We took the subway up to Times Square and wandered around. Our main challenge was keeping track of Joe who was so enthusiatic to photograph the surroundings that he would sometimes wander off.
One find was Bryant Park on 42nd and 6th. This park is very popular for relaxing, reading and meetings. It is a big park and the amazing thing is it is filled with bistro chairs, tables and stools that seemingly stay in the park. They are constantly being rearranged for round table discussions, napping, reading, lunching and people watching.
Bryant Park is right next to the NYC library. Part of the park is a reading area with rolling carts of adult books, childrens' books, newspapers and magazines available.
Another surprise about Manhattan was the sense that it is a safe place to be. There are over a million people living and working there, so you know there is crime and violence. However, whether we were wandering the streets or traveling by subway, we never felt threatened, endangered or insecure. There is a sizable police presense patrolling the streets, driving around or hopping into the street to move trafic. 
Prior to Joe's arrival, we had checked into going to the top of the Empire State Building. It was going to involve long lines and significant waiting. We had read about an alternative..the top of the Rockefeller Center. Imagine our surprise when we discovered we could walk up to the booth and buy a ticket without first standing in a two hour line. Even better, with tickets in hand, we were immediately going up the elevator to the top for a fabulous view of NYC. "The Top of the Rock" was one of the most fun adventures we shared with Joe. Here is the Empire State Building from the top of the Rockefeller Center
View of Central Park
On Joe's last day, we were up and out early for a ferry ride over to Ellis Island and Liberty Island. We really enjoyed the museum at Ellis Island. One thing clear from the exhibits...immigration issues are not new.
There were many photographs of immigrants going through the process at Ellis Island or leaving their native country. I enjoyed all of the photos, but this was one of my favorites. It is a gypsy family.
The first thing you notice when arriving on Liberty Island is the actual size of the Statue of Liberty...it is HUGE. The second thing you notice is that the statue is set on a fort. This mandatory silly photo demonstrates both the size and the underlying fort.
A close up of the book and the copper overlays.
After Liberty Island, we took the ferry back to Manhattan for the mad subway dash up to the theatre district. We had tickets for the matinee of "The Lion King". Our second foray to Broadway was a roaring success. Our seats were wonderful. The set and costumes were imaginative and fun. The pace and energy level were extremely upbeat. The singing and acting terrific.
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