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Finished up in London as busy as can be - with the coordination of the works to the apartment and tourist outings. We decided that Marian would stay on another week in London to oversee the contractors, which still had a bit to do over that week. I kept to the (revised) program and headed across to New York on Wednesday afternoon. I'm busy getting the apartment set up, which to date has mostly been research online and walking around the local 'hood going to shops (so I've been acting very much like a 'local' so far with no focus on being a tourist). I haven't achieved very much yet in terms of furnishings, but it's in motion and a reasonable number of deliveries are coming this week. Marian arrives on Wednesday afternoon. It's great here - very different to Europe and Australia - definitely a unique character. I'm really enjoying walking around the local area. I've collated some initial observations about New York (well, at least my small 'hood in NY from about 72nd to 86th from Broadway to Central Park West - which on the map of Manhattan isn't very big!):

1. It's hot - like shorts and T-shirt - up to 30c; 
2. It's noisy - that's a NYC thing - but it's noisy - I've just about gotten used to it; 
3. It's green - seems odd - but the streets and avenues are fully lined - very attractive; 
4. It's historic - our neighbourhood has a lot of heritage buildings - very characterful. Generally, the east-west cross streets are of a residential character, the north-south avenues commercial; 
5. It's busy - surprising how many people there are - just everywhere - very vibrant - not tourists. Every cafe and restaurant is busy most of the time - and there's a lot - in addition to all the people walking around; 
6. It's expensive - quite surprising - inflation has clearly hit hard and the $AUD is weak; 
7. It's huge - along the avenues there are shops/restaurants continuously, with no theming, so its an eclectic mix for miles; 
8. It's dog central - being residential and near the 2 biggest parks (Central Park and Riverside Park), there are lots of dogs going for walks in the streets - very cute; 
9. It's safe - or it at least seems safe - I haven't seen a policeman which is surprising, other than a few directing traffic at an intersection. 

Here's some pics.......

Mayfair on the day after the Coronation - still pomp in the streets...

London pubs are awesome - this is the upstairs dining room in a a tiny one just off Carnaby Street...

The spring flowers are still in bloom - here in Victoria Embankment Gardens....

We went to see Phantom of the Opera (about 2min walk from our apartment) - I thought it was awesome - better than expected....

The green land of England - on the way out after leaving Heathrow....

Coming in to land at JFK Airport New York....

This is our apartment building - our apartment has the three windows above the curved entrance (one with the aircon)....

Looking down at the lounge from the mezzanine - the bedroom's in the door to the right - ceilings are high (about 3.2m). An Ikea bed frame on the floor awaiting my attention....

View outside front door looking east - Central Park at end of street.....

Historic Brownstones further up street on right - the street (West 76th Street) was the first historic preservation precinct - now there's lots of them....

At the end of our street you cross Central Park West to Central Park - this is taken south partway across the crossing.....

Looking up to right of above view....

Architectural extravaganza - the Ansonia apartment building on Broadway.....

Gray's Papaya is a hot doggery (yes 'doggery') of note - awesome....

Picturesque historic fire station nearby....

You need to remember to look up - there's colour and interest all over....

The Dakota Apartments (famous for John Lennon and many others). It was the first building of note in the mid 1800's on the Upper West Side - thought bizarre at the time as it was standing in fields. Rapid development followed - our street was built out in the 1890's......

I've made one small venture into Central Park to walk off an awesome Chicken Tikka Saagwalla. These are the San Remo towers near our street. The lake was originally a swamp/marsh and was designed as a skating pond which was hugely popular in the mid 1800's....

Reflections 1....

Reflections 2....

Reflections 3....

On Sunday there's a huge market (flea/vintage clothes/artisan/food) just next to us in the school grounds. It was good fun and I got a T-shirt, sold to me by the guy who makes them - from Melbourne!....

The light was good on the way back to the apartment - our stairs on the left....

Random intersection walking down Columbus Avenue - looking west at about 74th Street....

The Althorp apartment complex on Broadway - used for the Steve Martin/Martin Short comedy 'Only Murders in the Building'

I ducked over for a quick look at Riverside Park on the western edge of the Upper West Side of Manhattan - it's very green and well used, but noisy from the freeway through it! I think most of the waterfront along Manhattan is connected, so the people on bikes can go a long way (I think)....