Blog 153. Days 25, 26, 27.

SYNOPSIS PART 2

Started Tuesday 27/8/24.

Niagara Falls to SYRACUSE

*The New York bound Maple Leaf has drawn into Niagara Falls ON Station. Already, there’s that feeling of going home, although there are around 12 nights left before disembarkation at Southampton.*

*Syracuse Station is roughly 3.5 miles* *from downtown Syracuse.*

To begin with, I did doubt the wisdom of three nights here. A very heavy and prolonged shower scuppered any exploration of this seemingly dull place during the first morning. Also, the much taken-for-granted temperatures of the mid to high 20s Celsius had given way to something “typical of Buxton in March!” While there was no Metro system to peak my interest, it wasn’t long before I was wishing that I had a few more days here. The Erie Canal Museum, the Museum of Science and Technology, the corporate and commercial architecture of what had been considered might be New York’s state capital instead of Albany. The Onondaga Creek Walk was a recommended hike of just over 2.5 miles each way. Google tells me that the whole route is over 4 miles in length. If I had known, I still doubt whether I could have completed the approximately 9 mile round trip.

Like Buffalo, modern industry (e.g. I.T) is finding a footing here in this city whose fortunes and population had declined somewhat but are evidently on the up. My architectural landmark (excuse the pun) is the Landmark Theater, very much a survivor of the passage of perhaps a century.

*Down came the rain. View from the Best Western Downtown hotel lobby. It did clear up eventually.*

*The Landmark Theater*, *originally* *Loew’s* *State* *Theater,* *Salina,* *Street,* *Syracuse*.

*Niagara Mohawk Energy Headquarters. I understand this* *fine Art* *Deco* *building is being turned into residential apartments.*

*Detailed front entrance. Around the side* *is an almost as elaborate entrance.*

*The useful yellow guide line.* *The Onondaga Creek Walk*

*Numerous features are pointed out along the Creek Walk* *by these orange information* *plaques.*

*Black squirrel. One in 10,000 squirrels is* *this* *shade.*

*One of the marker posts indicates a position on the Creek Walk*, *ten such posts at equidistant points per mile.*

Syracuse to New York City.

Don’t get me wrong, i love trains and can be very forgiving. However, i have to agree with a lady and her partner with whom I chatted with over afternoon tea yesterday (27/8/24) that, in reality, The Maple Leaf 13 hour journey between New York and Toronto is pretty dire! One locomotive hauls a motley collection of five (perhaps) 40 year old Amfleet (I think that’s what they are) carriages in much need of a refurb, particularly on the exterior. One such train runs daily in each direction. The lady was (fairly justifiably) disappointed that there was no dining car for the day-long journey. I, on the other hand, am grateful that hot snacks are available and that the service runs at all, even if now, it’s unlikely I shall embark on this journey again. In recent times, when I have travelled on this service, the train has been sold out. Most trains are made up of short consists to ensure this. My “final” experience of the Maple Leaf was the train running to time, the cafe closed just when I needed it and the exterior disappointingy grubby. Inside, it was comfortable enough, especially in the slightly more spacious business class, where hot and cold non alcoholic drinks are complimentary. That’s when the café is open! I certainly don’t blame the person who runs the café. We are all entitled to a break during a shift. Also, the rest rooms (loos) can become whiffy in 13 hours! What I do like is that it’s a day-time journey although, although partly because of crossing the U.S. and Canada border, the train and its passengers need to be inspected with a fine tooth comb.

*Arrival at Penn Station, New York, around 2*0 *minutes* *early. 21st August 2024.*

For one last time, I was wheeling my suitacses along platforms, up ramps, in lifts etc to exit a railway station, the magnificent Moynihan Train Hall no less! The building was once the main post office of New York City and has been superbly repurposed as the heart of Penn Station, partially compensating for the loss of the fabulous original Penn Station demolished many years ago.

*Moynihan Train Hall – not always bathed in purple!*

I had two nights at the Fairfield Inns and Suites immediately opposite the Moynihan Train. No taxis were required this time! In the full day ahead the following day, I toured most of Manhattan by hop-on hop-off bus, walked several blocks, and finished the day ascending the Empire State Building by night. This made for a worthy finale to my 19-night trip around part of the United States. Here are a few images.

*Walking towards the Empire State Building.*

*View from the front seat of the hop-on hop-off bus looking towards south Manhattan Island.*

*The hop-on hop-off bus terminated some 19 blocks from the Empire State Building,* *which provided a rare opportunity to see a* *substantial amount of iconic New York from street level as dusk set in and morphed into night tim*e.

*Looking to the very top. I treated myself to a visit to the 192nd* *floor. I had taken the elevator to the 80th floor, walked up to floor 86 (that was* *hard* *work!),* *and* *then took a lift to floor 102. It’s pretty high up there*!

*One* *of many views that* I took during my lengthy stay at all three levels.

*Moynihan Train Hall the following evening.*

*While this image completes my New York pictures, this particular photo was taken more or less as soon as I left the station the evening I arrived.*

The following day, there was little time between breakfast at the hotel and being chauffeured to the Cruise Terminal to board Queen Mary 2 for the seven night ⁹ crossing to Southampton. As I complete this “synopsis,” it is Day 28 of 30.. The voyage home is joyous and nostalgic. The days of sea travel between New York and Southampton are just hanging in there thanks to the Carnival Corporation who acquired Cunard at the time the movie Titanic had created an upsurge in the demand for transatlantic crossings which continue to this day. Also, thanks to the genius of ship architect Stephen Payne and his team, who with Chantiers De L’atlanique in St. Nazaire created the largest ocean liner ever to continue the (now) only timetabled service between Britain and the U.S.A.