Today we were up a little later! Ted's do need sleep - after all we do usually hibernate for long periods.
Today was a day for the movies! They, well the two oldies, keep going on about a film...'You've got mail!' it is some rom com about .....life in New York! It starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan! So, they tried to get on the tour bus even though their tickets stopped at 8.33 that morning! (Typical Aberdonians!) However, no bus was on the horizon (and with the avenues running in straight lines for miles and miles it was easy to see!) and so they decided to take a taxi!
They hailed the cab and nonchalantly said to the driver, 'Can we go to Verdi Square, please!' He looked and asked again! 'Verdi Square?' Andrew said! He just looked blank! So he took out his fold out map and showed the driver! 'There!' he said pointing to the map! The driver screwed up his eyes and said he could not see it as it was so small! Anyway, he resorted to saying 74th and Broadway! S off he went! By this time was thinking.....this could be problematic! The taxi driver asked why we wanted to go there! He had never Ben asked to take ANYONE there before! (I wonder why?) so, he launched into an explanation about it was a scene from a movie....and .....so anyway, he managed to flummox a NY cabbie!
The roads were quiet at this time of morning. The cabbie said it would be after 11 Before it got busy! They were duly dropped off at Verdi Square and the taxi took off! Now, I shouldn't say but Verdi Square is not a square! It's a triangle! Two roads converge at the end of the garden and this is in one of the opening scenes of the movie! It would be simpler if you just viewed the movie!
Anyway, photo op number 1. He wanted them to walk down both sides of the garden but thought better of it as his models would have refused! So, I was drummed in to play the part! However, in his haste he got the photo just as I took a dive off the pillar! 'Cut!' as the director would have said? No, just pick me up and move on! Wait till the union here's about this.
So, off we went..still on broadway even though we are miles from Times Square! We went past a real impressive fruit stall outside a shop and carried on through the Upper West Side! Next stop....Zabars! This is a NY institution (where he might end up yet by the end of this!) that is famous the world over! (Well, so he says!) it is an importer of fine foods and cheeses from all over the world and is featured in the movie also! We arrive and head to their deli for breakfast! On a Sunday morning this is full of West Siders having their breakfast out as they get the papers, have a stroll or pick up the fine, imported foods and cheeses that separate the posh West Siders from everyone else! Linda has frozen yogurt, while the others have croissants! It is very nice! We then move to the shop and visit the almost as famous upstairs level that sells home goods! And what do they buy (I should say SHE!) a duster, some cooking items and a lunch bag! All the way to NYC and they really know how to spot the local designer goods to take home! A duster? I can just imagine that at customs!,
We leave Zabars and head on next to Riverside Park! This is where the happy ending of the film takes place! We have a stroll through the park and we are entertained by some very friendly small birds (of the feathered variety) and a very inquisitive squirrel! They suggest trying me down beside the squirrel but that is NOT in my contract!
On again and we make our way to the next movie stop! This time it is the local Starbucks! The ladies need the toilet so Andrew decided it is only fair to buy a coffee in return as he waits! This was merely an excuse for a photo op....as Kelsey waited outside to take his photo sitting in the window of the cafe as happens in the film! As he waits he strikes up a conversation with a man viewing the British Open on his iPod! 'Whose winning?' he ventures! And thus follows a conversation about the Open while they both wait for their coffee!
Photo taken it's off again to the 'main' scene they want to visit! Cafe Lalo is a very quaint cafe situated on West 83rd and features in a prominent scene in the movie! The cafe is again very popular with the locals and on a Sunday was very busy! We wait outside for a table to become free and some 20 minutes later we enter! We get a table ALMOST in the same place as Tom and Meg have in the movie and we order lunch! It is very nice and it was interesting watching the locals and visitors alike in the small cafe! How many other people were doing an unofficial 'You've got mail' tour....maybe not many! But even Lauren and Kelsey enjoyed this one!
So, the movie tour was finished and we set off once again for Central Park and I was determined to get a better photo than yesterday's pathetic effort! We had a lovely walk round 'Jackie Onassis Lake' and enjoyed some better views than yesterday! We crossed to the other side to make it once more on to Fifth Avenue and hailed a cab to take us to Bloomingdales!
This was a great outing and we look forward to visiting Cafe Lalo in the future at some point again!
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