Ice Gal's: Sunshine In The City

Well, it was a regular morning mostly, and the first morning with sunshine. I got up early. 5:30 like I have been doing here at isolated hotel. I just can’t seem to sleep much later here.

Venturing out of the room in my jammies, and hoodie I proceeded to the breakfast area, and filled up jet boil with hot water from the instant coffee machine. Unlimited hot water and unlimited little packages of half & half have been the perks of staying here. Okay a pool, and a laundry would have been nice too, but koffee is important to me.

Back in the room I infuse a pot of Kaladi using Jet Boils koffee press. Most morning I have been forced to drink the entire pot as my traveling compadre has been sleeping late, but this morning she surprises me and is awake and drinking koffee by 6:45

At almost 7 I go back up to get breakfast. Breakfast has been consistent here. It’s been ready before 7 every morning, and every morning there have been the hotel special little cheese omelets, and some type of sausage, toast, tater tots, who knew tots were for breakfast. There has been juice and of course instant coffee from the instant coffee/hot water machine.

The absolute oddest thing about staying here is the light switches for the entry hall, and bathroom are emotion detection switches, that turn off the bathroom light when you are in the shower, and only turn the light back on if you widely wave your arm and send a stream of suds over the shower curtain. The one in the hall will come on if you are just sitting and move slightly, I had to mask it with a paper taped over its sensor. Its better off than having it come on when you roll over in bed.

Today the sun is shining, first time since we have been here, and today we are venturing out into the world using the city’s subway system, and just so we do not get lost our friend from Queens, Richard is coming to be our guide.

End Of The Line Coney Island

He tells us we can meet him at some station, but we hold out for him coming all the way to the end of the line at Coney Island, and he does.

Once we are all together, we hop on a train and are carried away faster than most cars can travel here. Our first stop is Green wood cemetery.

Greenwood Cemetery

Green wood is huge, and quite ancient. Obelisk, and mausoleums dominate the landscape. We are here in search of the legendary Catacombs

We march uphill across most of the grounds, and with the help of google we locate the catacombs, only to discover that they are locked, and there is no way to enter. That’s two catacombs that I haven’t been able to visit. First the one in Paris, and now this one.

Back at the cemetery entrance we made a plan to go walk the Brooklyn bridge. We determine that it is approximately 4 miles away, that is to far to walk so we summon a Uber.

Our Uber arrives promptly and soon we are whisked off into traffic, and the 4-mile ride takes about 45 minutes, before we are dropped off near the start of the path over the bridge.

Hay Mr. You Wanna Buy A Bridge?

The bridge opened in 1883, and it cost 1 cent to cross on foot. 5 cents for a horse, and 10 cents for a horse and wagon. Cows were 5 cents each, and sheep or hogs were a bargain at 2 cents each.

The bridge was also sold multiple times by a con man named George C . The phrase “If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you” Was because of his cons.

No one was selling the bridge the day we walked it, and there were no farm animals, just lots of people enjoying the sunshine, and the views. There were however a plethora of trinket sellers on the Manhattan side. There were so many people selling items made for the land fill that it reminded me of touring in Central America. The only thing missing were women in colorful costumes with arms dangling with necklaces, as they pushed their way to you.

Once in Manhattan our pal took us down to the Titanic light house in the old maritime part of town. Next up was authentic New York Pizza. Mine was square and delicious.

Real New York Pizza

It was getting time to get back, and so our pal led us to the trains and rode with until he was sure we could find our way back. He then jumped off our train and got on one headed to his home.

Riding The Rails New York Style

We managed just fine. We were anxious to get back to the hotel because it was our last night on land, and we needed to pack up and get ready to embark on Queen Mary in the morning.

The Queen At The Brooklyn Terminal

The boarding was quite orderly, we only had to wait a hour or so before the ship was ready to board.

Our room was easy to find, and we had plenty of time for lunch, and to have our cards scanned at our muster station.

Sail away was right on schedule, and soon we were crossing under the Verrazzano Bridge. This is always exciting no matter what ship you are on as the clearance in only a few feet.