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Legends and USS Intrepid
Mission: to find somewhere in New York showing the Newcastle match … that kicks off at 7.45 NY time! The heads up from Andrew at Brendan’s (and a quick search on Google to verify!) did indeed reveal that the match would be on at Legend’s Bar bright and early in the morning.
Bright and early we set off, keeping fingers crossed that we’d be able to get breakfast too. The bar seemed remarkably quiet but the barman spotted Jon and Callum’s shirts and duly obliged by switching the TVs near us to the Newcastle game. It soon became obvious there were more fans spirited away down below as cheers and gasps followed the action. Breakfast was available; Callum went for the Irish Bacon Butty, Jon for the eggs, toast and sausage and for myself the eggs, bacon and toast.
It arrived during half time and I have never seen a bacon butty like the one Callum had. Huge doorsteps of bread … but the bacon filling was twice the thickness of the bread … and served with chips!! The Newcastle game was very entertaining – Newcastle unlucky not to get the 3 points. After the game, we went downstairs to see where everyone else was. A giant Toon Army flag on one side of the room and an AVFC flag to the other. The guys insisted on having a Toon fans photos in front of the flag … Chelsea fans also had their flag on display ready for their match against Leicester that was about to kick-off.
Legends had prime position in NYC – step out of the door and look up and you are looking up the side of the Empire State Building! As we were so close, we decided to do the New York Skyride as it was free with the Pass we’d bought. No queue so straight through and into our front row seats on the simulator for the ride around New York City. It was OK – but we would have been very disappointed had we paid the $42 they were wanting for the ride!
From the Empire State Building, we then walked across to the Intrepid Museum at the Hudson River end of 42nd Street (after stopping at Old Navy to stock up on trainer socks!!). Intrepid was a WW2 aircraft carrier that had been converted into a museum housing aeroplanes, helicopters, a space shuttle and concorde. USS Growler (a cold war submarine) was also moored alongside the dock. Overlooking Intrepid was the NCL Cruise Ship – the Norwegian Gem.
On the flight deck was an array of planes from the MIG to the Tomcat, from the Harrier Jump Jet to the Blackbird. Above the flight deck was the superstructure that housed the captain’s bridge, the admiral’s bridge plus the control tower. Callum once again could take control and steer the ship.
The space shuttle was in a large shed erected on the flight deck – unfortunately our tickets didn’t include entry to this part of the ship. Concorde was located on the pier below and you could walk right under it. You imagine it to be so much bigger that it actually was.
Last stop was to go onboard the USS Growler – a submarine that carried nuclear missiles as a deterent to stop the Russians launching an attack on the west. You entered the submarine through the cruise missile bays and walked single file through the submarine. It’s all very narrow and enclosed – I certainly couldn’t live aboard this for any length of time.
After the tour, a well deserved beer (spirite) on the Pier next door that was holding a River Hudson event … we then opted to go to Lombardi’s Pizza after recommendations from friends and rave reviews on Trip Advisor and the DK Guidebooks.
We found it (miles from any subway station) and were given a table in the corridor. Menu choice very limited. Just three choices of pizza and were given the choice of adding on toppings at a cost.
It wasn’t the “cheap” place to eat as inferred by the guidebooks. The pizza was thin crust and nice and crispy … but you felt very rushed and they also got our order wrong. Not the best of meals. Jon’s reached the conclusion that he’s more of a Chicago Pizza guy … the NY Pizzas are not for him (lacking in a cheesy topping).
All in all, a tad disappointing but at least Callum was fed and watered.
Subway back up to 33rd Street – this time Line 6 on the Green line – and a walk back to the hotel. We nearly ended up heading up the Empire State Building but decided against it. Callum was desperate for the loo so swung the vote and we headed back to the hotel at speed! Whilst the queue was just 25 mins, it started to rain just after we arrived back so not the best night to go up the Empire State Building.
A nightcap in the lobby of the hotel before heading up to the 31st Floor and bed.
