What are you doing here?

We're not in New York, this year, we're off to Florida!

Come meet Mickey with us, on our new blog!

http://mochrisusa.blogspot.co.uk/

Home sweet home

Landed back on Friday morning after a flight that was delayed by two and a half hours, and contained two screaming babies.  Not fun. 

Just about over the jet lag and, big surprise, already thinking about next year.  Haven’t quite decided yet, but we’re thinking of Boston or Canada.  Boston is edging ahead, based on flights and baggage allowance, but watch this space.

Most holiday pics are now up in the picasa album here.  I might have a few of Chris’s to add, but that’s most of them.

Back to reality tomorrow!

Almost home

An early post for anyone checking in the evening. For those of you checking at work in the morning, we'll be back on British soil by the time you read this.

Had one last look round FAO Schwartz this morning - I so love the Tonner dolls, but there's no easy way to get them home and our cases are already bursting at the seams. Lunch at Lindys, then headed to JFK. After last year, when it was packed, we left plenty of time, but we got here and it was so quiet! We were through security in no time.

We're now sat in a rainy JFK departures lounge waiting to fly.

See you all when we get home!

Last Day

Most of today was spent packing, discovering we'd bought more than we realised, and finishing last minute odds and ends. Wandered down 8th Ave for a late lunch before heading to Coney for the baseball. Let's just say the Cyclones are having a bas season, and leave it at that...

Little bit of excitement of sorts on the subway home when the train came to a complete halt most of the way out the station. There's something spooky about being in a subway carriage without the noise of the engines. We had to walk through the train - all those doors between carriages that you're told not to use - to get to the platform for another train. We're still trying to find out if the official line about equipment failure is true, rather that the muttered rumours that they were checking under the train for a body. We may never know!

I can't believe we're flying home tomorrow, it's come round too fast!

On the waterfront

Headed downtown today, and after a wander round Battery Park, took a ferry over to Staten Island for the rest of the day.

Battery Park is named for the cannons that used to form part of the defenses in colonial times, and like a lot of the downtown area, is built on reclaimed land - look up a map of the NY coastline today, against a couple hundred years ago!  It's amazing how much of it didn't exist!

It also contains one of several memorials to Sept 11th, in this case, the mangled remains of one of the statues that stood at the WTC. Ground Zero itself is simply a building site now, but it's impressive how fast the new tower is going up.

The Staten Island ferry is a great way to do some free sightseeing - the views as you cross the harbour are fab.

The island itself is mostly residential - it's the closest we've seen to the movie idea of US suburia. We headed down to the mall and discovered that the island is a LOT bigger that we realised. In fact, it took about an hour on the bus!  We'll go back next time, but plan to spend the day, as the mall it huge.

Back on Manhattan we wandered round the South Street Seaport, and had a late dinner at Johnny Rockets diner.

Last full day tomorrow, I can't believe how fast it's gone!

Happy 4th of July

A bank holiday is a bank holiday, wherever you are. Public transport on a limited service, some shops closed, others on limited hours and sales galore. Scored some crafty bargains, and mainly just mooched about. People watched in Times Square in the evening and watched Macy's fire works on TV - much better view than crowding in with several hundred thousand people on the bank of the river!

Take me out to the ballgame

What a day, started and finished with loud bangs and flashes.

Woke up to a New York thunder storm, with rain for most of the day.  Mooched about, trying to stay dry, and ended up with a late lunch at Hard Rock Cafe. Mid afternoon, we headed to Money for the baseball. At one point, it looked like the game would be rained off, but in the end it went ahead with just a short delay.

Unfortunately the Cyclones lost to the SI Yankees but hopefully they'll turn the tables tomorrow! We're back for their next home game on Wednesday.

End of the game they had a pre-4th July fireworks display. If the video turns out ok, I'll upload it once we get home.

Independence Day tomorrow. Be fun to see the Macy's fireworks from the Hudson.