Sunrise at CRRNJ

What with Wall street being closed on a Saturday we headed to Liberty State Park in the morning to have a view across the Hudson river to Manhattan. Stunning.



The 7.00am live - orange on the left red on the right,



And then the sun came up...



Being at the end of the park not near much breakfast was a minor affair - not much at all. Don had got some nuts, mini pretzels and nutri-grain bars to help but a muffin it wasn't. Karine wondered off at somestage and came back with some hot dogs - filling but still not a muffin.

The view was good though.



Tonka needs to model their sat truck on Don's pride and joy. What a cool toy that would be!!



The big dish.



CRRNJ stands for the Central Railroad of New Jersey. We were next to the old terminal (station) building which was now used for ferrys departing to Ellis Island and trips round the Statue of Liberty.



When the immigrants came over from Europe two thirds of them having been processed missed out Manhattan entirely and boarded trains here for the rest of the country. It must have been very inspiring seeing the growing city with its skyscrapers over the river.



Sadly the station had also been left to rot, in a state of huge disrepair but at least it hasn't been torn down and rebuilt.



Staged or not some of the original fittings and platform hand carts seem to have been abandoned where they were left.



Despite the glorious sunny day by the time we left at 5pm we were all starving and starting to feel grumpy. As soon as the car turned up to collect us we headed to McDonalds for some quick and easy food to eat on the way back to the hotel. Did it make a difference to blood sugar levels or what.

Our hotel was fully booked so we moved to the Gild Hall hotel about 2 blocks from Wall Street, and cheaper to boot. Not only cheaper but staff who smiled and made you feel really welcome - large rooms too. I could lay all my boxes in a long line - space!!

Dinner was supplied by Les Halles - Anthony Bourdain's rotisserie again only a couple of blocks form the hotel. Jam packed it was another great meal - a platefull of fresh Maine mussels in a tomato and chorizo sauce followed by flambed bananas in honey. All these meals with good company - this trip was a gudun!