Sam got stabby!

The day started a little overcast but still fairly warm. Having watched the weather the night before, it seemed today was going to be the better day, with the possibility of showers. It was, therefore, decided to do the outdoor stuff today as best we can and Sam was intent on using the bus and trains more. There was a subway station just by the hotel which is where we got our metro tickets and headed off to Central Park. We passed by the apple store to begin with. 

The store, apparently, is underground, under the big glass cube. Kind of interesting. 

Took a moment to look about and snap a few snaps before wandering into Central Park. 

We then went to Central Park zoo. It's a small zoo in comparison with most other zoos, but its packed with great animals. The first stop was the tropical enclosure. As soon as we walked in, we were hit by very high humid temperatures and I think both me and Sam broke into instant sweat. But it was great. It was a huge avert and birds flew freely inside with enclosures on the side for those animals not trusted to wander around, like...... Snakes.

I do like my birdies. There were some very pretty species and a couple we would be familiar with. I took a look in some of the offshoot enclosures but Sam didn't, a little afraid they'd be snakes in there. Don't say I blame her, I'm the same with spiders but I did find some cute little fellas. 

No he's not dead he's just very very laaaaaaazy. 

Lots of lazy lazy animals in the tropics. 

It was a relief to come out of the tropical zone into the heat of the city and continue our zoo visit. 

Here is a snow monkey eating the berries that fell into the lake. 

Nesting crane. Shhhhhh don't disturb her. 

Red panda, typical he looked he the wrong way as I clicked. 

Snow leopard. What's with all this laziness? 

And this is the best picture I could get of the polar bear. He was cowering for shade in the heat, I felt bad for him and hatched a plan to break him free and send him back to the North Pole but it was hot and I was lazy, so, I left him alone. 

Quack! 

Here are some empower penguins discussing the issues they face, living side by side with penguins from other ethnic origins. 

While here, we see one such empower penguins getting on famously with on such penguins from another ethnic background. Lesson here is, don't be hatin' just eat yer fish and squawk! 

I tried to take one of those cool penguin underwater swimming shots and this happened...

Then this.

I don't think I'll get that job with the BBC wildlife photography department. As I was deleting the tonne of crappier shots from my iPad, one just swam by in the perfect place. He was mocking me, so I ate an egg sandwich right in front of him. Ha! Well, in my mind I was.

Some more ducks and puffins, yay! It was not breeding season, so they didn't have their brightly coloured bills but they were great to watch as they frolicked in the water. 

This is an owl. My mum likes owls. This owl is for mum..... Moving on..

The famous Central Park soon clock doing its thing at mid day. 

I loved this shot. Just to remind me, this zoo and the beautiful park is smack bang in the middle of one of the world's largest city's. as if I could forget. 

The seal lions were being shy as well I don't think he liked me though. I went up to the water's edge and started humming the jaws theme tune at him. Just when he thought he was safe! After that, he didn't swim my way again, so here we have a shot of his pool and no sea loin. Sorry.

Instead of getting cloudier with potential showers, as predicted, it cleared up a gorgeous blue sky and got warmer. It was time to see another park, the high line. After using two buses, Sam was all over the busses, we found it. The high line was an old railroad cutting down the side of the city that is no longer In use. So rather than tear is down, the turned it into a park. Not only is it well done, but it gives people walking to and from work or whatever a slice of green without having to worry about crossing streets. They are continuously adding to it and we only managed a small slice, taking rest stops as often as we could find one. 

It's rather strange. You are aware your elevated and off the ground but your in a park, with trees and plants

The trouble is, we hadn't done an excessive amount of walking, we had been resting regularly all day but my leg was starting to feel really sore. I would of loved to do more of the park but I had to get off my leg before I done too much damage. I had some days to go, I didn't need to be laid up for the rest of my time here. 

We got a cab back to the hotel and I took a bath, which Sam broke the whirlpool part of it the night before, so I claim, as it didn't work. 

We were supposed to see the 9/11 monument that night but we wouldn't get there now, so it was rescheduled. Instead, once I felt recovered, it was decided to climb the Empire State Building again. This time at about sunset so I could take some photos of the city with its lights on. We done it before and it was mainly queuing and lifts so, shouldn't bee too much strain. 

WRONG!

We bought our tickets online so we avoided most of the ticket que. Security wasn't an issue but it took forever to get through. The lifts were packed and when we finally got to the top, the observation deck was solid. So difficult to get anywhere near the edge to get any good shots and moving around the deck was pushing and shoving room only. 

That's about as good as it got. I found Sam after leaving her in a safe place to go try get some shots of my own. Something she was happy to do, wait, that is. I decided that was enough it was time to get down. Unless I was going to wait for hours to get to the front of the line I doubt I'll ever get a shot better. Getting back down was just as bad as getting up. 

I have decided that New York has no idea how to organise anything where volumes of people are included. On the way down I could see Sam's teeth grinding especially when we were stuck by the tour guide asking for his audio guides back in that chipper happy kinda way and I was kinda glad Sam didn't bring her penknife else things could of got.... Bloody!

I was told that after the 9/11 first attack, the Empire State Building was evacuated but judging by the way these people were packed in, there is no way that happened in a reasonable, safe time. I am glad that I managed to get up the Empire State in November as this experience of it was not great. 

Stabby stabby!

I think we're were also tired so that didn't help matters. We headed back to the hotel for a couple of drinks and then, it was time for bed.