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Gracie Mansion Photos

From Gracie to Guggenheim

Trip Over to New York

Having seen Gracie Mansion from our cruise around Manhattan Island, it looked like it was definitely worth a visit. I looked it up online and called the number to book for the 1pm tour that day. Unable to get through, I left a message, but as the answering machine told me to expect a call back within a few days (by then I would be back in Sydney), the decision was made to head on up to Gracie Mansion and see if we could join the tour.

We headed out, jumping on to the #6 train from 28th Street to 86th Street, then walked a few blocks east down to the river. Gracie Mansion sits majestically looking over the East River in the top end of Carl Schurz Park on East End Ave at the end of 88th Street. Home to the New York City Mayor, should he choose to live there. Fortunately for us, Mayor Bloomberg chose not to, so it was more accessible to visitors. It is open, less often, for tours when a mayor is in residence, which is understandable – having tour groups coming through your private home would be a nightmare!

We arrived at the gates at around 12.45pm, where we met a lady who was checking off names of the people who had pre-booked. I explained that I had tried to book but couldn’t get through, I was tut-tutted at and told I should have called to book well in advance. After apologising for my tardy behaviour, we were sent up the back to stand with 3 others who had failed to book in advance. A lady in that group told me they had been standing up in the β€˜naughty line’ for 10 minutes waiting to find out if their unruly behavior could be overlooked and they would be allowed in. There we all stood giggling like naughty school children waiting to discover our fate. The β€˜good kids’ at the front were all ushered in through the gates while we were left outside not sure if that was it, or we would be allowed in, then the security guard came and said they had decided to let us in…………..we must have been forgiven. Phew!!

The tour was very interesting, lovely house (with creaking floors, a bit of joist work required), beautiful views out on to the gardens and the river, looking straight out at RFK and Hell Gate Bridges (Hell Gate Bridge is the one like a tiny Sydney Harbour Bridge). No photos were allowed to be taken inside, only in the gardens.




After the visit to Gracie Mansion was over we walked up East 88th Street, past the Church of the Holy Trinity to 5th Avenue to the Guggenheim Museum, first we went into the uninspiring looking restaurant for a late lunch, the menu looked good and we had high hopes after eating in some really great museum restaurants during our stay in New York. We should have realised there were problems when the couple on the next table were looking very glum, he had nearly finished his meal, she hadn’t yet been served. We saw another couple leaving having a heated discussion about the bill with the waiter. We ordered cocktails to drink while we read the menu. The cocktails still hadn’t arrived by the time we placed our order, then our soup was served, a fairly bland cauliflower soup with a sort of floating thing in it, still no cocktails and the couple on the next table had given up on her ever receiving her meal and walked out. Now there was only us and one other table of customers still there. Eventually we got our cocktails after asking many times, and every time the kitchen door opened the arguing and yelling in the kitchen could clearly be heard – it was like being in a TV drama.

I asked how much longer it would be before our main meals were served, the waiter disappeared back into the kitchen, lots more shouting could be heard. Eventually the waiter came out and plonked some plates in front of us, Christine got the meal she asked for, I didn’t.

I had ordered chicken that came with all sorts of vegetables, what I got was a pile of green spaghetti with 6 prawns dotted around the edge of the plate. I explained that wasn’t what I ordered and was told they had no chicken left so the chef cooked me that! I asked if I could see the menu so I could order something else (I suspect this is what happened to the couple next to us). Every time I said what I would like, they didn’t have it, I said I would keep the prawn thing and he offered to give us 10% off the bill – big mistake, the prawns were tasteless, the pasta was horrible, when he came back to see if everything was OK I told him it was disgusting, he said he would give us a free round of drinks. I thought that meant we wouldn’t have to pay for the cocktails we had already, but he brought more and said we would get a 10% discount on my meal only. I told him that I wasn’t prepared to pay for something I didn’t order that tasted so bad, now we were not only angry, we had too much to drink, those cocktails were strong. We asked for the bill, only paid for our soup and left. I told the lady at the entrance to the museum how bad it was, as she recommended it over the 3rd floor cafΓ©. She was horrified.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Church of the Holy Trinity

Book a tour on your Trip Over to New York

Itinerary for Trip Over to New York

Flew from Sydney to New York on Qantas via LA.

Arranged to be picked up at JFK Airport with Viator for the drive into Chelsea, also used for the return trip.

Stayed for a month in magnificent artists loft in Chelsea, found on VRBO.

Bought a one month travel ticket for the NYC Subway.

Different story today, they forecast sun and it happened 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞 finally!! #stleonardspark #northsydney #blueskyandsunshineβ˜€οΈ #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyweekend
Beautiful weather to walk around Cremorne Point....finally.....for weeks it has been too hot, too humid, too stormy, too windy, too just generally unpleasant - then today...Perfect, just right 🌞🌞😍!..#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyoperhouse #sydneyharbourwalks #perfectday #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #boats #outonthewater
A big day of wandering all over Palermo. It's a grubby, gritty city, everything needs a good wash, but you get over that pretty quickly!! Easy to get around on buses and walking, the Ballaro Markets are quite an experience, all the vendors shouting, very crowded, seafood sitting out in the sun, cooking various gizzards to put on bread rolls (no thanks!!) Then I escaped to the calm of the botanical gardens....#Palermo #palermosicily #ballaromarket #mercatoballarΓ² #botanicgardens #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Such a beautiful weekend in Sydney, the weather is just perfect!! The sun glistening on the water around Cremorne Point!! 🌞😍..#cremornepoint #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneylife #sydneylocal #Sydney #sydneyaustralia #sailingonsydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #rockformations #sunglisteningonthewater
After a bit of window shopping and a long walk through Hyde Park to Kensington Garden, it rained, it was windy, the sun tried to come out, then it got really cold. I went to the 'Dress Code' exhibition at Kensington Palace, the Palace is in the middle of a major conservation project have all the sash windows replaced so the whole building is covered in scaffolding......#hydepark #hydeparklondon #kensingtonpalace #kensingtongardens #fortnums #oxfordstreet #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
Yesterday was perfect, not too hot, no humidity, a lovely walk through St Leonard's Park to the Metro, then today, foggy, drizzly, bad hair.....yuk!!..#stleonardspark #morningcommute #walkinthepark #northsydney #sydneycbd #sydneyharbourbridge #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #changeintheweather
In Westfield shopping centre in Sydney CBD, all sparkled up a ready for Santa πŸŽ…πŸŽ„πŸ₯‚!!#sydneyaustralia #sydneylife #sydneycbd #Sydney #sydneychristmas #sydneychristmaslights #shoppinginsydney #christmasinsydney #christmasready #westfieldsydney
Flying into London at sunrise, we had to do a few laps before we could fit into the landing schedule. Then straight on to the Underground and into the cool London air, which was so good after the relentless heat and humidity in Sydney..#londoncalling #London #thamesriver #toweroflondon #ritzlondon #caviarhouse #qantas #qf1 #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveltheworldwithme #flyinghigh
A short train trip from Syracuse, then a walk up the hill to Noto. A town with more churches per square inch than I've ever seen!!!!.#noto #notosicily #sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotravelinsicily #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
Caught the bus down to the seaside today, the pebbles were bigger than I've seen on any beach anywhere, it was like a rock quarry!! How people were sitting on it was a mystery! Then to top it off it was high tide and I was ill equipped to walk thigh deep through the water to get to Isola Bella. Now I know what to prepare for, I'll have another go later.......#taorminasicily #taormina #isolabella #isolabellataormina #sicilianbeach #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinsicily #downbytheseaside
First day in Syracuse, arrived early on the ferry from Malta, then a train from Pozzallo to Syracuse. My hotel room wasn't ready so I walked around Ortigia, had a coffee, checked out the markets, then my room was ready. I settled in then headed off to the archaeological park.....lots of ancient Greek arches, amphitheatres, and lots of modern bronze castings of ancient Greek things!!!.#syracuse #sicily #sicilytourism #sicilytravel #visitsyracuse #archaeology #ancientgreekhistory #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything #madeinitaly
It's quite mesmerising watching the man in the clock resetting the time every minute, just outside Paddington Station, London. Sorry about all the camera movement as people wanted to get past me!! #manintheclock #Paddington #paddingtonstationlondon #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
Had a great time exploring the city of Palermo, it's been quite an adventure!! Off back to London today.....#Palermo #palermosicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
The things you see just ambling around Valletta, sometimes I take the long route around to avoid more really steep and uneven steps, but this always leads to finding more things to see..#valletta #vallettamalta #vallettastreets #malta #maltalife #streetsofvalletta #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Having arrived in London really early, my hotel room wasn't ready, so I left my luggage there and went to the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the Naomi Campbell exhibition while I waited. Love it when a visit to London coincides with a great exhibition @vamuseum #naomicampbell #vanda #victoriaandalbertmuseum #London #londonfashion #londonstyle #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinlondon #traveltheworldwithme
The beautiful little island, Isola Bella, in the bay below Taormina once owned by Lady Florence Trevelyan after she was exiled from England. To get to it you need to walk through the water, only 20 to 30cm deep at low tide, more at high tide, but worth it for the views..#isolabella #isolabellataormina #taormina #taorminasicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring
Went on an excursion through the centre of Sicily to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento near the south coast, then remains of Greek Temples built on the 5th century BC! Then we went down to the coast to look at Scala dei Turchi, the natural formation of step like ridges in the rock. Ottomans Turks found shelter here, giving it the name.#valleyofthetemples #agrigento #agrigentosicily #scaladeiturchi #Sicily #solotravel #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
I started the day by walking a couple of kms up the coast, then came back and walked all around the edge of Ortigia visiting castles and forts along the way. At least Syracuse and Ortigia are relatively flat!!! .#syracuse #ortigia #ortigiaisland #ortigiasiracusa #italianhistory #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #madeinitaly #traveladdict #italytrip
Caught the fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo, had a wander around Victoria, then went all over the Island on top deck of a bus!! That was quite an experience - a double decker bus negotiating streets designed for a horse and cart!! There were times that there was only inches to spare either side!..#gozo #gozoisland #hoponhopoffbus #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveladdict #neverstopexploring
Easter Sunday in Palermo, not a chocolate Easter egg to be found!! I caught a bus up to Monreale as I had been told the gold mosaics in the duomo were amazing. I think a catholic church service for Easter is not the place an atheist should be! Even if the building was amazing, dating back to the 1100s. I just can't agree with them asking the poorest people to donate money to the wealthiest organisation in the world, and giving nothing in return, the homeless will still be on the streets tonight! I then caught a bus to Mondello, apparently the most famous beach in Sicily. Looks lovely but I have never been hounded by so many Indians wanting to sell me a sarong😧!!#monreale #mondello #Sicily #eastersundayinsicily ##solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme ##seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Up in the north western corner of Sicily, I visited an area called Segesta to see a temple built in 400BC, a Greek/Roman theatre (they're still working on the finer points of its beginnings!). Then to Trapani to see the salt pans, apparently they usually have pink flamingos, but it was too windy for them....We then went up to the medieval walled city or Erice, the views over the whole area from this vantage point being 800mtrs above sea level were incredible. There is a castle up there from the 1100s and all the other churches, walls, etc from the 1400s.#trapani #segesta #erice #Sicily #sicilytravel #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #neverstopexploring #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
To get a better shot of the Cannon firing, I waited in the freezing cold at Upper Barrakka Gardens to I could secure this spot, the crowds were 10 deep behind me!! .#vallettacannonshot #vallettasalutingbattery #cannonfire #cannonfireinvalletta #Malta #maltalife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #seeeverythingdoeverything
On the walk around Cremorne Point cooling off after a hot day, beautiful gardens along the way...#cremornepoint #sydneyweekend #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneybythesea #sydneyaustralia #sydneynorthshore #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneylocal #pinkflowers #boatsboatsboats #wildflowers #neverstopexploring #traveltheworldwithme
The Greek Theatre in Taormina built in 300BC, still standing and still showing plays and operas. The views from the top of the auditorium out over the sea and the town are amazing....I think I took about 200 photos!! Slightly excessive, but I couldn't stop πŸ₯‚πŸ€©.#taorminasicily #taormina #greektheatretaormina #teatrogrecotaormina #sicilytravel #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinitaly #neverstopexploring #seeeverythingdoeverything
Right in the centre of Taormina is this over grown 2000 year old Roman Baths, inhabited by stray cats. There is a sign pointing to it, but it's a bit of a mess.....then on the other side of the square is an old Roman theatre, also dating back to the 1st century..#romanbaths #romantheatre #taormina #taorminasicily #solotravel #solotravelinitaly #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #solotravelinsicily
The never ending parade in Taormina continues......#taorminasicily #taormina #sicilytravel #sicilytourism #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
St Thomas' Bay in Marsaskala out on the east coast of Malta is really pretty, I walked all around the harbour and came across St Thomas' Tower built in the early 1600s to repel the invading Ottomans, they were sent packing once they saw what the Maltese were made of!! There were salt Pans along the way, and as usual for Malta, a lookout bunker on every headland..#marsaskala #stthomasbaymalta #stthomastower #maltascats #exploremalta #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #traveladdict #traveltomalta #visitmalta
When I was in Mdina a few days ago, I could see the giant domestic of the Mosta Rotunda off in the distance (have a look at that reel). So I caught the bus to Mosta! The Rotunda was built in the early 1800s, so quite modern by Maltese standards! I walked up 75 steps of the narrow stone spiral staircase into the dome, then back down to check out the WWll air raid shelter underneath, and the bomb that landed here but fortunately didn't explode..#mosta #mostarotunda #mostarotundachurch #maltalife #malta #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #traveladdict #exploretheworld #exploremalta
Friday morning walk to North Sydney before the heat ramped up...#northsydney #walktowork #walkinthepark #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #purpleflowers #morninglight #palmtree #sydneylocal #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #sydneylife #sydneystreets
On the morning commute the sky couldn't make up it's mind - all blue sky and fluffy white clouds in one direction, and very grey in the other.....this continued all day leading into the Australia Day long weekend...#morninginspiration #morningcommute #flowersinthestreets #walkinthepark #whiteflowers #pinkflowers #sydney #sydneystyle #northsydney #stleonardspark #stleonardsparknorthsydney #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Sydney is Christmas ready, the QVB has the tree up. All the shopping centres have hauled the decorations out of storage and put them up, same as usual....they all need to swap decorations to give some variety πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„#christmas #christmastree #qvb #qvbsydney #sydneychristmas #christmasdecorations #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneyarchitecture #decorationsup #shoppinginsydney #myhometown #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
Went off into the countryside to the village of Shere in Surrey, just a short train trip from Waterloo Station, a fabulous pub lunch!!.#shere #englishcountryside #whitehorsepub #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #waterloostationclock #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #magnolias #sherechurch
It was hot, then it got very humid, lots of cloud.....maybe rain later, but there was a nice breeze on the harbour. I'm ready for summer to end....#sydneyharbour #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #lookingforthebreeze #cremornepoint #sydneylocal #sydneyoperhouse #sailingonsydneyharbour #nativeaustralianflowers
Robertson's Lighthouse at Cremorne Point on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, and beautiful plants in the gardens on the walk, and a lovely view of Sydney Harbour Bridge....#cremornepoint #cremornepointwalk #robertsonslighthouse #neverstopexploring #sydneyweekend #sydneynorthshore #sydney #sydneystyle #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneybythesea #sydneyaustralia #sydneylocal #sydneycoastalwalks #blueskyandsunshine #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyharbourbridge
The southern end of the Queen Victoria Building being watched over by Queen Victoria, and Sydney Town Hall across the road...#qvbsydney #queenvictoriabuilding #queenvictoriastatue #sydneytownhall #sydneytownhallclocktower #lightrail #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneylocal
On the way to work this morning, no rain, not too hot, a perfect Sydney day!!#morningcommute #walkinthepark #qvb #queenvictoriabuilding #sydneylightrail #stleonardspark #stleonardsparknorthsydney #sydneyinsummer #sydneylife
Martin Place Christmas tree in Sydney CBD, seems to be a slight change from the usual covered in red and green beach balls, this year I think there are less of them, and a few pink ones have been introduced!! Come on Sydney, can we please have a new design? πŸŽ„πŸ₯‚πŸŽ…πŸŽ„πŸ₯‚πŸŽ„#christmasinsydney #christmastree #martinplacesydney #martinplacechristmastree #sydney #sydneystyle #sydneylife #sydneycbd #sydneychristmas #sydneylocal #sydneyaustralia
Made it back across the Grand Harbour and up on to my terrace in time to watch the 4pm firing of the cannon from the Saluting Battery.#cannonfire #valletta #salutingbatterymalta #solotravel #solotrip #malta #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #maltalife #grandgarbour #grandharbourhotel

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