On the way to the theatre, via the subway again, Dawn took us to Grand Central Station- a Beaux Arts gem, – vast, 3 arched 75ft windows in the main concourse and an impressive zodiac ceiling design with 2,500 stars. A reminder of the glorious days of rail travel- now 1/2 million passengers pass through each day.

Then to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Gothic style, exterior wall is white marble, largest catholic cathedral in the US- Wow – massive bronze entry doors depict saints of NY (20,000lb each), beautiful stained glass, ornate statues and sculptures and soaring ceiling and nave, spires rise 330′ -101 metres above the pavement. We arrived just as 12 noon mass started so also got to hear the great pipe organ- more than 7000 pipes, singing and bell ringing.

A walk through Times Square was also fun – so much to see including the Naked Cowboy who posed for a photograph (I didn’t see other women posing with him so missed my opportunity!!) Dawn has lived in NY area for about 11 years now and knows the city very well- we have been most fortunate to have our very own guide through the most significant and busy streets (North/South) and avenues (East/West) that we have only seen in pictures and heard stories about before. A great city and so much more to see on the next trip!

Has been very exciting catching up with my host family from AFS days – I last saw them all in 1976 – and also we have enjoyed a BDO in Manhattan, and a visit to Philadelphia.

After 31 years it’s hard to describe the feeling of catching up with family! It’s been great! All the family are now living within about 2 hours of each other here in New Jersey and Philadelphia. As you can imagine a fair bit of talking, reminiscing and picture-taking. We all look a little different of course. While in Philadelphia we visited the Liberty Bell – symbol of the fight for freedom and a reminder that liberties gained can also be lost.

On Monday Dawn, an expert guide, took Mark and I into downtown Manhattan via the light rail (good views from the tracks) and subway. Our first stop was “Top of the Rock” – observation deck in the Rockefeller center – 67 floors up in a matter of seconds for a magnificent panorama of Manhattan – central New York City, North, East, South, West – huge skyscrapers, distinctive architecture, well-known icons and Central Park. Distinctive sites include the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Municipal Building- a vast area- 14 buildings make up the Rockefeller center alone- first complex in the world to integrate shopping, offices, entertainment, gardens and dining- erected bt 1957-1973. Has an ice skating rink in winter which becomes an outdoor dining area in summer. A huge bronze “Atlas” stands at the main entrance.
We bought lunch at Whole Foods on Columbus Square – a huge store with a vast array of salads, hot and cold dishes, desserts, breads, pastries, drinks etc, etc and took ourselves into Central Park and a shady spot on one of the 9,000 benches to eat and watch some of New York go by on the 58 miles of pathways.

More walking through the park took us to the Guggenheim Museum of Contemporary and Modern Art www.guggenheim.org – the building itself an interesting masterpiece designed by Frank Lloyd Wright – a huge ramp curves up from the ground toward a dome where you see few Picasso, Chagall, Kadinsky, van Gogh and others.

A subway ride then took us to South Seaport we enjoyed a 1 hour cruise around the New York Harbour and Hudson River – another perspective of the downtown architecture, the exciting cityscape and of course grand views of the Statue of Liberty 93m high from ground to torch made of 24 carat gold leaf-a gift from France to the US.

Feeling a bit peckish at this point- 6pm so headed across town via Wall Street – Stock Market building, Trump building etc to the Wintergarden, part of the World Financial Center, via Ground Zero – a huge hole in the ground where reconstruction is already underway. Work is occurring on the first and tallest structure, the Freedom Tower, and eventually four other tower buildings on the site. We dined on a promenade over-looking the harbour with views of the Statue of Liberty in the background. Home via the subway at 9pm- 12 hours later.

Great to see Dawn, my host sister, again after 31 years and to meet her husband Jim. Lots of catching up on family news, photos and old friends.

Dawn and Jim live on about 3/4 acre in the South Orange area of Newark city about 30 mins by train from downtown Manhattan NY. It is very quiet here – hardly believe you are in such a big city – lots of trees and space. Tonight Dawn and Jim are on a long planned overnight sponsored walk around downtown Manhattan to help raise funds for a suicide prevention programme. Mark and I are doing the washing and hopefully getting those photos closer to the blog!!