We're Home!!

The excitement of landing back in Adelaide is always a highlight of any trip!  It was worth the more than 24 hours after leaving our hotel in New York, the mix up by Qantas with our tickets in New York & LA, and the losing of one of our bags.  Mum picked us up, along with great supplies for dinner, breakfast and lunch.  We unpacked got the washing going and walked around like zombies until everything was done.  We were determined not to go to sleep until evening so we could get our sleeping pattern right.  We sat down to watch the news and wait for our bag to turn up.  Finally, we went to bed at 6.45pm and slept until 6am this morning.  We feel great and have just had a big breaky thanks to Mum. The washing is on the line and now it's time to get into Grand Final mode - Go The Saints!!!!!!

                       This is the part of the Hudson where flight 1549 landed on the water.

Home Sweet Home - Here we come

We lined up for The View after catching the subway to 66th street and got our standby ticket.  Today they were doing two shows so we had a double chance of getting in but alas, no go.  But we saw ex President Carter at his book signing!  It was advertised that he would be at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Broadway which is close to where we were so we swung by and popped in to say Hi!  Never a dull moment in New York.  We saw a woman screaming and fighting and getting arrested and cuffed, we have seen many people getting on the subway and making an announcement that they are homeless and could we spare some money so they can eat.  People get on the train and break into song and then pass the hat for donations.  There are so many characters that some things dont even seem strange anymore. Some people wear, or do, the strangest things.  Today, a man walked around the subway station - backwards.  Go figure.  We have had the best time and done pretty much everything we set out to do plus so much more.  This will probably be our last blog because we catch our flight home tomorrow but don't get home until Thursday 23rd - just in time for the Grand Final.  Thanks for sharing this trip with us.  We are looking forward to getting home.  See you soon.  Love ya guts xxx

Back In New York

We are back in our beloved, hectic New York.  They had a big storm here after we left last time and we heard on the news that they couldn't decide whether it was a hurricane or a tornado. The destruction was clear to see as we were in the taxi on the way from JFK.  Trees were uprooted all the way along the expressway and leaves and rubbish everywhere, they must have had a tough time of it.  Once we booked in to the Roosevelt we hit the subways again and headed to Times Square to see if we could get tickets for Mary Poppins, alas no.  We had a bite to eat and people watched.  Something was up in Times Square because the cops had cut off all the roads and some of them were carrying machine guns!  Nobody seemed to notice and just went about their business.  We went looking in Bloomingdales but didn't buy anything and then had a drink in the club lounge downstairs.  We are going to attemp to get tickets to The View in the morning.  You have to line up and they give you a number.  IF your number is lucky you get to go to the show.  Might as well give it a go!  'til next time - love ya guts xxx 

Back to New York - Our kinda Town!

Niagara Falls is an amazing spectacle.  Today we went behind The Falls.  An elevator takes you down 23 floors and you come out into a tunnel system which takes you behind the water.  The power and the sound is incredible.  You also view the falls from the side so you can see the water coming over the top but feel the power of it as it falls right past you.  We also did what they call The fury of the Falls which starts with a cartoon film about a little chipmunk who gets detention and has to write about the Falls.  He is bored and can't be bothered but then he is taken on a magical trip through time back to when the Falls began it's journey in the ice age and through the ages.  We then put on another poncho and the doors opened and we stepped into a dark and wet circular room where we stood on a metal floor and had to hold on to the metal bars around us.  They showed a film all around us.  It started with snow and icy winds and then the ice beginning to melt and rain down on us and then the ice started breaking up and we were shaken around with loud crashes and then we were bounced along the river and over the falls!  It was hilarious!!  After that we went on the incline rail up to another observation point and had lunch.  The bus then took us to Walking the Wild Water which again was an elevator down a long way which openned into another tunnel and then out onto a board walk where we were alongside the river and the rapids.  What power.  You wouldn't want to fall in!
After all that excitement we jumped in a taxi and went to the outlet shopping centre.  Not so exciting there, the bargains weren't that good.
Back to New York tomorrow - talk to you again from there!

Niagara Falls

We were up at 5.30am and showered and in a taxi by 6am to get to the airport.  It takes so long to get through security here, you have to get to the airport early.  Our flight was at 9am but didn't leave until 9.30.  We have never seen such a line up of planes on the runways.  We landed in Buffalo and caught the shuttle bus to Rainbow Bridge on the United States side and walked across the bridge into Canada.  The border check was quick and easy and friendly and we walked across the road to our Hotel, The Crowne Plaza.  After checking in and dumping our bags we took off to look at the Falls and get our bearings.  We looked at various tours to do and decided on an Adventure Pass which gives us unlimited travel back and forth on the bus and Incline Train, Maid of the Mist boat which we did and it was AWESOME!  As part of the package we will do the "Journey behind the Falls" which is what I wanted to do more than anything and we will also do the White Water Walk and Niagara's Fury.  That is tomorrow.  We also looked at the Falls from where it goes over and it is incredible.  There is a light show and fireworks tonight so we will be at that.  We are going to have dinner tonight with a view across the Falls, hopefully.  The weather has been great, apparently it rained all day yesterday and was really miserable so we have been lucky.

Bye Bye Boston

Boston is a beautiful city.  Like everywhere else we have visited we wish we had more time.  We did a circuit on the Hop on Hop off Trolley first thing this morning and discovered that Boston is rich with history. Paul Revere did his famous "the British are coming" ride from here. Benjamin Franklin lived here, we visited many historical sights and grave yards.  John F Kennedy was born here and we visited the house he was born in.  It has been made into a museum and restored to how it looked when JFK lived there as a young boy.  We also visited Paul Reveres house which has also been restored to look how it was when he lived there and raised 12 children to two wives.  He bought the house in 1770 and lived there for 30 years. Harvard University is here.  We caught the trains here, which are more like buses and go above and below the ground.  The weather has been perfect.  We had dinner in an Irish Pub and dragged our tired bodies home to have an early night because we have to be at the airport by 7.00am.  We are off to Niagara Falls!

Happy birthday Jess - 10 Years Old!!!

We had an early start, got up at 6am and showered, had breaky and headed to Penn Street Station via the subway.  Once we got to there we had three hours before our train but we thought it was best to get there early.  It was nice to have a relaxing day reading and people watching.  The train was very comfy and we went through “normal suburbs” and beaches and over many bridges on the water.  Thanks Naomi and Renee, I finished the book you lent me, My Steve, by Terri Irwin and I was bawling my eyes out!  I really enjoyed the book. We got to Boston and taxied it to our Hotel, The Double Tree.  Went downstairs and had a drink and read the tourist brochures and map and had a small pizza between us.  Jean and Heather are in Boston but they are about half an hour on the subway away.

Happy Birthday Jess, we love you and are thinking of you as you turn double digits!!!

Grand Central Station

From Broadway to Brooklyn

We couldn't get another night at the Doubletree and everything else was booked out but we found a place in Brooklyn which is OK but not the Hilton.  We got a cab over here and dropped our bags off then got on the subway to the Tenement Museum for a walking tour.  They took us through a tenement building which they had restored to how it looked in the early 1800 and then a section was restored to show how it looked when the family that lived there was making clothing for the fashion industry and then another section was restored to how it looked in the early 1900's.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made it so interesting to hear all about the immigrants and how they tried to assimilate into the American way.  This took about two hours and it went quickly.  We then had a coffee and went back into Manhattan where we picked up our train tickets to Boston and then found a travel agent who booked our return flights to Niagara Falls and accommodation for two nights and then another two nights in New York at the Roosevelt Hotel opposite Grand Central Station.  So we will have two more days in New York before coming home.  We came back to Brooklyn with all the locals on their way home from work.  It's amazing how people can sleep standing up on the train and not miss their stops!  They can also read books and play on their computers.  The trains are jam packed and to and from the platforms is shuffling all the way.  It has been a great experience but you wouldn't want to do it everyday.  We will head off early in the morning "to cross the Bridge" as they say (go back into Manhattan) to catch our train to Boston.  Heard from Jean and they have a bus driver from hell who had an accident before they left New York and hours after they should have been in Boston the driver was still lost!! 
Talk to you from Boston! xx

Look Ros, they have flowers too!!

Who are those Dags?

Need new shoes!

We had a marathon day yesterday.  We started off by catching the subway to ground zero and having a look around the site and the new building going on there and then we found a nice place on the waterfront to have breakfast - but it was almost 12 o'clock!  Anyway we shared a huge plate of nachos and watched the workers coming out onto the plaza area to eat their lunch and soak up the sun.  We walked all around the harbour to Battery Park, a beautiful walk, where we caught the Boat over to The Statue of Liberty.  We spent a while there, we couldn't get up to the Crown because you have to book two - three months in advance!   We caught the boat back and went to Wall Street, Century 21 and visited St Paul's Church which was the hub for workers while clearing up the Twin towers site.  They had a display and photos of the time.  We also visited the Empire State Building.  Had a meal at the Hard rock Cafe and met Jean and Heather for a drink near their new Hotel on 10th Street. 
this morning we got up at 6am showered and went off to the Rockefeller Centre to watch The Today Show being shot.   We took our little Aussie Flags and waved them at the camera!!  We got our mugs on TV and texted the girls to tape it because it would be 4 - 5 o'clock on Wednesday morning SA time.  You can see us perched up against the fence in one shot (I have a red T-shirt on) and then when they have the female presenter talking with her back to the crowd you can see our flags waving above the crowd.  (What a couple of Dags, hey)  We texted Jean that we were there and she was watching but had to leave on their bus tour before we were on.
We came back to our place and had breakfast and then got on the internet and booked accommodation in Brooklyn for tonight (they were booked out here) and a train ride and Accommodation in Boston for the two nights after that.
We want to do the Tenement Museum today and then who knows.....

Harlem to Broadway

We started yesterday with a death defying Taxi ride to Harlem for a Gospel Service.  Once we got to the particular Church we were heading for we found that the public could not go in that day because they had something special on.  We headed into the main street and had a closer look at the Apollo.  Everyone was sooooo dressed up for Church.  Woman had on hats and suits and looked very smart and very 1960's and the Men - OMG - they had jewelled lapels, the fanciest shoes, hats with feathers, they really love to dress up for Church.  We saw one family following their Father down the road and the little girls had big bouncy dresses on and the boys wore suits.  It was against a backdrop of rubbish all over the streets.  It is a very different part of New York.  We felt safe though,  I have not felt wary about being anywhere here - except the ticket machine on the subways hates me!  We bought day passes for the buses and trains which meant using the Subway for the first time.  We got our tickets from the machine underground in Harlem and we were back in Times Square in a flash.  We gathered up our washing and headed off to find a laundromat on 71st Street.  There was a big concert in Times Square yesterday, showcasing all the shows on Broadway so while we walked a couple of blocks we were entertained all the way.  The laundromat was in a lovely area and much quieter than Times Square so while the washing was going we walked along the streets and looked in the shops.  The locals were meeting friends and having coffees and walking their dogs.  With the washing all done we jumped on another subway train and headed to Penn St Station and spoke to the Amtrak office about getting trains to Boston because we are thinking of going there for a couple of days.  They were really helpful so we came back to our place armed with brochures and maps to help plan our next stage.  While on the Subway, sitting there zooming under the streets of New York - all of a sudden music broke out and two guys started dancing and swinging around the poles and doing all these incredible moves in the aisles of the train.  It was fantastic!  The locals seemed a bit annoyed but we tourists loved it.  We had a leisurely couple of hours before getting ready to see Billy Elliot at the Imperial, just across the street from The Edison.  We met Jean and Heather, picked up our tickets and went into the Theatre.  While sitting there chatting a man in front said, with that accent you are Australian.  He was an Aussie from Sydney and he had seen the show a ridiculous amount of times.  So many in fact that he knew all the cast and the parents of the boys who play Billy.  He said the two boys playing Billy here are Australian and the best he has seen.  The show was FANTASTIC, we laughed we cried it was the best show I have ever seen and if it comes to Australia again, we will see it.  After the show we hung around the Stage door like groupies and got the boys autographs and photos!! (We can sell them on EBay when they are academy award winners!!)  After that we went to a Bar and had a drink and a laugh with some Los Angelas women who were visiting New York for their 50th and then we went to Juniors Cheesecake restaurant and met again with the Aussie and his American friend who had also seen the show alot of times and had more wine and cheesecake with them until after midnight.  We staggered home and slept really well until 9 this morning!
Today we are off the Ground Zero, The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building and anything along the way.  Jean and Heather are off to a new Hotel in 14th street to join up with their next tour group.  We will have dinner with them tonight.

Another day in New York City

Our tour to the top of the Rockefeller Tower (Top of the Rock) was really good.  They showed a film about the building of the tower and other interesting facts.  We got to the top in daylight and stayed until all the lights were on and it was dark.  We were up there for two hours and it flew by.  When we came down we decided it was time to get something to eat and a glass of wine.  Jean was suffering after having an alcohol free day the day before.  It was "Shop Till You Drop Day" in New York as part of Fashion week and we stumbled across a Swarovski Shop that had a DJ playing and free wine and chocolates!!!  Well, did we have fun!  After a couple of wines and getting very excited about the goods on offer for very reasonable prices, Jean, Heather and I danced out of there with brand new bling!!  Then we hit the Anne Taylor Shop.  Both Jean and Heather came out with bags.  We had forgotten to eat but the wines kept us going!  There was a great atmosphere everywhere and most shops had DJ's and drinks. 
We slept late this morning.
Peter and I started the day by watching the TV coverage of the 9/11 ceremony.  It was very moving.  We left our Apartment and walked to Columbus Circle which is at the beginning of Central Park and had a nice breakfast.  We then walked over to the park and hired bikes and pedalled the entire circumference of the park.  We stopped a few times to look at fountains, the lake and various things.  The weather was hot but we had shade and on the downhill runs we got up quite a speed. It was great not to have to wear helmets.  After almost two hours, we returned the bikes and set off on foot to see the things you can't get to by bike.  We went to see the building where John Lennon lived and was killed.  We visited Strawberry Fields which is a part of Central Park dedicated to him and we went to Belvedere Castle which is the highest point of the Park.  There were many activities going on like singers, Jazz bands, orchestral bands, it was lovely to be amongst it all.  After a couple more hours we jumped on the Hop On Hop Off bus and back to Times Square where we ate a slice of Pizza and went to Juniors which everyone says has the best Cheescakes.  We grabbed one swedge to share and headed back to our place to put our feet up for a while before meeting Heather and Jean for the Sunset Tour of Brooklyn.
Tomorrow we are off to Harlem to experience a Gospel Service.

Busing our way around New York

Woke early this morning and went down for a big breakfast.  Showered and hit the streets.  We met Jean and Heather at 9.00am and went to get our tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Bus.  Did the Brooklyn Tour which took us over the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, through China Town, Little Italy, Harlem - we stopped at a place to buy a Pizza wedge, We stopped on the other side of the river and walked down into a park that has just opened and took photos.  We didn't bother getting off the bus because the Driver and Commentator were so good and we learned so much.  We went past the Trade Centre Site and they are setting up for the big commemoration tomorrow.  We were advised not to go there tomorrow because it would be chaos and there would be that much security that you wont be able to move.  Jean and Heather might do a food tour and Peter and I are thinking about doing a bicycle tour around Central park.  We also did the Downtown Tour on the Hop On Hop Off bus today which was good also.  It finished in Times Square, which is where we are staying so we each went back to our hotels to freshen up (and I am writing this) and we are meeting again in half an hour to walk down to the Rockefeller Tower.  We will go up to the Observation Tower and look over the lights of New York. 

New York - New York!!

WOW  Talk about life in the fast lane!  We landed and eventually our luggage arrived then we took off in a taxi along roads that we had heard of thanks to Seinfeld.  Traffic, People, amazing.  We got to our Apartment which is smack bang in the middle of Times Square.  We unpacked - yes - unpacked.  Clothes in drawers and hanging in a wardrobe - bliss.  Unpacked our tea and coffee and sugar because we have a microwave (no kettle) but at least now we can boil our own water for a decent cuppa (the simple things of life)  Anyway, then we hit Times Square and walked about like a couple of dumbfounded tourists.  Eyes everywhere, look at that look at this!  They have a huge screen that films the crowd and you can wave at yourself, so we did.  We took photos.  They have characters walking through that you can have photos with, so we did.  We were hungry so gritted our teeth and tried to find something to eat.  we came across this place where you fill a container and pay by the pound!  They had vegetables!!!!  We had a pretty decent meal for less than $10 for both of us.   Jean has arrived at JFK so she should be here within the next hour so that will be fun.  Her Hotel is two minutes from us so thats good.  We have four days planned with Jean and Heather.  We haven't seen the Statue of Liberty yet but plenty of time.  We will be here for at least 5 days.  Love to you all xxx