Lakeland Eye

Ground Zero, now a very, very large building site. Redevelopment is underway to transform Ground Zero into a thriving union of commerce. Five new towers are scheduled for completion by 2011 and 2012 including the Freedom Tower. As well as the Twin Towers, five smaller trade centre buildings were also destroyed beyond repair. Apart from the sheer size of the gap in the buildings, there is little to see. There is a museum and a tour, but we decided that it was sad enough to see the scale of the destruction. A terrifying example of where the ruling classes are taking mankind.

There are still many memorial sites around the district.........

Battery Park, downtown........

......lots of monuments......

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Also contains the Financial District........from South Street Seaport.......

The Seaport dates back to the 1600s and is a very interesting if touristy place to visit with its riverfront walks, activities, shops, restaurants, and museums.

Brooklyn Bridge from the Seaport.

Could you imagine God Bless Great Britain on an ice cream van?

Parking solutions....I don't think that first in will be first out.

Central Park. It covers 843 acres, 6% of Manhattan. The large body of water is the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Just below it is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. To the left of the lower lake is Strawberry Fields in memory of John Lennon who was shot outside his apartment, the Dakota Buildings, adjacent to the fields.

It is 6 miles around the perimeter and has 58 miles of paths. We just had a stroll through the south end of the park, The Pond......

One of the many playing fields.

An American Robin, a lot bigger than ours and not closely related. It is a member of the Thrush family. Named after the European Robin because of the male's bright red breast.

Beautiful colours of the Eastern Red Berry Tree.......

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And the Central Park underpass....popular with scary films.

Lots of street performers.

Horse Drawn Carriages very popular for riding through the park....

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....and for wedding props.

The Broadway scene...............

.....and Times Square........

One of the many bars and restaurants...but a bit different. Ellen's Stardust Diner is a 50's style retro diner on the corner of 51st and Broadway. The waiting staff are all aspiring Broadway hopefuls and seranade customers between courses......

New York, as expected, is very expensive.....but two beefburgers with chips and two beers here cost $60!! .... songs and tomato sauce included.