21 John and  Pat in NYC

North Cove Marina, New York, NY.

Had coffee, bran muffins, and apple fritters for breakfast at a nearby Starbucks, then took a taxi up to Pier 83 to get tickets for the 1030 hrs. Circle Line tour of Manhattan.  John had particularly wanted to take this tour.  We got the tickets and waited and waited for John. Finally I went on board to save some seats.  John arrived at about 1025 hrs., but they kept boarding latecomers for another quarter of an hour anyway.  This was the three-hour tour completely around Manhattan, with a side trip to the Statue of Liberty, and even Mary and I enjoyed it.  The guide was excellent; he knew his stuff and presented it well, but he seemed sad and bleary, like an old, broken-down actor.  When we got back we walked up to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St Patrick’s cathedral, and, after much back and forth and more walking, we finally had lunch at the Stage Deli. After lunch we taxied back to the North Cove Marina to be there in time for our friend Eliza Bates, who arrived a little after 1600 hrs. After Rusty Nails, we walked around the end of the island, then back to the C to pick up John’s luggage and deliver him to the subway.  Eliza, Mary, and I then walked miles in search of a place to have wine and a snack, but most places were closed and we finally ended up at the Millenium Hilton just opposite ground zero. Eliza told about a friend of a friend who was about to jump from a 90th floor window when the building collapsed, and rode all the way down standing in the window frame and SURVIVED! After saying goodnight to Eliza, we read the time-line for 9/11 and then walked back to the C and bed.

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