Today we headed off to Brooklyn to visit the Brooklyn Ice cream factory and the Brooklyn bridge. Jack's awesome mastery of the subway kept us in good stead and we successfully arrived in Brooklyn where we headed for the river while searching for a cafe for some morning tea for Adrian. The area around Clark Street was gorgeous - brownstones and very civilized and, I'm guessing, not cheap!!! I would live there!!! The walk along Brooklyn Promenade was chilly as the wind was whipping and icy. Our search for a cafe found us at the ice-creamery and next door a cafe named The River Cafe. Slightly misnamed. It was a beautiful French restaurant floating on the river. Stunning views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
We stopped for a coffee ended up with a chardonnay ( from San Jose) that was beautiful - loving the American chardys and ended up with us staying for lunch. A splurge really ... Mains around $30 so by Melboune standard not o bad but by American standards - expensive! The kids had the roasted Ducks breast with honey truffle glaze and veges named fancily while Adrian and I had New York Sirlion steak with a fancy something on top, French fries and blue cheese sauce... To die for!!!
Naturally dessert was from Brooklyn Ice Creamery and they were very very nice.
A walk along the streets of Brooklyn led to the Brooklyn Bridge which is under repair but still a lovely walk. There are locks locked to the bridge everywhere with people's names on them... Obviously a tradition.
After crossing the bridge we wandered the financial district streets heading for the Police Museum. It has a large section devoted to 9.11and those who died in the tragedy while on duty . In fact a lot of the museum refers to changes made to NYPD since 9.11. until we visited New York I don't think I really had any concept of how much it has changed their lives forever.

Everybody here lost someone or more than one someone in twin towers. We have not gone o the memorial as we tried with Heidi ,our tour guide, with no success and since then I have been told how difficult it is to get I with the only way being ticketed and the lines are forever due to the security I don't need to go to feel the loss or impac on these people. It truly changed vey one forever in someway. Us included.

From here we headed home for a quick rest before heading over the 9th ave for some Thi. Again, menu page.com did not let me down.. Great Thai and more beautiful Chardonnay.
Until tomorrow.....