a camera at a shop hear Times Square. The proprietors, who seemed to be first generation Americans, had a few prices on their merchandise, but I feel sure that they did come out with a decent profit, above whatever they paid to get the merchandise over the internet or from the guys who hijacked the truck in New Jersey. [nota bene: the camera for which we paid $120 in NY currency is available for $80 in LA funds.]

So, then we could take some pictures if we wanted to, like of the $21.89 box of wine that would have cost $9.89 at Rouse's in Mandeville.

I am trying not to worry about money on this trip but so far am doing terribly.

"Dergs"

Dipity left for Aunt Susie and Uncle Paul's house hyperventilating the whole 30 mile trip. Despite a quick potty break on their front lawn, it was obvious that she fondly remembered them, their house, and their dogs. Be good, Dip!

Chicory dropped to her belly when she saw her Aunt Susan and Uncle Jay. I don't think she looked at us again while we labored over her complicated kennel construction or when we waved sadly through the car window.

Feeling a little sad and guilty, we decided to inaugurate the beginning of our dogless days with frozen yogurt at the TCBY.

Good-bye Louisiana Dergs!

Hello New York City!