New York - USA
Wednesday, 21th
September 2011



Day 2 (Part 1)


Today we take part in a guided tour around Manhattan; the Manhattan Comprehensive city tour. For this we have to report at the office of Grey Line which is located just around the corner on Eight Avenue. There are quite a number of people waiting already. Once everybody is accounted for the guide takes us outside and brings us to the bus that is parked across the street. As we begin our tour we are briefed about the various neighbourhoods we will be visiting. We head north through the Upper West Side into Harlem. In specific to the more prestige′s part of Harlem called Morningside Heights. This is where the university and other educational facilities are located.

We follow Amsterdam Avenue where we pass by the cathedral of St. John the divine and make our way to Riverside Drive where we stop. This enables us to visit both the Riverside Church, and across the street right next to the Hudson river, the National Memorial of General Grant.

We then continue our tour again to the east side of Harlem, and from there to the south again. Being seated in the bus and driving through the neighbourhood, we observe the area, the buildings and the people that make Harlem. From here it does not seem to be as intimidating as portrait in the American television series that we watch on TV in the Netherlands. We can see people of various ethnic backgrounds walking and talking with each other.

Following Fifth Avenue south we have Central Park with its lush green foliage at our right. The tour guide explains to us who lives in these areas and where, and gives us an impression of the real estate prises of the apartments located here. Some of the more famous people have lived here; Jackie Kennedy for instance, she has owned an apartment here and so did John Lennon. Located halfway Central Park is The Metropolitan Museum of Art. With its impressive triple arch front it resembles an ancient Roman forum. Lots of people are sitting on the steps leading to the entrance enjoying the late summer sun.

Located in Bryant Park, we pass by the equally impressive New York Public Library. Like The Metropolitan Museum of Art its frontal view has a triple arch forum like entrance with steps leading to its entrance. And a little further down Fifth Avenue we come across The Empire State building, one of New York′s more familiar architectural icons. Then suddenly Fifth Avenue ends; we have reached the Washington Square Park with its victory arch honouring one of the founding fathers of the United States, George Washington. By now it is lunchtime; and we find ourselves a spot on the terrace at the Grotta Azurra Restaurant at the corner of Mulberry Street and Broome Street. We are now in ″Little Italy″.

We are in luck; this week Little Italy is celebrating the 85th Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City′s oldest, biggest and best religious street festival. The festival began in 1926 with the newly arrived immigrants from Naples. San Gennaro is the Patron Saint of Naples. The celebration is held along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Street in what is now the remaining area of Little Italy. Started on Thursday, September 15, it will continue up to Sunday, September 25, 2011. And what a feast it is! Everywhere there are food stalls selling all kinds of products. If you stick your nose in the air you can smell Italian food, Chinese food, the sweet smell of sugar, baked sausage, fried onion, and the list goes on! It has the characteristic of a county fair; it′s beautiful!

After a tasty lunch and a half an hour walk along a crowded Mulberry Street we get back into the bus for the remainder of the tour. It is the financial district where we are heading for this time. We shoot by Wall Street and the tour guide explains to us that McDonalds has a snackbar here where people are served by waiters that actually ware white gloves. It is the most prestigious McDonalds snackbar in the world!

Pay attention here people; I still persistently call this place a snackbar and NOT a restaurant! I categorically refuse to do this; as far as I am concerned that would be culinary blasphemy! In case of doubt ask for the McWine list. I rest my case!


(Story continues on next page!)











and welcome!






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National Memorial of General Grant near the Hudson river

National Memorial of General Grant
near the Hudson river



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View down Amsterdam Avenue, corner 135th Street to 134th Street

View down Amsterdam Avenue,
corner 135th Street to 134th Street



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The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art


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Little Italy is celebrating the 85th Annual Feast of San Gennaro

Little Italy is celebrating the
85th Annual Feast of San Gennaro