Brooklyn Sunshine

Yesterday was so hot here (30 degrees) that I actually got sunburnt sitting in Brooklyn Bridge Park.  My friends went to meet old college mates of theirs for breakfast and I opted to sit in the sunshine,chill out and read a book here.  Dumbo(Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is the location where the two bridges (Brooklyn and Manhattan) meet on the Brooklyn side of the water.

People watching is an amazing thing to do over here (and free) and in my hour of sitting in the park I saw a wedding party and some people filming and loads of beautiful people sunbathing.  The park was really busy as to be expected on such a sunshiney day everybody out enjoying the great weather.

After this we all walked across Brooklyn Bridge which was damn hot and very busy, make sure you stick to the walkers side..or you face the 'near death' peril of being run over by a New York cyclist or at least being severely told off ...(Mark if you stood in front of one of these guys you'd definitely come off second best).  This is a must do the views are incredible and it's a nice way to see both sides of the city and not be trapped underground in the subway.  If you get hot you can get ice cold water for only a dollar from nice guys standing on the bridge.

Then after having a huge roast beef sandwich in the Wintergarden (you can order half sandwiches as servings are so big not only in size, but in that the fillings are jam packed,not that I'm complaining about too much meat :))and sitting outside to chill out - great views and relaxing atmosphere.

You can also take pictures of Ground Zero from here (if you're interested in doing that) more interesting to me was the art installation by Andrew Zuckerman 'Wisdom'  ---> see quote on right.

After this, it was off to the Guggenheim which you visit for free on Saturday between 5:45pm and 7:45pm.  If you come to NY check which days are free days for the various galleries and museums otherwise you'll end up spending a lot more cash than is necessary.  The MOMA and the Whitney is Friday - just for the heads up.  The Guggenheim is lovely but honestly not worth $18 they're asking for the entry.

Then we got picked up by Lynne's friend and drove to an Indian restaurant Milon in East Village for dinner. (love this area)The food was nice but it is more about the atmosphere and the energy in this place. The ceiling is covered with hundreds of Xmas lights that hang down really low (warning if you're taller than 5.5")If you tell one of the waiters it's your birthday, the lights will start flashing and while the entire restaurant claps along the waiters who sing you a Bangra version of Happy Birthday, with accompanying loud music... Oddly enough it just happened to be one of our birtdays ;)

After dinner it was off to the Yaffa Cafe for a couple of very yummy and morish passionfruit champagnes while discussing the perils of drop bears in the Australian bush, bike seats, good vibrations and the very real danger of ski lifts it was back to the subway and to bed...

Today 'business class B' leaves and although I've tried to convince her to run away with me but she's having none of it and much to my annoyance is going back to work :(  Next week...wait for it cheap week....from 'economy class Mel'..