Wall Street Wonders

Taking advantage of the summer weather, I joined in the free Wall Street Walking Tour and was nearly bored to tears by the guide. The only interesting I learnt on the tour is of the 1st restaurant to open in the USA - Delmonico's. Ordering ala carte and having your own private dining table is a bit of a Parisian novelty back then in 1830. Before Delmonico imported the concept of "the restaurant" from Europe, "dining out" mainly refers to testosterone-filled raucous dining at long tables in taverns and eating whatever their kitchens served. As the nuevo rich filled the city, Delmonico's went as far as to serve thick, fat cigars rolled in US$100 bills and some dinner options include a free gift of a perfect black pearl in their shucked oysters. I wonder how it feels to see that bill burn away with each puff....

The second more interesting find on Wall street area is Stone Street. 5 years ago, this dumpster-filled back alley is considered dodgy and dirty and not many would risk their lives to walk through it even in broad daylight. After the city announced this street as a historical site, look at what it has transformed into - FOOD STREET! As you can see, only food interests me in this tour of the most powerful financial district in the world.

At Battery Park, I was taken aback by the sheer numbers of tourist who took the Circle Line ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty. I'm pretty happy with what I can see from the park, thank you very much.



As the tour concluded, all I could think about was eating some chinese food in Chinatown! Yumzzz!!!! Happily, I bided farewell to the Rockefellers, the JP Morgans, Trumps and what nots!