Semi-live 48 day adventure: Prima, Getaway, Dawn, and beyond

[Sugar Magnolia]

8 minutes ago, Travelicious said:

Did not see many vendors.  But plenty of people standing in the middle of the walkways taking selfies or photos of each other.

 

Mayor Adams cleared out the vendors on the Brooklyn Bridge back in January, knowing your pending arrival. Unfortunately, he was unable to shoo away the pesky tourists today.

 

Glad you are enjoying the NYC sights and sounds and smells.

 

Edited April 24 by Sugar Magnolia

[PelicanBill]

Commenting to follow, especially for the Getaway which I am on in November. 

This is a lot of pages of discussion before you have even started!

it's a fantastic plan.

 

[Travelicious]

Whew!  What a day!  I woke up around 5:00 this morning, having slept well.  Pookie decided to play games on her phone during the night for at least 2 hours, so she was conked out while I was up making coffee, getting showered, etc. I decided to try to find Mama Jo’s Breakfast Cart, thinking if I brought back food the wonderful aroma would arouse Pookie.

 

I found what appeared to be a popular cart, but about a block from where Google tells me Mama Jo’s should be (but wasn’t).  I got us both an egg, cheese and meat roll and a cup of coffee.  No photos because, you know, I often forget to take pics before scarfing it down.  
 

Sure enough, arriving back at the room Pookie woke up and prepared to eat.  The sandwiches were huge, and I should have just gotten one to split.  Neither of us could eat much over half.  We usually drink black coffee, but the cart personnel did not ask.  It had creamer and was lightly sweetened.  It was nice though.

 

After 2 days, we are getting our bearings on navigating the subway system.  I actually made a plan before getting breakfast this morning, so we set shortly after breakfast.

 

It took a bit over an hour to make it to Coney Island Beach.  Most of the restaurants on the boardwalk were beginning to open, and the rides were in operation without passengers when we first arrived.  There were people around, but it was not at all crowded - a first since arriving in NY.

 

I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more to it.  After we walked past the boardwalk restaurants and carnival rides, we walked onto the pier, and that was about it. 

 

[Travelicious]

We stopped back by one of the restaurants and split a lobster roll and a beer.  The lobster roll was the cold variety.  It was good, but I prefer hot.  Anyway, it was only enough for a few bites each. 
 

On the advice of other CCers, we walked on down to Brighton Beach and the in a block to check out some of the Russian neighborhood and businesses.  It wasn’t long before we were ready to head back to Manhattan.  Since it was still early, we were thinking of going to the upper part of Central Park, as we didn’t make it that far on Tuesday.  The plan was to explore Little Italy and eat at Katz tomorrow.

 

But, alas, plans changed due to necessity.  We entered the subway station near Brighton Beach only to find out that no trains had run in some time.  We were told there must be a problem.  We later heard there was a fire somewhere along the line, though I didn’t find out exactly where.

 

We decided to find somewhere to sit down and have a drink while we figured it out.  We couldn’t seem to find such a place while looking, though I’m sure there are plenty around.  Instead, we found a shady spot to try to figure out how to get back to Manhattan.  It appeared a bus would be along in about 30 minutes, so we found the bus stop and began the wait.  I looked up something else, and when I put to info back in Google maps that particular bus option had disappeared.  So we weren’t sure if it was coming.

 

I checked out the price of Uber, which was $101.  We decided to wait another 10 minutes to see if the bus was going to come, and if not we’d bite the bullet and summon an Uber. 
 

A few minutes later, we heard an overhead noise and Pookie said, “Is that the train?”  Sure enough!  We headed up to the subway station and asked the attendant to make sure before paying to pass through the turnstiles.  He said only Uptown was running.  Perfect!

 

We hopped on and made a new plan to get off at Canal Street and go ahead with the things we had planned for tomorrow in the lower East side.  Not being hungry yet, we wondered toward Little Italy.  OMG!  The aromas were fantastic, and we would have eaten there if I didn’t have my mind set on Katz.  
 

Before long, we were winding through Chinatown before heading on to Katz.  By now, it was getting a bit warm, and the layers we had on for the quite cold morning were starting to come off.  Pookie was getting tired, which is kind of surprising considering she used to walk 15 miles per day for work.  But that was before the middle of last September when she fell and broke her shoulder, which kept her out on worker’s comp until retirement.

 

Anyhoo, we finally made it to Katz only to find a line about half a block long.  No thanks!  No telling how long that would take.  So we found the nearest subway station that would get us back to Midtown.

[Travelicious]

I forgot that we stopped along the way for a drink.  Pookie had a spicy margarita, and I had a pomegranate martini.

 

 

[Travelicious]

We weren’t sure where to eat, but looked for places as we made our way back to the hotel.  There was a Mexican place we have been eyeing, and ultimately decided to go there.  Y’all.  It was so good!  Maybe the best Mexican we’ve had.

 

Pookie had the burria tacos and I had the enchiladas de queso with mole sauce.  We each had a margarita.

 

 

[Travelicious]

Having eaten way too much, and being slightly miserable, we stopped at the hotel bar for a sambuca.  Now relaxing in the room and calling it a day.  The feet, calves, shins and hips are feeling it.

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

15 minutes ago, Travelicious said:

But, alas, plans changed due to necessity.  We entered the subway station near Brighton Beach only to find out that no trains had run in some time.  We were told there must be a problem.  We later heard there was a fire somewhere along the line, though I didn’t find out exactly where.

 

So sorry this threw a wrench in your day. I received an alert earlier that there was a track fire near the Avenue H Station, shutting down the B and Q lines.

 

Feel free to reach out tomorrow if you have more transit issues. However, if you are sticking around Manhattan, there is always a way to get from A to B.

 

[Travelicious]

Just now, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

So sorry this threw a wrench in your day. I received an alert earlier that there was a track fire near the Avenue H Station, shutting down the B and Q lines.

 

Feel free to reach out tomorrow if you have more transit issues. However, if you are sticking around Manhattan, there is always a way to get from A to B.

 

Q was what we needed.   It all worked out eventually.  We haven’t been to any of the upper parts of Manhattan yet, so will do that tomorrow.  

[mking8288]

@Travelicious - you did well today on your adventure.  Google Map and/or MyTransit would've helped you from almost being stranded in BB/CI area and feeling lost ... the bus you're waiting for is likely an express bus, good service during rush hour into/from Manhattan & Brooklyn - otherwise, every 30 to 60 minutes is the average wait.  Otherwise, local MTA (city) buses wouldn't have taken you into the "city" and only as far as downtown Brooklyn, another world in itself - nicknamed DUMBO, hip neighborhood of new hi-rise $$$ condo w views of skyline.  

 

From Little Italy which is practically Chinatown except for the 4 to 6 square blocks core area, then walking over to Katz is a "good" walking exercise, there's a local bus from Chinatown to get you there, maybe 10 stops alas too late.  We loved Dos Caminos, food is good & salad is huge, good find.  

 

Rest well for another full day tomorrow.  See all onboard soon. 

[Travelicious]

11 hours ago, mking8288 said:

@Travelicious - you did well today on your adventure.  Google Map and/or MyTransit would've helped you from almost being stranded in BB/CI area and feeling lost. 

Thanks.  We were using Google Maps, and it has been quite helpful.  Still, the buses headed back to Manhattan from Brighton Beach were quite limited.  We knew it would work out.  Just needed a bit of patience.

[cruiseny4life]

Glad you got to explore Coney Island and Brighton Beach. They really are wonderful parts of the city - didn't realize you were going to "the" Coney Island. I figured you'd just wander around - that's all we do when we're there. And spend way too much money over in Brighton Beach at the bazaars. So sorry to hear about your travails with NYC transit - sounds like you got to experience the wonders of relying on the subway. 

 

Just think, though! In a day you'll be onboard Pr1ma, able to relax away for so many days and nights - unless you Cruise Criticers party hard, well into the night! The shenanigans shall be extraordinary! 

[cruiseny4life]

Just to add - all of you ( @Travelicious, @mking8288, and @Sugar Magnolia) are making me all angsty to get myself back to your fair city. I'd call it mine, but two of you are actually real NY'ers (and I'm just a CNY'er). 

 

So, thanks a lot - I have no trips planned, but now will be looking for a nice day trip to get myself out of the house and away from the (wayyyyyy) too much work there I really ought to be doing.

[Sugar Magnolia]

13 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Just to add - all of you ( @Travelicious, @mking8288, and @Sugar Magnolia) are making me all angsty to get myself back to your fair city. I'd call it mine, but two of you are actually real NY'ers (and I'm just a CNY'er). 

 

So, thanks a lot - I have no trips planned, but now will be looking for a nice day trip to get myself out of the house and away from the (wayyyyyy) too much work there I really ought to be doing.

 

I hope you do find some time for your quick fix.

 

I know some people have a tendency to separate downstate and upstate, but I am not one of those elites. 😉

 

[AmyJA]

@Travelicious Love (looking back) and hate (when it is happening) them crazy vacation days where everything goes awry. Sounds like you make the best of them!

[Travelicious]

4 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

 

Just think, though! In a day you'll be onboard Pr1ma, able to relax away for so many days and nights - unless you Cruise Criticers party hard, well into the night! The shenanigans shall be extraordinary! 

We may party hard, but not well into the night!  🥱

[Travelicious]

3 hours ago, AmyJA said:

@Travelicious Love (looking back) and hate (when it is happening) them crazy vacation days where everything goes awry. Sounds like you make the best of them!

It really wasn’t so bad.  We still had a great day, just had to make a few adjustments.

[Travelicious]

We started out a little after 9:00 this morning.  We headed to the subway to catch the B train to Cathedral Parkway with the plan to see the upper part of the park and then cut through to the Upper East Side.  

 

Upon arrival, prior to entering the park, we checked out the Fredrick Douglass monument:

 

 

We then headed into the northwest corner of the park.  The main goal was to see the Reservoir and Belevedere Castle.  It was a much more pleasant area and walk than the southern portion we visited on Tuesday.  Less crowded, and more beautiful.

 

At the Reservoir, we observed the cutest little black and white ducks that I have never seen before.  They were smaller than regular ducks, and kept diving down under the water.  I had to Google them when we got back to the hotel.  They are called Buffleheads.  Most of you may know that, but I didn't.  I thought they kind of reminded me of tiny penguins.  Not a great photo, but here you go (along with female counterparts):

 

 

Also saw a goose just resting very close to the railing, not at all disturbed by us being within 10 feet.  He seemed to tell us, "Mind your business!"

 

 

The first below is over the Reservoir, and the second is over the turtle pond from Belvedere Castle.

 

 

 

After exiting the park at 79th, we went in search of coffee.  This took us just past Lexington, so we decided to walk back toward our hotel at 48th and Lexington, and to look for possible places to eat dinner along the way.  We are going to try for Crab House, which takes reservations only for groups of 4 or more.  We'll try to go around 5:00 or shortly thereafter, and maybe we'll be able to get in.  Though the way people line up for food around here at all hours of the day, you never know.  If that falls through, there is a Thai place a few blocks away we'll try.  Good to have a back-up plan.

 

The hotel we are staying at gave us a card for a complimentary "flight" of chocolates at Neuhaus.  We stopped by there on the way back.  The worker said a "flight" meant we could each sample one piece, but we could get 10% off whatever we chose to buy.  I informed the worker that two pieces is not a flight, but that a flight generally consists of 5.  He didn't buy it, apparently having never tried a flight of beer, whiskey or martinis.  Anyhoo, we both had one piece.  The prices, even with a 10% discount, were quite outrageous, but we decided to get one large bar for a bit under $10.  He gave us a "gift" consisting of 2 pieces of dark chocolate and 2 pieces of milk chocolate.  I would preferred my other 3 pieces of the specialty chocolates to complete my flight.

 

We are now back at the hotel for a bit of a rest.  This despite the fact that we have walked only 6 miles today.  Guess we are getting lazy as we prepare for embarkation tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

[Travelicious]

The plan for tomorrow is to have a late breakfast (10ish or so) at Ole and Steen, for which we were also provided a 10% discount by the hotel.  Our check-in time is 12:00, so we'll catch an Uber around 11:45.  One of my credit cards offers a $15 per month Uber credit which, living in the middle of nowhere next door to chicken houses, mostly goes unused.

[Sugar Magnolia]

22 minutes ago, Travelicious said:

We are going to try for Crab House, which takes reservations only for groups of 4 or more.  We'll try to go around 5:00 or shortly thereafter, and maybe we'll be able to get in.  Though the way people line up for food around here at all hours of the day, you never know.  If that falls through, there is a Thai place a few blocks away we'll try.  Good to have a back-up plan.

 

If the Crab House does not work out (and it wouldn't be my first choice), and you want to stick with seafood, try Avra Estiatorio or Sea Fire Grill.

 

[www3traveler]

I pray that everyone boarding the Prima tomorrow have a very wonderful adventure.

[Travelicious]

3 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

If the Crab House does not work out (and it wouldn't be my first choice), and you want to stick with seafood, try Avra Estiatorio or Sea Fire Grill.

 

Thanks!  We got in.  Report to come.

[Travelicious]

We decided to walk to the Empire State building after a bit of a rest.  When we arrived and were pointed to the entrance for those wanting to go to the top, we headed that way.  There was a small line, and a guard-type person providing tickets.  She said $44 per person.  We said, "Nope." After all, we could get almost 2 cocktails each (okay - 1.5 cocktails) almost anywhere in Manhattan for that price!  Made the block and hit the subway to get back to the hotel.  

 

We stopped in long enough to get ourselves on the "waitlist" for 2 coming to Crab House.  By the time we arrived, there was no waiting and we were taken to a table.  Before we left, I saw that I had received a text from Crab House saying, "Dear [Travelicious], we regret to inform you that due to your no-show, we will move on to the next customer in line . . . ."  

 

Almost immediately upon being seated, a waiter dropped off a sizzling tray of scallops and poured what I assume to be a butter mixture on top.  We thought it was a "welcome" greeting, but soon realized they brought it to the wrong table.  Too late!  

 

Crab House is a "buffet," but not in the traditional sense.  You choose from a list, and it is freshly prepared.  And you keep choosing until you are stuffed silly or until 2 hours elapse.  We chose the former.  No way we could keep eating for 2 hours.

 

If anyone at the table chooses the lobster selections offset on the bottom left, the price is $115 pp.  If not, it is $80 pp.  We figured the latter was enough, and we also each had a mai tai.  

 

That I remember, we had the lobster cake, lobster ball, edamame, spring roll, snow crab legs, blue crab with cajun butter sauce (too much trouble for too little reward), spicy shrimp (terrific!), shrimp garlic noodle, and crispy flounder.  Not all are pictured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not all was ordered at once.  We ordered a few things, and the waiter would come get the menu we marked on.  After the food was delivered, a new menu was provided.  

 

We enjoyed the food, and declared this meal and the Mexican food from last night were superior to the steakhouse on Tuesday night.

 

Satisfied and then some, we happily waddled the 7 blocks back to our hotel.  

Edited April 26 by Travelicious

[Travelicious]

Just shy of 35 miles over 4 days.  Signing off until tomorrow.

 

[Mommapadraig]

4 minutes ago, Travelicious said:

Just shy of 35 miles over 4 days.  Signing off until tomorrow.

 

Good night.Im looking forward to cruising with you.,we get on MSC out of port Canaveral next Sunday..