2009-07-04

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pej@pejnron.com
ron@pejnron.com

Click the sun to see the
weather in Buenos Aires!


	*We continue playing tourists!*




		Having a sandwich and some ice tea before the tour.

Really impressive. I love when I’m impressed in something I wasn’t expecting. I thought seeing it, “It’s just a monument, so what?” But when you’re there, and you realize everything it symbolizes, all the hopes and dreams of people who have immigrated to America, our ideals, the opportunities, it gets very emotional and overwhelming. They said they picked the place for the statue because if you are coming in by ship, as you round the lower tip of Manhattan, the city starts revealing herself, and right there in front of you is the Statue of Liberty to welcome you to America, WOW!




	A model showing the armature of the statue.


	This is the original torch, they modified it multiple times, trying to get the torch to look as if it was lit up, the result let in lots of water and caused severe deterioration. They replaced it with a solid torch covered in gold leaf, the original design.



		The statue has been closed to tourists since 9/11, they cut some viewing panels in the ceiling so that you could look up inside the statue, VERY COOL!




		The said the statue was going to be reopened to tourists to be able to climb up to the head again on July 4th, I guess this means I’ll have to return to New York some day to do it. There was a lot of security just to get into the base of the statue, liking going through the airport.




		Brings tears to your eyes when you’re actually there.


	Elis Island. It had been closed since the 1930s and had fallen into horrible disrepair. Luckily, the government made it a historical landmark and has been renovating it as a national park.


		The first entrance hall, originally this room was filled with benches for people to wait before being processed.


	This was really cool, approaching from one direction you saw the USA flag and as you past, it morphs into peoples faces.


	Some cool posters. This one warns what can happen to a woman and her reputation if she sleeps around!


	I love these old posters, this one is an advertisement for steerage on a ship.


	Living in Argentina for the last 9 years, I can really relate to this quote.




		Happy hour day 6!




			This was a Brazilian restaurant so we had to have another Caipirinha.





		We were just going to have drinks but the food went by and looked really good so we thought we’d eat in the bar and have a quick dinner before the show.


	That night’s show was “Mamma Mia!” and this restored my faith in the quality of shows you would expect to see on Broadway, simply wonderful, amazing set changes, great music, great performances, great fun..


	The next day we were taking the subway to the Guggenheim museum. While waiting for the subway car I noticed an advertisement for condos in Brooklyn with a view of Manhattan. At first I just saw the developer’s concept art work, but then I noticed some graffiti that someone had added.


	There was a shark in the pool.


	Some lewd behavior in the hot tub.


	And a “I’ll take Manhattan” sentiment With little musical notes around it. Funny stuff!




		The Guggenheim, a fantastic structure designed my Frank Lloyd Wright.




			The interior walk way spirals up with galleries off every floor.



				So cool!




		This was a curtain for a theatre designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, WOW!


	After the museum, we walked a little through Central Park, I loved looking at the apartments surrounding the park and wondering what they looked like inside. Although it was only mid June, when the sun came out it was HOT and humid! I can see where New York must be terrible in July/Aug.






			A very bizarre sculpture in the park next to the Church.











		Happy hour day 7!






		Then we went to St. John’s Cathedral which they say is bigger then Notre Dame in Paris.









		That afternoon we stopped at “Don’t Tell Mama” for a drink and an early dinner before the show. There was a little outside dining area in front where we sat.



We never knew where we would be during the day, so we never planned to visit any famous restaurants, we just stopped at neighborhood places when the time was right. I was surprised how affordable the restaurants were and the meals were excellent.



	Trying to read all the tiny print in the maps and guide books was becoming exceedingly difficult so I finally broke down, swallowed my pride, admitted to Ron I couldn’t see a damn thing and bought my first pair of magnifier glasses so I could see the menus and guide books! Hummmpth!

We were walking around Times Square when I saw this girl carrying around one of those walking display placards over her shoulders. The sign displayed "39 Steps" and I thought, "Wow, that's an old Hitchcock movie." But then the sign said "Hilariously funny!" I stopped her and asked, "Isn't that an old Hitchcock movie?", and she says, "It sure is!" I said, "But it's not a comedy, it's a suspense thriller!". She replied, "They made a comedy based on the movie, four actors play 135 roles!" As she's talking a woman walks by and says, "I saw that last night, it's great!" So, I thought, why not? Besides, play tickets are about $125 for the good seats and she was offering 50% off coupons.
The play was hilarious, the plot barely made any sense but the whole enjoyment was watching the actors throw on disguises, hats, wigs and pantomiming around. Really fun and creative.