The Purple Penguin

Today was a day of parties; it all started out after we’d taken the metro down to Battery Park to collect our tickets to go across to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We wandered into the old fort to pick up the tickets by which time three coach parties (or more) had dropped off their loads and the queue was forever. We managed to squeeze in just behind the red hat party (OAPs wearing their red baseball caps) and proceeded to follow them all the way to the statue, where we ended up being joined by the school parties. Every where we went. Party after party after party. Oh, and saw the statue. Then stood in line behind another party to go to Ellis Island. After we had a very quick look around Ellis Island we joined the queue for Battery Park behind the red hat party – again. Jumped on the metro to 50th Street and the Gershwin Theatre to pick up the tickets for the show. Found a little bar to hang out in until show time (beer report: blueberry beer complete with blueberries, good. Checkered Cab, ok.) Got into the show to find ourselves sitting in front of a high school party, complete with teacher continually coming around telling them what to do (or such important things about going to a Broadway Musical such as ‘these have music in them and people sing’). From the show we didn’t take the metro, we walked back to the hotel where we got behind another group of red hats – these had been to see the Colour Purple musical and were a group of older women all dressed up and wearing red hats. At the hotel we got behind the Italian party staying here.

Kathleen’s report: I got to see a Broadway Musical! Yea! We headed out quite early for the statue and touristy bits although our tickets were for the afternoon. Hoping to miss the crowds, fat chance of that. There were hoards. So we got to Liberty Island and had breakfast and a relaxing walk around the island. Then they let us into the statue early, where the people were complaining about all the stairs. But the musuem was interesting. Can’t go up into the statue any longer, just the pedestal.

Then off to Ellis Island where we had a quick look at the large recording room and a quick run around one exhibition. It was getting later into the afternoon by then and we wanted to get something to eat before seeing the show. So back on the ferry and off. The tube at Battery Park (South Ferry) is nifty, it has little platforms that come out when the train pulls in and then they retract when the train leaves.

Once we had our tickets we went looking for food and found a place with loads of different beers. Made Joe happy. I had a Manhatten which, from the taste of my drink is straight bourbon with a cherry in it. We wanted a slow meal and so ordered a plate of mixed starters. The waitress brought those then took away the menus. We had planned to order a meal, but when she came to take the finished starters away she just plonked down the check and then disappeared.

Off to the theatre and got a programme (expensive – I shouldn’t ever complain about West End shows, at least a decent programme is cheap). The playbill was free but has very little in it. Got in and the woman doing the handing out of playbills and showing seats was a real terror. Don’t try to walk past her, despite the fact that by the time you got to her your ticket had been checked at least three times she had to look at it again and tell you exactly where you were sitting. And god forbid you try to by pass her or not take your playbill. I was sitting right next to where she was standing to do her thing and it got funny. The show was very good. Completely different from the novel but then it would have to be! But it did end up being a different story. The set is fantastic as are the costumes and I really enjoyed it though there weren’t any really good tunes.

Very tired now and headed off to sleep!