Isle of Joy Rebecca Underwood takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the ‘City’ of New York, Manhattan
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eflecting on the words and music of two of New York’s most famous sons: lyricist Lorenz Milton Hart and composer Richard Charles Rodgers… ‘The great big city’s a wondrous toy, just made for a girl and boy, we’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy’. Manhattan – an island surrounded by the Hudson, Harlem and East rivers – is the most populated borough of New York City and an exciting metropolis that simply pulsates with life. Visitors are enthralled by an abundance of popular attractions including the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Empire State Building, museums galore, an enormous choice of Broadway shows and plays – and you can eat and shop ‘til you drop. Manhattan continues to attract more than 55 million visitors per year and it may seem that they are all congregating in Times Square at the same time. This is the hub of Manhattan’s razzle ‘n’ dazzle, surrounded by imposing billboards with glittering lights, and the overwhelming spectacle demands unwavering attention. Towering skyscrapers adorned with advertising abound, and on the ground is a swirling maelstrom of people dodging yellow
cabs and a never-ending stream of traffic, while buses inch past long, sleek-lined limousines. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances whizz past with sirens blazing, and loud pop music blares out from stationary vehicles caught up in the melee. Manhattan is truly a place that never sleeps and, for art lovers, it’s a treasure trove. Head for the Morgan Museum and Library on Madison Avenue at 36th Street and view Pierpont Morgan’s 1906 Library. Pierpont Morgan, an American financier, selected architect Charles Follen McKim to design a library to house his enormous collection of rare books and manuscripts. The exterior of the property, adjacent to Pierpont’s erstwhile home, features Tennessee pink marble, the blocks set with
TOP TIP
To experience the warmth of Irish charm in the air, fly Business Class to JFK from LHR via Dublin, with Aer Lingus. Take advantage of the generous luggage allowance of 3 x 23kg, priority boarding and luxury in-flight dining. Relax in style on lie-flat seats for a soothing in-flight slumber. For more information visit www.aerlingus.com
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