40a New York Day 1

Having spent over a week in NY last year, today we were taking it easy. So
easy that we spent an hour in the M & M store just playing around .. as you
do!!
A couple of photos of Times Square, just to prove that we were there, then
straight down to Macy's for some Garry shopping. If you are reading this
and planning a visit to the USA, remember when purchasing anything from
Macy's, offer your passport as you will receive an extra 10% off (except for
anything too heavily discounted).
Our other shop of choice today was Sketchers, and in order to find my size
in the shoe of my choice, we visited all four of their stores in Manhattan.
The benefit, was that we did explore a few more streets in New York.
The clouds grew progressively darker throughout the day and just as we
finished our shopping the heavens opened. The rain poured down and the
lightening flashed, and unlike Sydney hardly any buildings have any
semblance of an awning. Our only option was to duck into a diner for a
coffee and a bowl of chips.
Time was ticking by and we waited till the rain lightened and we made our
dash back to the ship in order to head back out for the second Table 84
farewell dinner. Gigino is a restaurant on the waterfront down near Battery
Park that is situated on the tip of Manhattan overlooking the Statue of
Liberty. Now not sure if I misread it or Maps Me was misinformed, but it
told me it would take 45 min to walk. hmm lucky I wasn't too trusting of
this information as we have walked a lot of Manhattan and everything is
further than what it seems.
We walked out of the terminal, not a taxi to be seen, and when they passed
they just kept going; Subway too far away, maybe bus, which bus? Damn no
wifi.. Pass the Intrepid we walk hmm no taxi's stopping for us here. next
the ferry terminal, seems like there is some action going on here . maybe
someone is catching a cab here.. Let's wait. bingo. gotcha. We drove, we
drove, and we drove . I think the 45min walk was actually misread as it was
at least a 45min drive. Arriving just a little late, we then enjoyed a
lovely dinner with our friends, who won't see again until after we reach
Sydney.
The taxi back to Pier 88 was not so bad as the traffic was nowhere near as
heavy. The only thing that held us up here was the uncooperative flybridge
that had us all sitting in the terminal for an extra half an hour - lucky we
are overnighting here!