Day 46 - NEW YORK - HOME

Spent the morning on the ‘Uptown Tour’ of the on/off bus, after having packed and checked out of the hotel. Off for some last-minute retail therapy, before getting the taxi to JFK for our flight back home. Our Bangladeshi taxi driver was very talkative and we learned a lot about the corruption in the NYPD!

Central Park

Harlem house entrances

Last photo in Times Square

Got to the airport in plenty of time – our flight was an hour late – what’s new?

Had a little hiccup at LAX as we were at the wrong terminal for the onward flight to Auckland...... but all’s well that ends well and we are now home safe and sound.

A great trip – wonderful 7 weeks - we had a ball.

Thanks to all our readers. Hope you have enjoyed the trip too!

Day 45 - NEW YORK

Up at 7 this morning to get to the Statue Cruises ferry to Liberty Island to get ourselves primed to scale the 334 steps to the crown of the statue. Took a taxi to Battery Park to get the ferry and enjoyed a lovely 20 minute ride in the beautiful sunshine to Liberty Island.

We started up the statue at a pretty fast pace, however, age and fitness kicked in and we slowed somewhat on the upper levels. Was actually not too onerous at all and the view from up there is magnificent.

View from the Statue of Liberty crown

 Spent an hour in the area going through the museum and taking the necessary photos, then off to Ellis Island to visit the building where the new immigrants to America passed through on their way to a ‘better life’. 

Ellis Island

Really interesting. Lots of exhibits and info so all up it was nearly midday before we arrived back in Manhattan.

Went for lunch at Pier 17 at Southport and bought half-price tickets to a show in the evening.

The 'Naked Cowboy' - famous icon in Times Square

Went off for some shopping, then had a quick bite to eat before going to the Schubert Theatre along the street to the musical, Memphis, about the birth of R & B, and black/white relations in the 50s.

A great way to park in New York

Day 44 - LONDON, NEW YORK

So – eventually got to New York around midday – sorted shuttle that we ahd rebooked – not there – so took taxi to the hotel. Now this hotel is very expensive. However, the wifi is not free, I couldn’t get the coffeemaker to give me hot water for my Earl Grey, but the location is excellent.

The Intercontinental Times square is 2 blocks from Times Square, and right in the theatre district.

We downed baggage and went off to Times Square to check out the famous sights. Amazing place, so vibrant – and so many people on the streets. Times Square area didn’t seem too crowded but the streets around are vey busy.

Bought the Hop on/off bus tickets and we boarded for the Downtown Tour, which lasted around 2 ½ hours.

Got all the goss on who lives/d where and saw all the famous places where different movies were made. We then had dinner and got on the Night Tour bus to visit Brooklyn and Brooklyn heights areas with the lights.

As we were so tired, having actually added hours to our day, we went straight to bed as soon as the tour finished about 11pm (actually 4am).