Midtown
 

Many of the city landmark sights and buildings are in Midtown New York.

Central Park

Approaching the park from the south we passed this fountain cooling down the office workers in the sunshine.

After strolling around the lakes in the park we flopped on the rocky boulders and discovered it was a great spot for people watching!

Empire State Building

We set out early one morning and joined the queue to go to the top of the most famous skyscraper in the world.

It's the tallest building in New York and is 102 floors high, on the 86th floor is the observatory.

Looking north we could see Central Park,

looking north east we spotted the art deco Chrysler Building evoking memories of the golden age of motoring with its stainless steel spire,

and looking south we saw Lower Manhattan and in the distance the Statue of Liberty.

The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

The SS Intrepid is a World War II US aircraft carrier which is now a museum,

which tells the story of the ship's role during the war and exhibits various fighter planes from around the globe.

On the flight deck John enjoyed identfying the planes from World War II to the latest supersonic jet fighters.
 

McDonnell-Douglas/British Aerospace - AV-8A Harrier Jump Jet was used during the Falklands War in 1982.

Supermarine F-1 Scimitar fighter-bomber of the Fleet Air Arm of the British Royal Navy has the distinction of being the last aircraft designed by Supermarine, the company that built the legendary Spitfire.

Grumman TS-2 Tracker is a special aircraft that could locate and attack enemy submarines.

 

We also went on board a British Airways concorde, which was surprsingly small inside.

Visitors can also take a tour of the USS Growler nuclear missile submarine.

The New York Public Library

The New York Public LIbrary is as majestic inside as outside.  The library's bronze front doors open into the magnificent marble Astor Hall, flanked by a sweeping double staircase leading to the Main Reading Room.

Further along 42nd Street is Grand Central Terminal 

This station opened in 1913 and we were transported back to those glamourous days of early train travel as we stood in the main concourse admiring the gold chandeliers, the pink marble facade and the famous four faced clock on top of the information booth.

The Rockefeller Center

Near Times Square is the Rockefeller Center guarded by Atlas

St. Patrick's Cathedral is also close by.

This Gothic revival building is the largest catholic cathedral in the United States.

The United Nations Building

After the Second World War New York was chosen as the site for the UN headquarters and flags of the member nations fly in front of the complex.

At the visitors' centre plaza are some amazing sculptures.  Can you see us in the reflection?

This sculpture entitled "Non violence" is a large replica in bronze of a 45-calibre revolver, the barrel of which is tied into a knot.  It was created in 1980 as a peace symbol by artist Karl Fredrik Reutersward.


 

The Flatiron District

The district takes its name from the landmark Flatiron Building, whose distinctive, 20-storey, triangular form was once the tallest building in New York. Also here is Madison Square Park, a lovely little park dominated by the tall buildings surrounding it.

The Flatiron Building is noted for its unusual triangular shape.	The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company building is a familiar part of New York's evening skyline with its huge four sided clock.

Union Square is further south along Broadway.

The square holds a popular market, where farmers from all over New York state come to sell their fresh organic produce and we definitely recommend the Union Square cafe if ever you're feeling peckish.

John and Paul next to the equestrian statue of George Washington.

Greenwich Village

At the heart of the village is Washington Square.  The marble arch completed in 1895 marks the centenary of George Washington's inauguration.

Greenwich has always attracted an artistic, academic and literary set.  I spotted a couple of "free spirits" mingling amongst the crowds!

75 ½ Bedford Street is the narrowest house in New York.  Several poets and actors have lived here including Cary Grant.

We kept seeing this sculpture being driven around New York during our week long stay.

Lower Manhattan, Wall Street

No 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza with Jean Dubuffet's huge sculpture, "Four Trees"

Looking upwards it's almost as if the skyscrapers were closing in on us.

See other photos from our holiday in New York as we visited the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, Ellis Island and took a trip on the Staten Island Ferry.

See the photos from some of our other holidays.