A Visit To The Big Apple

New York is one of the world’s most lively and vibrant metropolis . It’s a busy and tough place to live – it can drive you crazy with its expensive cost of living, Nonetheless, as a tourist there is so much to see and do . To catch glimpses of Broadway, Times Square, Central Park, Grand Central, Central park, Chinatown , Little Italy, Rockyfeller Center,Empire Estate and Chrysller Bldgs,. Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty, bridges like George Washington,Brooklyn and other tourist spots and attractions are quite overwhelming.

Indeed , it’s the “ city that doesn’t sleep”.

Lower Manhattan skyine panorama 

Yellow cabs in New York

getting a taste of NYC with Katz's Delicatessen. We feasted on its signature hand-sliced pastrami  and other delectable sandwiches courtesy of our gracious host Baby G

Grand Central at night

The George Washington Bridge (known informally as the GW Bridge.It is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River connecting Manhattan to New Jersey The bridge has two levels – and here in the pic we are traversing the upper level heading for Manhattan.

Sailboats seen in the Lower Hudson River as seen from Manhattan's Upper West Side 

at the lobby of The Plaza

Times Square at night

In the background is Manhattan cityscape - a truly wonderful sight from the Ferry Boat heading to Ellis and Liberty Islands

aboard the Ferry Boat heading to Ellis Island. In the background in the Manhattan Cityescape

pose across Central Park main entrance

Outside Minskoff  Theatre in Broadway - the  heart of American  Theatre Industry.

The museum exhibits chronicle Ellis Island's role in immigration history and view it in the context of its time and the still broader context of four centuries of immigration to America.

 The Statue of Liberty's face.This is a replica of the statue's face, seen here as part of the exhibit in one of the corridors of the 

 Statue's base.

This is a replica of the statue's foot, seen here as part of the exhibit in one of the corridors of the Statue's base

The Statue of Liberty  (Liberty Enlightening the World) wall pic. The statue has become an icon of freedom and of the United States.

The Splendor of San Francisco

The world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge - one of the world's greatest suspension bridges. It's simply amazing !

I have been longing for a San Francisco( SFO) trip to see the celebrated Golden Gate Bridge and what the city is really like .The chance cropped up when my sister and sister-in-law proposed to squeeze SFO visit in our very tight US-West Coast travel itinerary. We cut short our LA stay and off we went via air before heading to Las Vegas and New York. Gee whiz! some things were just meant to be.
My fondness for LA took a backseat ( my apology to my relatives and  friends in LA) the minute I set foot in San Francisco .The city’s landmarks, streets, bays and bridges were astonishing. San Francisco has a remarkable cityscape  and the weather - oh it’s near perfect ! We had two bright and breezy days of clear skies that enabled us to explore the city proper, car ride across Golden Gate Bridge , enjoy good food at Pier 39 , shop at Gilroy Outlet , visit Pebble Beach and go around 17 mile Drive in Monterey.

We had a whale of a time . We journeyed. We learned. We discovered . We shopped. We dined. We connected with gracious, humble people like the couple Boyet and Ruby who welcomed us into their  charming home in Livermore and willingly allowed us to encroached  into their intimate family circle. In other words, we were fascinated and  fell in love with San Francisco – the city by the bay.

We wish we could have had a longer stay !

with my sister Marilou

The Golden Gate Bridge is the most iconic landmark in San Francisco

South Tower seen from the car as we cruise along the Golden Gate Bridge towards Marin County

Our visit to SFO was just the right time of the year to see the spectacular GG bridge and to get great pictures

Golden Gate Bridge viewed from Marin County

View of Golden Gate Bridge from Marin Headlands

Fascinating sight of The Palace of Fine Arts and its adjacent lagoon in Marina District, San Francisco

Sea Lions Chilling at the Wharf

The Famous zigzag road at Lombard Street

the monument behind us is located in the middle of the Union Square at Downtown San Franscisco . The lower part of the post reads : dedicated to the brave soldier who fought at the Manila Bay, Philippines during the World War II

 

Standing at Point Joe : The rocks and currents around this area are a treacherous beauty as there have been numerous shipwrecks in the past near here.

Me and my sister Marilou posing in between the China Rock .One could  hear the sound of waves crashing on the rocky shoreline and smell the air carried in from the sea .

Enjoying lunch at the Stillwater Bar & Grill at The Lodge , Pebble Beach,Ca.
Fr L -R : Thel, Marilou, Badette, Ruby and Boyet

In the background is The Lodge at Pebble Beach ,California

Part of the Montery Bay as viewed from the Stillwater Bar & Grill at The Lodge at Pebble Beach. 
This is  Famous 18th Hole of the Pebble Beach Golf course in Monterey,California

The Lone Cypress- Its a Cypress tree all on its own at the edge of a cliff.

Pose infront of The Ghost Tree- a bleached white Monterey Cypress that appears statuesque .This is one of the tourist attractions on the 17 Mile Drive