A long walk off a short pier...

The aim for the day was a leisurely stroll to Seaport, cross the Brooklyn Bridge and take in some world-famous pizza and gelato and have an alternative day in NYC.

In the end we did have pizza - but not very famous or good - and certainly had an alternative day in NYC.

The leisurely stroll turned into a much longer walk than anticipated.  Karen is used to cycling down the East side of Manhattan and not walking with two kids.  However, we did have a lovely walk looking across at Brooklyn, passing a junior American football game, and a fisherman who caught (and threw back) an ugly fish that would have made The Simpson's one proud.

We also ran into this "seal pond" sculpture and despite tired, fatigued kids, one managed to run around...

We aborted the walk just after the Williamsburg bridge (the W in the B (Brooklyn) M (Manhattan) W of bridges here) and walked straight into Alphabet city.   Part of the alternative view of the tour...

After an interesting visit to the ghetto we found Chinatown.

We did make it to Seaport, which was quite a pathetic tourist shopping mall.  (Torontonians beware!  This could be what Ford is hoping for)

Alas!  What next?

Possibly the best value for money in NYC - a free boat ride to and from Staten Island on the Ferry!  Relaxing and a good view of Manhattan, Ellis Island, Hoboken, The Statue of Liberty and various stuff that goes back and fro in the harbour - including a couple of mega-cruise ships that look like lateral skyscrapers.

Statue of Liberty

New Jersey

Manhattan

After viewing the Freedom Tower from the harbour, we all decide to go up to the World Trade Centre site and towards Freedom Tower to go .... SHOPPING!  (It is America after all).

We end up in Century 21 department store and go nuts.  1 hour and about $300 later, we end the day happy :)

Took us an age to find a cab, but we made it home and ordered the greasiest pizza possible.  Whatever you do - don't get Coppola's pizza.  Watch the movies, but don't eat the pizza!!!!