NEW YORK, USA
Weather: Overcast and raining but warm.
Today, after an early departure (7:30am) from Boston, we headed off towards New York city.
After an early lunch stop, we arrived in Newport, Rhode Island where we had a bus tour of the town and some of the mansions. What awesome houses!
Then, it was time to say goodbye to Brian and Anne who were leaving us there at Newport. We even dropped them off at the street where their hotel was.
The rest headed off to New York where, on our way to our drop off at JFK Airport, we were stuck in peak hour traffic for an hour!
I hadn't realised that JFK was so huge. We dropped about 5 people at the Delta Airlines terminal (Lee and Renzo where among these), then drove over to the United Airlines terminal and dropped off two more couples - both from the USA - on the other side of the airport, then headed off for our final drop off point at JetBlue where the final USA couple were dropped off. It only left a small group of us on the bus.
We finally arrived at the hotel at 5:30pm. Not all of us were staying here so those who weren't, had to take a taxi to their final destinations.
I quickly checked in, went to my room and dropped off my luggage and headed out again for a walk down the street and to the pharmacy two blocks away for some cold and flu tablets.
I went back to my room, ordered room service, and just relaxed.
Tomorrow, it's home time!! Yay!! I soooo miss my bed and my pillow and knowing where the hell I am when I wake up!
Not looking forward to the long flight though....or going back to work.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Day 30 - Tuesday 12 June 2012
BOSTON, USA - Day 2
Weather: Overcast, with a chance of showers in the afternoon... but still hot!
We had a morning bus tour around the city today - combined with some walking as well. Boy, oh boy!! There is soooo much history in Boston, enough to make my brain want to burst! It was too much to keep track of.
Our first stop was at the Christian Science Church with reflection pool simply because it was a beautiful building.
We also made stops at Paul Revere's house and the old North Church, where we were given a short history of the church and its role in the American Revolution against the British by one of the volunteers there.
As we left the Old North Church we noticed a rather small house up on the hill. We were informed by Linda, that the house is known as "Spite House" or "Skinny House" - one of the thinnest structures in Boston.
Legend has it that the house was built by a Civil War solider who came home to find that the plot of land he and his brother had inherited already had a home on it (built by his brother who stayed home during the war). The jilted brother built a narrow home on the remaining land to ruin the view and light from the larger home built inches away.
Our tour ended at the USS Constitution - an old battle ship. People who wanted to stay, could stay and take a tour of teh ship while the rest of us went back to the hotel.
We arrived at the hotel at 11:15am where the people who signed up for the Harvard University tour had 15 minutes for a rest stop before leaving. I was not one of these. I had the day off!
I decided to start at the beginning of the Freedom Trail as this would lead me to all the historical sites I wanted to see. So, I headed off to the frog pond on the Boston Common as marked on my map that I had received from the hotel concierge.
Nothing much to see there so I followed the red line on the footpath to the State House - where there were kids, kids and more school kids. I kept walking but all the places around the hotel that were marked on the trail were full of shool kids!
I decided to come back later to the places near the hotel and kept on walking to the Quincy Market where I thought I'd get some lunch. Wrong!!! Kids everywhere!! You could hardly move inside the market!
I quickly left and I bumped into an American couple from our tour -John and Cathie I think were their names. These two are really lovely people and they invited me to join them on their walk down to the harbour. I hadn't even realised that it was just nearby. It was lovely. We ended up walking along the boardwalk a little bit then went back and walked to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy's rose garden and ended up back at the market. I left them here and continued on my way on the Freedom Trail.
I ended up going past Paul Revere's house and into "Little Italy". By this stage, I was really tired as I was still trying to recover from my cold. I decided to head back following the red line again as I had no idea where I was (I had stopped looking at the map as I went).
When I arrived back at the market to get something to eat, most of the kids were gone. I quickly grabbed two giant pieces of pizza and sat outside to eat - I was starving! As I was sick this morning, I could hardly eat anything.
I then followed the line back to the hotel and decided to go back to the placed Linda showed us last night to get better and more photographs.
By the time I was almost finished, it was 5pm. I had been walking almost all day and I had to get myself back to the hotel as we were meeting for our farewell dinner at 5:30pm. Not much time for me.
We had our farewell dinner at an Italian restaurant where heaps and heaps of fun was had when Bruno played his harmonica and Harry acccompanied him on the spoons! The whole restaurant enjoyed it too. It wasn't just us in the restaurant.
We then all got on the bus and Linda decided that, anyone who wanted to walk along the harbour could join her. I was one of those people. The sun had set and the lights of Boston were on display.
And that concluded our tour. Tomorrow, one couple leave us at Newport, Rhode Island, some people leave us at JFK Airport and the rest of us head back to the Marriott Eastside in New York City.
Weather: Overcast, with a chance of showers in the afternoon... but still hot!
We had a morning bus tour around the city today - combined with some walking as well. Boy, oh boy!! There is soooo much history in Boston, enough to make my brain want to burst! It was too much to keep track of.
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| Christian Science Church and reflection pool |
We also made stops at Paul Revere's house and the old North Church, where we were given a short history of the church and its role in the American Revolution against the British by one of the volunteers there.
As we left the Old North Church we noticed a rather small house up on the hill. We were informed by Linda, that the house is known as "Spite House" or "Skinny House" - one of the thinnest structures in Boston.
Legend has it that the house was built by a Civil War solider who came home to find that the plot of land he and his brother had inherited already had a home on it (built by his brother who stayed home during the war). The jilted brother built a narrow home on the remaining land to ruin the view and light from the larger home built inches away.
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| The Spite House |
We arrived at the hotel at 11:15am where the people who signed up for the Harvard University tour had 15 minutes for a rest stop before leaving. I was not one of these. I had the day off!
I decided to start at the beginning of the Freedom Trail as this would lead me to all the historical sites I wanted to see. So, I headed off to the frog pond on the Boston Common as marked on my map that I had received from the hotel concierge.
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| The Old State House and site of the Boston Massacre |
I decided to come back later to the places near the hotel and kept on walking to the Quincy Market where I thought I'd get some lunch. Wrong!!! Kids everywhere!! You could hardly move inside the market!
I quickly left and I bumped into an American couple from our tour -John and Cathie I think were their names. These two are really lovely people and they invited me to join them on their walk down to the harbour. I hadn't even realised that it was just nearby. It was lovely. We ended up walking along the boardwalk a little bit then went back and walked to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy's rose garden and ended up back at the market. I left them here and continued on my way on the Freedom Trail.
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| Park Street Church |
When I arrived back at the market to get something to eat, most of the kids were gone. I quickly grabbed two giant pieces of pizza and sat outside to eat - I was starving! As I was sick this morning, I could hardly eat anything.
I then followed the line back to the hotel and decided to go back to the placed Linda showed us last night to get better and more photographs.
By the time I was almost finished, it was 5pm. I had been walking almost all day and I had to get myself back to the hotel as we were meeting for our farewell dinner at 5:30pm. Not much time for me.
We had our farewell dinner at an Italian restaurant where heaps and heaps of fun was had when Bruno played his harmonica and Harry acccompanied him on the spoons! The whole restaurant enjoyed it too. It wasn't just us in the restaurant.
We then all got on the bus and Linda decided that, anyone who wanted to walk along the harbour could join her. I was one of those people. The sun had set and the lights of Boston were on display.
And that concluded our tour. Tomorrow, one couple leave us at Newport, Rhode Island, some people leave us at JFK Airport and the rest of us head back to the Marriott Eastside in New York City.
Day 29 - Monday 11 June 2012
BOSTON, USA - Day 1
Weather: Hot.
Today was mainly spent travelling to Boston. We left at 7:30am and, with our "comfort stops" along the way and a lunch stop, we arrived in Boston at around 4:30pm - a very long day of sitting on the bus.
When we arrived in Boston, we went straight to our hotel to rest until our 5:30pm meeting for dinner - for those, like me, who chose the optional Botson dinner.
We all met at the lobby at 5:30pm and Linda, our tour director, took uas for a short walking tour towards the restaurant.
We are staying at the famous Parker House hotel in the middle of Boston. It's where some of the rich and famous stay. Also, where Malcolm X worked as a bell boy. The hotel is even a building of interest on Boston's Freedom Trail.
During our walking tour, we discovered that our hotel was acros the road from the Granary Burial grounds where Benjamin Franklin's parents are buried, also where John Hancock and the victims of the Boston massacre are buried.
We walked on past the Park Street church, to the Boston Common and up to the Massachusetts State House. Across the road from the State House, there is a memorial to Robert Shaw and the African American soldiers of the fifty-fourth regiment who fought in the Civil War. We were lucky as there was a re-enactment actor there who gave us a short talk about the memorial and what it signifies.
Then, it was off on our walk again, down a street that runs behind the State House and where the locals live. What beautiful buildings! Some of these buildings were once houses and are now apartments. There were at least three houses who are still kept as mansions.
We then crossed to the Boston Public Gardens to the 9/11 memorial which
We ended up having dinner at Legal Sea Foods - a nearly century old institution that has been recognised by many publications as tried and true for seafood. I had the grilled chicken.
Then it was time for another walk back to the hotel where we saw a soft ball game in progress on the Boston Common.
It was then bedtime. Tomorrow, as I have the afternoon off, I plan to follow the Freedom Trail around Boston. Can't get lost doing that!memorialises the victims of 9/11 from Massachusetts and New England.
Weather: Hot.
Today was mainly spent travelling to Boston. We left at 7:30am and, with our "comfort stops" along the way and a lunch stop, we arrived in Boston at around 4:30pm - a very long day of sitting on the bus.
When we arrived in Boston, we went straight to our hotel to rest until our 5:30pm meeting for dinner - for those, like me, who chose the optional Botson dinner.
We all met at the lobby at 5:30pm and Linda, our tour director, took uas for a short walking tour towards the restaurant.
We are staying at the famous Parker House hotel in the middle of Boston. It's where some of the rich and famous stay. Also, where Malcolm X worked as a bell boy. The hotel is even a building of interest on Boston's Freedom Trail.
During our walking tour, we discovered that our hotel was acros the road from the Granary Burial grounds where Benjamin Franklin's parents are buried, also where John Hancock and the victims of the Boston massacre are buried.
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| Part of the Robert Shaw memorial |
Then, it was off on our walk again, down a street that runs behind the State House and where the locals live. What beautiful buildings! Some of these buildings were once houses and are now apartments. There were at least three houses who are still kept as mansions.
 |
| Massachusetts State House |
We ended up having dinner at Legal Sea Foods - a nearly century old institution that has been recognised by many publications as tried and true for seafood. I had the grilled chicken.
Then it was time for another walk back to the hotel where we saw a soft ball game in progress on the Boston Common.
It was then bedtime. Tomorrow, as I have the afternoon off, I plan to follow the Freedom Trail around Boston. Can't get lost doing that!memorialises the victims of 9/11 from Massachusetts and New England.
Day 28 - Sunday 10 June 2012
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - Day 2
Weather: Overcast and cool in the morning. Hot in the afternoon.
Woke up this morning feeling awful - I certainly have a cold. Luckily for us, it's a free day today.
After breakfast, we had a small tour around the city with our local tour guide. He took us all around the old town but also to the newer part of town and to see how the locals live in the modern world.
Then, we were all free to do as we wished. I returned to the hotel to change clothes as it had gotten warmer during the 2 and a half hours we were out. My plan was to change and leave again to take photographs. That was my plan.
What actually happened was that I felt pretty awful so I decided to take a very small nap. It turned out to be a 2 and a half hour nap and, when I woke up, I felt worse. I went out anyway as it was my last chance to see and take photos of this great city. It was pretty tough going but I took some tablets and was on my way.
During my travels, I bumped into Lee and Renzo. They had seen me pass by as they sat inside one of the restaurants having lunch. They didn't call out to me as they thought I wanted some time to do my own thing. They were right in part - I wanted to stay away from them because I didn't want to infect them with my cold!
I was looking for a place to eat lunch but most of the places looked closed as it was already 3pm. Renzo advised that there was a place near our hotel to eat a cheap meal. I wasn't feeling too well so I didn't want a big meal.
I ended up at a small take away pasta place - where I was the only one inside. It was pretty good pasta - simple but nice ... and cheap too. Renzo and Lee waited for me outside the supermarket next door then we all went back to the hotel and our own ways.
I was planning to go out again to take photos of the city at night, but that didn't eventuate - I was way too sick. I ended up taking my cold and flu medication, typing this blog an going to bed - early.
Tomorrow, Boston.
Weather: Overcast and cool in the morning. Hot in the afternoon.
Woke up this morning feeling awful - I certainly have a cold. Luckily for us, it's a free day today.
After breakfast, we had a small tour around the city with our local tour guide. He took us all around the old town but also to the newer part of town and to see how the locals live in the modern world.
Then, we were all free to do as we wished. I returned to the hotel to change clothes as it had gotten warmer during the 2 and a half hours we were out. My plan was to change and leave again to take photographs. That was my plan.
What actually happened was that I felt pretty awful so I decided to take a very small nap. It turned out to be a 2 and a half hour nap and, when I woke up, I felt worse. I went out anyway as it was my last chance to see and take photos of this great city. It was pretty tough going but I took some tablets and was on my way.
During my travels, I bumped into Lee and Renzo. They had seen me pass by as they sat inside one of the restaurants having lunch. They didn't call out to me as they thought I wanted some time to do my own thing. They were right in part - I wanted to stay away from them because I didn't want to infect them with my cold!
I was looking for a place to eat lunch but most of the places looked closed as it was already 3pm. Renzo advised that there was a place near our hotel to eat a cheap meal. I wasn't feeling too well so I didn't want a big meal.
I ended up at a small take away pasta place - where I was the only one inside. It was pretty good pasta - simple but nice ... and cheap too. Renzo and Lee waited for me outside the supermarket next door then we all went back to the hotel and our own ways.
I was planning to go out again to take photos of the city at night, but that didn't eventuate - I was way too sick. I ended up taking my cold and flu medication, typing this blog an going to bed - early.
Tomorrow, Boston.
Day 27 - Saturday 9 June 2012
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - Day 1
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| Notre Dame altar |
Weather: Sunny and warm -23 degrees.
When I got back to my hotel last night, I heard a lot of sirens and some sort of chanting. One look out the window showed protesters marching up to the Formula 1 Grand Prix party on Peel Street - where I'd just been - and police moving in to keep order. Then the noise started, shouting, screaming, sirens. The riots had started. Thank goodness I left when I did! It was all over the news this morning. It looked quite nasty.
Anyway, we had a late start this morning and met our local guide, Christina, at 9am. We did a quick city tour on our way over to Notre Dame chathedral. Wow! It was pretty spectacular. But, as you know, I'm a church kind of person. Unusually for a Catholic cathedral, this one had two balconies inside as it was built by a Protestant who loved his creation so much, that he converted to Catholosism on his death bed just so he could be buried in his creation. No wonder Celine Dion was married here as the alter is incredibly beautiful. We also went in back to the little chapel they have where most of the weddings are conducted.
Our next stop was at Mont Royal - the "mountain" that gives Montreal its name. Now, you have to call it a mountain, even though it's just a hill, as telling a Montrealian otherwise is an insult.
Our tour ended back at our hotel where we said goodbye to Christina. We then had a 20 minute break before heading off to Quebec City.
Just before entering the city, we went to the Trafalgar hidden treasure - Parc de Chauste de Chaliere. It is a waterfall that is created when water seeps through the wall of the hydroelectricty plant. There is even a suspension bridge going across the gorge. There were planey of locals hanging out and splashing their feet in the water.
When we finally arrived in Quebec, we went for a drive around the old part of the city and what a pretty city it is. So much to take photos of, so many old buldings... and soooo many hills! We then went to the hotel in the new part of the city - just up the road and walking distance from the old part.
At around 5:30PM, our Tour Director took us on an orientation walk around the old streets of Quebec City - up and down hills. We were then free to do our own thing until tomorrow morning.
Lee, Renzo and I went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It was a challenge as only one waitress spoke understandable English, even though our Tour Director told us that everyone spoke English as well as French.
After dinner, we went on a small walk which led us to a walk along the old city's fortification walls used to defend the city from invasions. People use these walls to sun bake in the summer months and there plenty of young people doing this.
As we have a free afternoon tomorrow, there isplenty of time to take photos so I decided to go back to the hotel for a rest - those hills are a killer!! Plus I'm not feeling too well. Think I've caught the cold that's been going around the bus. Damn!!
When I got back to my hotel last night, I heard a lot of sirens and some sort of chanting. One look out the window showed protesters marching up to the Formula 1 Grand Prix party on Peel Street - where I'd just been - and police moving in to keep order. Then the noise started, shouting, screaming, sirens. The riots had started. Thank goodness I left when I did! It was all over the news this morning. It looked quite nasty.
Anyway, we had a late start this morning and met our local guide, Christina, at 9am. We did a quick city tour on our way over to Notre Dame chathedral. Wow! It was pretty spectacular. But, as you know, I'm a church kind of person. Unusually for a Catholic cathedral, this one had two balconies inside as it was built by a Protestant who loved his creation so much, that he converted to Catholosism on his death bed just so he could be buried in his creation. No wonder Celine Dion was married here as the alter is incredibly beautiful. We also went in back to the little chapel they have where most of the weddings are conducted.
Our next stop was at Mont Royal - the "mountain" that gives Montreal its name. Now, you have to call it a mountain, even though it's just a hill, as telling a Montrealian otherwise is an insult.
Our tour ended back at our hotel where we said goodbye to Christina. We then had a 20 minute break before heading off to Quebec City.
Just before entering the city, we went to the Trafalgar hidden treasure - Parc de Chauste de Chaliere. It is a waterfall that is created when water seeps through the wall of the hydroelectricty plant. There is even a suspension bridge going across the gorge. There were planey of locals hanging out and splashing their feet in the water.When we finally arrived in Quebec, we went for a drive around the old part of the city and what a pretty city it is. So much to take photos of, so many old buldings... and soooo many hills! We then went to the hotel in the new part of the city - just up the road and walking distance from the old part.
At around 5:30PM, our Tour Director took us on an orientation walk around the old streets of Quebec City - up and down hills. We were then free to do our own thing until tomorrow morning.
Lee, Renzo and I went to a nearby restaurant for dinner. It was a challenge as only one waitress spoke understandable English, even though our Tour Director told us that everyone spoke English as well as French.
After dinner, we went on a small walk which led us to a walk along the old city's fortification walls used to defend the city from invasions. People use these walls to sun bake in the summer months and there plenty of young people doing this.
As we have a free afternoon tomorrow, there isplenty of time to take photos so I decided to go back to the hotel for a rest - those hills are a killer!! Plus I'm not feeling too well. Think I've caught the cold that's been going around the bus. Damn!!
Took some cold and flu capsules and am going to bed early.
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| View of the Ollympic Stadium from Mont Royal |
Day 26 - Friday 8 June 2012
MONTREAL, CANADA
Arrived in Montreal on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. There are people everywhere. The city is packed and Grand Prix flags are flying everywhere.
We arrived at the old Montreal area and given a short orientation tour of this part of town and where we should meet if we were going to the Maple syrup information session (where free ice cream was included! Yum!).
This part of town is so beautiful. The cobblestone streets, the buildings all reminded me of all those European cities I visited last year. I, of course, went off on a photography mission to take as many photos as I could. It's quite interesting as one side of the street is the old part of town and the other, the new part of town with skyscrapers, etc. Nearly every restaurant and cafe had Grand Prix flags. There was a real buzz in the air.
Walked over to the waters edge and discovered that Cirque de Soliel are in town. Not much to see at the water front as there wasn't really any open water to take photos of. You could hear the Grand Prix cars zipping around the track. Couldn't see them though, as the streets of Notre Dame island across the water were being used for the race and was covered with trees. I went back into the streets of the old town and found some other things to take photos of when, before I knew it, it was time for the Maple syrup information session.
It was quite interesting as the girl explained how the syrup is tapped and made. We even had a taste test of all the different stages of the syrup. And, oh my God, pure maple syrup tastes delicious. It's nothing like you get at the supermarkets where other stuff has been added to it to make it thick. And there are stages to it too - light, medium and dark. The dark, as can be expected tastes really, really sweet but has a watery consistency so you can actaully drink it.
After this, it was time to get back on the bus. Just in time too as, when the bus arrived, and we got onboard, it started raining. Not just a little rain either, this was a white out type of storm. You couldn't see a thing out the window!
Weather: Overcast and warm.
Before leaving for Montreal this morning, we were given a chance to walk around the Parliament building and take pictures around the gardens of this great bulding. Of course, Rosa and I had taken only photos of the front of the building, as well as the House of Commons building next door and the Parliament offices buildings.
Then we finished our tour at the Byward Markets where we were given an chance to pick up a snack as we were going to have a late lunch. Then, it was on the road again.
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| Old Montreal |
We arrived at the old Montreal area and given a short orientation tour of this part of town and where we should meet if we were going to the Maple syrup information session (where free ice cream was included! Yum!).
This part of town is so beautiful. The cobblestone streets, the buildings all reminded me of all those European cities I visited last year. I, of course, went off on a photography mission to take as many photos as I could. It's quite interesting as one side of the street is the old part of town and the other, the new part of town with skyscrapers, etc. Nearly every restaurant and cafe had Grand Prix flags. There was a real buzz in the air.
Walked over to the waters edge and discovered that Cirque de Soliel are in town. Not much to see at the water front as there wasn't really any open water to take photos of. You could hear the Grand Prix cars zipping around the track. Couldn't see them though, as the streets of Notre Dame island across the water were being used for the race and was covered with trees. I went back into the streets of the old town and found some other things to take photos of when, before I knew it, it was time for the Maple syrup information session.
It was quite interesting as the girl explained how the syrup is tapped and made. We even had a taste test of all the different stages of the syrup. And, oh my God, pure maple syrup tastes delicious. It's nothing like you get at the supermarkets where other stuff has been added to it to make it thick. And there are stages to it too - light, medium and dark. The dark, as can be expected tastes really, really sweet but has a watery consistency so you can actaully drink it.
After this, it was time to get back on the bus. Just in time too as, when the bus arrived, and we got onboard, it started raining. Not just a little rain either, this was a white out type of storm. You couldn't see a thing out the window!
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| Old Montreal street |
We had about an hour free before getting back on the bus to head off to dinner - a steak house in the Old Montreal across the street from where we had the maple information session.
There were other groups in the building but we had a whole floor to ourselves. Great food. No one left disappointed. I even had 1 and a half desserts which was three types of chocolate layers to form a type of cake. The half came from Lee who couldn't eat all of hers and her hubby couldn't either so I gave her half a good home.
Back on the bus and back to the hotel. There was some type of celebration going on about two blocks from our hotel so I wandered on over to find out what was going on. They had closed one block of Peel Street to celebrate the Grand Prix. There was food, drinking, grid girls and a whole lot of people.
After a look around, I went back to the hotel and bed. Tomorrow, we head off to Quebec City.
We had about an hour free before getting back on the bus to head off to dinner - a steak house in the Old Montreal across the street from where we had the maple information session.
There were other groups in the building but we had a whole floor to ourselves. Great food. No one left disappointed. I even had 1 and a half desserts which was three types of chocolate layers to form a type of cake. The half came from Lee who couldn't eat all of hers and her hubby couldn't either so I gave her half a good home.
Back on the bus and back to the hotel. There was some type of celebration going on about two blocks from our hotel so I wandered on over to find out what was going on. They had closed one block of Peel Street to celebrate the Grand Prix. There was food, drinking, grid girls and a whole lot of people.
After a look around, I went back to the hotel and bed. Tomorrow, we head off to Quebec City.
Before leaving for Montreal this morning, we were given a chance to walk around the Parliament building and take pictures around the gardens of this great bulding. Of course, Rosa and I had taken only photos of the front of the building, as well as the House of Commons building next door and the Parliament offices buildings.
Day 25 - Thurday 7 June 2012
OTTAWA, CANADA
Weather: Overcast but very warm.
Just before arriving in Ottawa, we had a stop at a little town called Kingston for lunch. It was full of shops and restaurants in old, stone buildings. It was so beautiful and peaceful we didn't want to leave.
After a very long drive to Ottawa, we finally arrived at around 4:30pm and we went on a small orientation tour of the city around our hotel, then we were left at the Bayward Markets to do what we wanted.
Lee, her husband Renzo, Rosa and I decided to pop into an Italian restaurant called Mama Grazzi's near the Bayward Market for dinner. As all the outside tables were full, we were seated inside where we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while. It was a great meal and great company.
After dinner, we went for a walk taking pictures of some of the magnificent buildings in this city. There soooo many that Lee and Renzo went back to the hotel after about 20 minutes and Rosa and I kept on
Weather: Overcast but very warm.
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| Kingston City Hall |
Just before arriving in Ottawa, we had a stop at a little town called Kingston for lunch. It was full of shops and restaurants in old, stone buildings. It was so beautiful and peaceful we didn't want to leave.
After a very long drive to Ottawa, we finally arrived at around 4:30pm and we went on a small orientation tour of the city around our hotel, then we were left at the Bayward Markets to do what we wanted.
Lee, her husband Renzo, Rosa and I decided to pop into an Italian restaurant called Mama Grazzi's near the Bayward Market for dinner. As all the outside tables were full, we were seated inside where we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while. It was a great meal and great company.
After dinner, we went for a walk taking pictures of some of the magnificent buildings in this city. There soooo many that Lee and Renzo went back to the hotel after about 20 minutes and Rosa and I kept on
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| Parliament Building with approaching storm clouds |
walking and clicking away.
Rosa and I decided to go back to the hotel when we saw dark storm clouds approaching the Parliament building. Lucky we did as it just started to rain as we reached the hotel door.
When we first arrived, our tour director had said that, weather permitting, there would be a light show at the Parliament building starting at 10pm. She would meet anyone who wanted to go in the lobby at 9:30pm. With this weather, Rosa and I didn't think the show would be on. As we arrived back at the hotel, we bumped into Brian and his wife Anne who advised us that there would be no show because of the thunder storm that was approaching. Bummer! We were looking forward to it.
We got inside when the storm really hit. So, we couldn't go out so I stayed in my room and just relaxed before going to bed. Tomorrow, Montreal.
Rosa and I decided to go back to the hotel when we saw dark storm clouds approaching the Parliament building. Lucky we did as it just started to rain as we reached the hotel door.
When we first arrived, our tour director had said that, weather permitting, there would be a light show at the Parliament building starting at 10pm. She would meet anyone who wanted to go in the lobby at 9:30pm. With this weather, Rosa and I didn't think the show would be on. As we arrived back at the hotel, we bumped into Brian and his wife Anne who advised us that there would be no show because of the thunder storm that was approaching. Bummer! We were looking forward to it.
We got inside when the storm really hit. So, we couldn't go out so I stayed in my room and just relaxed before going to bed. Tomorrow, Montreal.
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| Fairmont Hotel |
Day 24 - Wednesday 6 June 2012
TORONTO, CANADA
Weather: Hot and sunny during the morning. Rain and thunder storms started at around 3pm.
After breakfast we were off on a bus tour of Toronto. Then, the people that were going up the CN Tower were dropped off at the tower and the rest of the folks got dropped off at the hotel. I, of course, had to go up the CN Tower.
There is a revolving restaurant up the top which takes up half of the floor so we didn't get a 360 degree view but it was still quite a sight. They even have a section called the Glass Floor which, as the name suggests, is a see-through plastic that you can stand on and look down to the ground. A bit disappointing if you've ever been to the Eureka Tower but I guess the CN tower is older.
We were given an hour there which was way too much time. I was ready to leave in 15 minutes. We were then dropped off at our hotel and had the rest of the afternoon free. I had the rest of the afternoon and night free as I wasn't going to the optional dinner cruise on Lake Ontario. My plan was to go to be early and try to get some real sleep. I always have trouble sleeping when I'm touring.
I decided to walk around a bit and found myself at the waterfront on the shores of Lake Ontario. It was very hot and I got sunburned some more. Before I knew it, I had walked for almost two hours. The clouds started to roll in so I decided to head back to the hotel.
As I hadn't had lunch yet and it was already 3pm, I decided to stop off at the Tim Horton's cafe next to the hotel for somethign to eat. Then, I decided against going back to my room, even though I was exhausted, and went in search of the underground shopping "city" that our tour director Linda had told us about. Apparently, there is a whole world of shops right underneath the city so I had to see that for myself.
It wasn't hard to find as it was right off the lobby of the hotel. On the way through, I bumped into Lee and Renzo outside one of the shops. Lee is a very small Asian lady and her hubby Renzo is a big Italian man. Both lovely people. Lee was diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago and had a fairly large section of her stomach removed. I wondered why she was so thin and, without me asking, the told me when we were walking along the falls in Niagara.
Anyway, they invited me to join them so I did. We ended up walking around for two hours. We started out underground then headed for the shopping strip of Yonge Street. We got caught in the rain on the way back so found a way back to the underground shopping centre through another entrance.
It is huge! We couldn't have walked it all even if we had wanted to. Just before our hotel, we stopped at the food court and got ourselves something to eat in our rooms for dinner. We parted ways on the sixth floor as that's where Lee and Renzo's room was and I continued to my room on the tenth floor.
I ate my dinner, wrote my blog and just relaxed before having an early night. Hopefully, the thunder storm will stop soon so I get some sleep! Tomorrow we head off to Ottawa.
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| Gold encrusted building |
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| CN Tower |
Weather: Hot and sunny during the morning. Rain and thunder storms started at around 3pm.
After breakfast we were off on a bus tour of Toronto. Then, the people that were going up the CN Tower were dropped off at the tower and the rest of the folks got dropped off at the hotel. I, of course, had to go up the CN Tower.
There is a revolving restaurant up the top which takes up half of the floor so we didn't get a 360 degree view but it was still quite a sight. They even have a section called the Glass Floor which, as the name suggests, is a see-through plastic that you can stand on and look down to the ground. A bit disappointing if you've ever been to the Eureka Tower but I guess the CN tower is older.
We were given an hour there which was way too much time. I was ready to leave in 15 minutes. We were then dropped off at our hotel and had the rest of the afternoon free. I had the rest of the afternoon and night free as I wasn't going to the optional dinner cruise on Lake Ontario. My plan was to go to be early and try to get some real sleep. I always have trouble sleeping when I'm touring.
I decided to walk around a bit and found myself at the waterfront on the shores of Lake Ontario. It was very hot and I got sunburned some more. Before I knew it, I had walked for almost two hours. The clouds started to roll in so I decided to head back to the hotel.
As I hadn't had lunch yet and it was already 3pm, I decided to stop off at the Tim Horton's cafe next to the hotel for somethign to eat. Then, I decided against going back to my room, even though I was exhausted, and went in search of the underground shopping "city" that our tour director Linda had told us about. Apparently, there is a whole world of shops right underneath the city so I had to see that for myself.
It wasn't hard to find as it was right off the lobby of the hotel. On the way through, I bumped into Lee and Renzo outside one of the shops. Lee is a very small Asian lady and her hubby Renzo is a big Italian man. Both lovely people. Lee was diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago and had a fairly large section of her stomach removed. I wondered why she was so thin and, without me asking, the told me when we were walking along the falls in Niagara.
Anyway, they invited me to join them so I did. We ended up walking around for two hours. We started out underground then headed for the shopping strip of Yonge Street. We got caught in the rain on the way back so found a way back to the underground shopping centre through another entrance.
It is huge! We couldn't have walked it all even if we had wanted to. Just before our hotel, we stopped at the food court and got ourselves something to eat in our rooms for dinner. We parted ways on the sixth floor as that's where Lee and Renzo's room was and I continued to my room on the tenth floor.
I ate my dinner, wrote my blog and just relaxed before having an early night. Hopefully, the thunder storm will stop soon so I get some sleep! Tomorrow we head off to Ottawa.
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| Flat iron building |
Day 23 - Tuesday 5 June 2012
TORONTO, CANADA
Weather: A glorious, sunny and warm day. So much for the thunder and rain forcasted!
Today was spent travelling to Toronto.
On the way out of Niagara, we drove along the Niagara River and stopped at historic Niagara-by-the-Lake. It's a very pretty little town where no large tour buses are allowed in the main centre of town. We were dropped off at a car park just outside of town and some took the shuttle bus into town and some of us took the 5-10 minutes walk into town.
Some houses and buildings along the streets had plaques stating the year that the building was established. I saw some that had Circa 1839 and 1840. We took the "million dollar drive" out of town passing homes that are valued into the millions of dollars.
We stopped at the place where they say Niagara Falls originated possibly thousands of years before it's discovery. The falls recede a certain amount every year.
After a very long bus drive we finally arrived in Toronto. Half the people on the bus were still sleeping when our tour director Linda started to tell us about Toronto.
The first thing we all noticed were all the apartement buildings everywhere you look. Many are still in the process of being built. There are two gold buildings in this city with actual gold dust encrusted on their windows. The building owners wanted their building to stand out on the Toronto skyline. And it is actually real gold.
Dinner was held at one of the restaurants at the hotel. I was almost late for dinner as I got stuck at the elevators. They have really slow elevators here at the Sheraton and when the elevator finally arrived it was almost full. Then the bloody thing decides to stop on every floor all the way down from the 10th floor (where I was staying) even if there wasn't anyone on the floor! Frustrating!
After dinner I was really tired so I went to my room and got ready for bed - it was 9pm already. These late nights and early starts are starting to catch up.
I was just starting to get to sleep when, at 11:30pm I heard this loud, constant beeping noise. I thought it was my alarm at first, thinking it couldnt' be 5:30am already. When pressing the off button didn't make it stop, I got up and started to hunt down the possible source of the noise. It was coming from a speaker just above the door to my room - it was the fire alarm! I quickly got dressed and had my bag on my shoulder ready to evacuate.
Then there was an announcement that an alarm has been triggered in the south tower and that the hotel's team were checking it out and to stand by for further instructions. Within minutes I could hear sirens approaching the hotel - about six minutes from the time the alarm went off.
Another announcement stating that the fire brigade were on the scene and were chekcing it out and to stand by, all the while that stupid beeping continued. I could hear people in the corridor outside my room wondering if they should evacuate.
The whole incident lasted about fifteen minutes. Then we were informed that the fire brigade has given the all clear and that we will not need to evacuate and there wouldn't be any further annoucements. Have a good night.
I put my pyjamas back on and got into bed. Then that stupid beeping again and the guy repeats what he just said! After saying there wouldn't be any further announcements!
Had a hard time going to sleep after that.
Weather: A glorious, sunny and warm day. So much for the thunder and rain forcasted!
Today was spent travelling to Toronto.
On the way out of Niagara, we drove along the Niagara River and stopped at historic Niagara-by-the-Lake. It's a very pretty little town where no large tour buses are allowed in the main centre of town. We were dropped off at a car park just outside of town and some took the shuttle bus into town and some of us took the 5-10 minutes walk into town.
Some houses and buildings along the streets had plaques stating the year that the building was established. I saw some that had Circa 1839 and 1840. We took the "million dollar drive" out of town passing homes that are valued into the millions of dollars.
We stopped at the place where they say Niagara Falls originated possibly thousands of years before it's discovery. The falls recede a certain amount every year.
After a very long bus drive we finally arrived in Toronto. Half the people on the bus were still sleeping when our tour director Linda started to tell us about Toronto.
The first thing we all noticed were all the apartement buildings everywhere you look. Many are still in the process of being built. There are two gold buildings in this city with actual gold dust encrusted on their windows. The building owners wanted their building to stand out on the Toronto skyline. And it is actually real gold.
Dinner was held at one of the restaurants at the hotel. I was almost late for dinner as I got stuck at the elevators. They have really slow elevators here at the Sheraton and when the elevator finally arrived it was almost full. Then the bloody thing decides to stop on every floor all the way down from the 10th floor (where I was staying) even if there wasn't anyone on the floor! Frustrating!
After dinner I was really tired so I went to my room and got ready for bed - it was 9pm already. These late nights and early starts are starting to catch up.
I was just starting to get to sleep when, at 11:30pm I heard this loud, constant beeping noise. I thought it was my alarm at first, thinking it couldnt' be 5:30am already. When pressing the off button didn't make it stop, I got up and started to hunt down the possible source of the noise. It was coming from a speaker just above the door to my room - it was the fire alarm! I quickly got dressed and had my bag on my shoulder ready to evacuate.
Then there was an announcement that an alarm has been triggered in the south tower and that the hotel's team were checking it out and to stand by for further instructions. Within minutes I could hear sirens approaching the hotel - about six minutes from the time the alarm went off.
Another announcement stating that the fire brigade were on the scene and were chekcing it out and to stand by, all the while that stupid beeping continued. I could hear people in the corridor outside my room wondering if they should evacuate.
The whole incident lasted about fifteen minutes. Then we were informed that the fire brigade has given the all clear and that we will not need to evacuate and there wouldn't be any further annoucements. Have a good night.
I put my pyjamas back on and got into bed. Then that stupid beeping again and the guy repeats what he just said! After saying there wouldn't be any further announcements!
Had a hard time going to sleep after that.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Day 22 - Monday 4 June 2012
NIAGARA FALLS, USA/CANADA
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| Niagara Falls Casino |
Weather: Overcast, grey and cold.
Today was spent travelling to Niagara Falls. We left Leola at 7:15am and arrived at Niagara at 4:45pm. It was a long travel day.
Our lunch stop was at a large supermarket called Wegman's. It has everything you could possible need, not just groceries. It also has a cafe type section where you can get pizza slices, fruit, Chinese food, healthy alternatives and also subs with hot or cold options.
As we approched the border, you could see the falls and the mist flying into the air. crossing the border consisted of them checking and stamping our passports, answering a few questions and that was all. Then we were ordered to get back on our bus and be on our way. We were officially in Canada.
I guess I expected Niagara to be a small town. Not so. There are soooo many tourist traps here it's ridiculous. We had a small tour of the town and saw the amazing falls - both the American and Canadian.
Today was spent travelling to Niagara Falls. We left Leola at 7:15am and arrived at Niagara at 4:45pm. It was a long travel day.
Our lunch stop was at a large supermarket called Wegman's. It has everything you could possible need, not just groceries. It also has a cafe type section where you can get pizza slices, fruit, Chinese food, healthy alternatives and also subs with hot or cold options.
As we approched the border, you could see the falls and the mist flying into the air. crossing the border consisted of them checking and stamping our passports, answering a few questions and that was all. Then we were ordered to get back on our bus and be on our way. We were officially in Canada.
I guess I expected Niagara to be a small town. Not so. There are soooo many tourist traps here it's ridiculous. We had a small tour of the town and saw the amazing falls - both the American and Canadian.
We got the hotel and had enough time to relax before heading out to a winery for dinner. The winery was located at a place called Vineland and the winery was called Vineland Estate. When we arrived, there was some wine tasting for those wine drinkers in the group - surprisingly, I wasn't the only non-wine drinker in the group for once! Then we had a quick look around the tasting room and gift shop before heading over to the restaurant for dinner. Another great meal. And another few kilos added to my waist line!! Then it was off to our hotel.
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| US falls lit up |
As soon as we arrived back at the hotel, I changed into warmer clothes and headed down the street to look at the falls as our tour director had advised us that they are lit up at night. And they most certainly were. Originally, I'd planned to stay only 5 minutes as it was already 10pm. I stayed for almost half an hour as, everytime I thought the light show was finished, they'd change the colours again. I took hundreds of photos and a hell of a lot of video footage.
Then, it was time to head up the hill to the hotel (hard going as it was a steep hill!) and bed time.
Tomorrow we spend one last morning in Niagara then head off to Toronto.
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| Canadian falls lit up |
Day 21 - Sunday 3 June 2012
PENNSYLVANIA AND LANCASTER COUNTY - AMISH COUNTRY, USA
Weather: Sunny and warm with a cool breeze.
Most of today was spent travelling to Pennsylvania and Amish country. We were in luck today. Sunday is when the Amish go to church ... and of course they have to go home again. We saw so many Amish people out on the streets making their way home after church - at 3pm.
Now the Amish do not have church buildings like other religions but they have their "church services" at the family home. They start in the morning and the service lasts until after lunch so, as we arrived at just after lunch, we caught several people making their way home - both buggies and people walking. It was quite a sight. I felt kind of weird though taking their photos so I eventually stopped. They are quite amazing and some people - mostly the kids - waved as they passed us by.
We eventually made our stop at our restaurant for lunch. Again, they had the "family style" tables there and we had four tables reserved for our group. We had about an hour and a half to eat and look around before we had to board the bus again for our tour with our local guide.
The tour consisted of driving around the area where the Amish had their farms and we were fortunately able to see more buggies and people walking. Some buggies had a boy and girl seating and then there was another boy or girl sitting on the very edge of the door way - almost hanging out of the buggy. This person was the chaperone and this demonstrated that the boy and girl on board did not know each other well enough to be alone or they have just started dating and therefore needed a chaperone.
Our guide was really knowledgeable about the whole Amish and we even got to see some young teenage boys playing volley ball in their yard. Also, there were a whole lot of teenagers in buggies making their way towards these houses. Our guide advised us that this was the teenagers meeting up to have a "party". Now, as you can imagine, their parties aren't the same as our teenage parties. There was even a mother flying a kite with her young daughter and her toddler, blond haired son. He was so very cute.
After our tour we ended up where we had begun - at the restaurant - where we got a tour of an Amish home. Of course, it was a sample. We first met in a small school room where our guide educated us on the Amish education system and answered some more of our Amish questions.
The house seemed very small. It was a little strange that, in the laundry, there was a pair of rollerblades. We were told that they couldn't ride bicycles so the boys rode scooters (we saw a group of three teenagers doing this on our tour on their way to the party) yet they had rollerblades. We were also informed that the Amish are not against all technology so long as it doesn't interfer with family and family life like television, computers and computer games seem to do. It's all about what's good for the family - they do have refridgerators, for example, although it's a gas system, because it benefits the family and their health.
Then it was back on the bus and off to the hotel in Leola. Our hotel is really intersting as it consists of five different buildings. I'm in building 4 in room 405 and, wow!, my room is huge!! I can have a party in this room! I love it!
After a bit of a break, it was time for dinner. it was held in a big room in a restaurant across the complex of our hotel. There, we experienced a "traditional" Amish meal. Not sure how authentic the meal was at consisted of: salad as a starter, then platters of corn and lima beans in butter, mash potatoes and gravy, diced celery in a cheese sauce, slices of roast beef and ham with chicken bits and stuffing. Then for dessert two slices of different pies - apple and shoo-fly pie. It's called shoo-fly because when the Amish women put the pie on their window sills to cool, it attracts the flies and the women wave them away with a "shoo fly". It tasted like a date and cinnamon pie.
After our meal, the chef demonstrated the making of whoopee pies - an Amish creation which is like a giant Oreo biscuit but, instead of biscuits, they taste more like two slices of chocolate cake with white icing in the middle. And it sure looks like it has a whole lot of sugar and it contains lard. Yep, lard. I wasn't too sure about tasting one.
When the demonstration was over, out came the whoopee pie lids and an icing tube for us to make our own pies. The ladies on our table didn't want to eat one but I thought I'd just taste one. I ended up eating the whole thing! It tasted just like a slice of chocolate cake. You couldn't even tast the icing in the middle.
Then it was bed time after a long day. Tomorrow, it's going to be an even longer day - on the bus. Apparently, it's an 8 hour drive up to Niagara Falls so we'll be leaving early at 7:15am and we won't be arriving until late in the day.
So it's goodbye to towns called Intercourse, Blue Ball and Virginville and hello Niagara. And yes, I stocked up on some Intercourse magnets - wasn't game enough to buy the "I Love Intercourse" t-shirts.
Weather: Sunny and warm with a cool breeze.
Most of today was spent travelling to Pennsylvania and Amish country. We were in luck today. Sunday is when the Amish go to church ... and of course they have to go home again. We saw so many Amish people out on the streets making their way home after church - at 3pm.
Now the Amish do not have church buildings like other religions but they have their "church services" at the family home. They start in the morning and the service lasts until after lunch so, as we arrived at just after lunch, we caught several people making their way home - both buggies and people walking. It was quite a sight. I felt kind of weird though taking their photos so I eventually stopped. They are quite amazing and some people - mostly the kids - waved as they passed us by.
We eventually made our stop at our restaurant for lunch. Again, they had the "family style" tables there and we had four tables reserved for our group. We had about an hour and a half to eat and look around before we had to board the bus again for our tour with our local guide.
The tour consisted of driving around the area where the Amish had their farms and we were fortunately able to see more buggies and people walking. Some buggies had a boy and girl seating and then there was another boy or girl sitting on the very edge of the door way - almost hanging out of the buggy. This person was the chaperone and this demonstrated that the boy and girl on board did not know each other well enough to be alone or they have just started dating and therefore needed a chaperone.
Our guide was really knowledgeable about the whole Amish and we even got to see some young teenage boys playing volley ball in their yard. Also, there were a whole lot of teenagers in buggies making their way towards these houses. Our guide advised us that this was the teenagers meeting up to have a "party". Now, as you can imagine, their parties aren't the same as our teenage parties. There was even a mother flying a kite with her young daughter and her toddler, blond haired son. He was so very cute.
After our tour we ended up where we had begun - at the restaurant - where we got a tour of an Amish home. Of course, it was a sample. We first met in a small school room where our guide educated us on the Amish education system and answered some more of our Amish questions.
The house seemed very small. It was a little strange that, in the laundry, there was a pair of rollerblades. We were told that they couldn't ride bicycles so the boys rode scooters (we saw a group of three teenagers doing this on our tour on their way to the party) yet they had rollerblades. We were also informed that the Amish are not against all technology so long as it doesn't interfer with family and family life like television, computers and computer games seem to do. It's all about what's good for the family - they do have refridgerators, for example, although it's a gas system, because it benefits the family and their health.
Then it was back on the bus and off to the hotel in Leola. Our hotel is really intersting as it consists of five different buildings. I'm in building 4 in room 405 and, wow!, my room is huge!! I can have a party in this room! I love it!
After a bit of a break, it was time for dinner. it was held in a big room in a restaurant across the complex of our hotel. There, we experienced a "traditional" Amish meal. Not sure how authentic the meal was at consisted of: salad as a starter, then platters of corn and lima beans in butter, mash potatoes and gravy, diced celery in a cheese sauce, slices of roast beef and ham with chicken bits and stuffing. Then for dessert two slices of different pies - apple and shoo-fly pie. It's called shoo-fly because when the Amish women put the pie on their window sills to cool, it attracts the flies and the women wave them away with a "shoo fly". It tasted like a date and cinnamon pie.
After our meal, the chef demonstrated the making of whoopee pies - an Amish creation which is like a giant Oreo biscuit but, instead of biscuits, they taste more like two slices of chocolate cake with white icing in the middle. And it sure looks like it has a whole lot of sugar and it contains lard. Yep, lard. I wasn't too sure about tasting one.
When the demonstration was over, out came the whoopee pie lids and an icing tube for us to make our own pies. The ladies on our table didn't want to eat one but I thought I'd just taste one. I ended up eating the whole thing! It tasted just like a slice of chocolate cake. You couldn't even tast the icing in the middle.
Then it was bed time after a long day. Tomorrow, it's going to be an even longer day - on the bus. Apparently, it's an 8 hour drive up to Niagara Falls so we'll be leaving early at 7:15am and we won't be arriving until late in the day.
So it's goodbye to towns called Intercourse, Blue Ball and Virginville and hello Niagara. And yes, I stocked up on some Intercourse magnets - wasn't game enough to buy the "I Love Intercourse" t-shirts.
Day 20 - Saturday 2 June 2012
WASHINGTON DC, USA
Weather: Hot, hot, hot - sunny and hot.
After breakfast this morning, we were off to the city. As it was Saturday, traffic was almost non-existant. Almost.
Tomorrow, we're off to Amish country. Should be interesting.
Our first stop on our tour of historic Washington DC was the White House where we met our local guide. She took us over to the north side of the House for a photo opportunity. Then it was off to the Capitol Building where we discovered that Washington was having a Walk-a-thon so plenty of closed roads. Took plenty of pictures.
Then it was time for the Lincoln Memorial. Heaps of people here but plenty of time and room to take our photos of good old Lincoln.
Then it was back on the bus bound for a World War II memorial and all four Vietnam War memorials - flag pole, soldiers statue, memorial wall and women in war statue.
Then it was off to the most impressive of the tour - Arlington Cemetery. And it was huge. There is silence and respect at this place and that was what I had expected at the 9/11 Memorial in NYC.
We drove around the cemetery on their special buses where our first stop - for 8 minutes - was at the John F Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy and their son's burial ground. Further towards the left, marked with simple white crosses , was where John Kennedy's brothers are buried. John and his family get plaques and an "eternal flame" and his brothers get small plaques with a white cross marking their spots.
A lady in our group named Rosa who is also travelling on her own just managed to re-catch the bus as it was getting ready to leave.
Our next stop was the 11:30am Changing of the Guard at the Unknown Soldier memorial. It was awsome. Nothing like the pomp and ceremony of the one in London. Just three soldiers involved changing duties.
We were told that we should not get off at Robert E Lee's house which was the next stop but, as Rosa and I had an hour and a half still to go, we decided to get out and see the house. What a waste of time. It was bare - no furniture and it was in disrepair. There were photos of what the rooms would've looked like but that was all. There is a great view of Washington from up there though.
As the house was tiny and only took about 5 minutes to view we had plenty of time. We looked around a bit then decided to go back to the bus early. When the bus arrived, we found our tour director telling the rest of our group not to get out at the house. We got on and she didn't look too happy with us.
We then boarded our bus and headed off for the Smithsonian Museums. Now, I thought it was only one building but discovered that all the museums are part of the Smithsonian. This is where we found the school kids yet again - thousands of them!! Everywhere!!!
I wasn't really interested in any of the museums but we had to choose to be dropped off at the Air and Space or the American history museums. I chose the American history museum as I wasn't really interested in museums but this one was closer to the Washington Monument.
I went into the museum for about 10 minutes. It was pretty small and I didn't find anything really interesting. Plus, I wanted to get out and explore.
I left the museum and walked around taking pictures of anything that took my interest. Had a quick lunch and sat for a while. Then it was off towards the Washington Monument. As Washington DC had an earthquake last August, this was closed to the public as it was slightly damaged. While I was taking photos, I had a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial so I made my way over to take even more photos. Then it was time to make my way over to my pick-up point back at the American History museum.
We then went back to the hotel, freshened up and made our way over to our restaurant - Carmine's - for dinner. We first stopped for a photo opportunity at the Iowa Jima memorial - statue made from the famous picture of the 6 American soldiers raising the American flag.
When we finally made it to our restaurant, it was chaos - they had set up two tables in two separate rooms for only 31 people. We were 39. Our tour director was not happy. So they put the first 15 people in the room that was prepared and I was a part of this group. Lucky I was because, after about 5 minutes of sitting, I went to the bar to get a drink and found that the others still weren't seated as their table wasn't even ready.
Apparently, they had a wedding on so they had taken over our original room. During our meal, we could see our tour director having "words" with the manager of the restaurant.
The meal was huge! It was served "family style" which means that you all sit on a long table and platters of food are brought in to share. We started with a Ceaser salad, then spaghetti bolognase, then tortellini, then... chicken marsala then... chicken parmagiana then .... yep, even more food .... dessert platter of casata, tiramisu, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake and fruit. It was soooooooo much food! I fnished at the pasta and, luckily, left room for dessert .... just. I just managed to eat the fruit and left the chocolate stuff for everyone else. It was waaaaay too much food.
It was then time to recover back at our hotel for the night.
Weather: Hot, hot, hot - sunny and hot.
After breakfast this morning, we were off to the city. As it was Saturday, traffic was almost non-existant. Almost.
Tomorrow, we're off to Amish country. Should be interesting.
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| The Capitol building |
Then it was time for the Lincoln Memorial. Heaps of people here but plenty of time and room to take our photos of good old Lincoln.
Then it was back on the bus bound for a World War II memorial and all four Vietnam War memorials - flag pole, soldiers statue, memorial wall and women in war statue.
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| The White House - North side |
We drove around the cemetery on their special buses where our first stop - for 8 minutes - was at the John F Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy and their son's burial ground. Further towards the left, marked with simple white crosses , was where John Kennedy's brothers are buried. John and his family get plaques and an "eternal flame" and his brothers get small plaques with a white cross marking their spots.
A lady in our group named Rosa who is also travelling on her own just managed to re-catch the bus as it was getting ready to leave.
Our next stop was the 11:30am Changing of the Guard at the Unknown Soldier memorial. It was awsome. Nothing like the pomp and ceremony of the one in London. Just three soldiers involved changing duties.
We were told that we should not get off at Robert E Lee's house which was the next stop but, as Rosa and I had an hour and a half still to go, we decided to get out and see the house. What a waste of time. It was bare - no furniture and it was in disrepair. There were photos of what the rooms would've looked like but that was all. There is a great view of Washington from up there though.
As the house was tiny and only took about 5 minutes to view we had plenty of time. We looked around a bit then decided to go back to the bus early. When the bus arrived, we found our tour director telling the rest of our group not to get out at the house. We got on and she didn't look too happy with us.
We then boarded our bus and headed off for the Smithsonian Museums. Now, I thought it was only one building but discovered that all the museums are part of the Smithsonian. This is where we found the school kids yet again - thousands of them!! Everywhere!!!
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| Iowa Jima memorial |
I went into the museum for about 10 minutes. It was pretty small and I didn't find anything really interesting. Plus, I wanted to get out and explore.
I left the museum and walked around taking pictures of anything that took my interest. Had a quick lunch and sat for a while. Then it was off towards the Washington Monument. As Washington DC had an earthquake last August, this was closed to the public as it was slightly damaged. While I was taking photos, I had a glimpse of the Jefferson Memorial so I made my way over to take even more photos. Then it was time to make my way over to my pick-up point back at the American History museum.
We then went back to the hotel, freshened up and made our way over to our restaurant - Carmine's - for dinner. We first stopped for a photo opportunity at the Iowa Jima memorial - statue made from the famous picture of the 6 American soldiers raising the American flag.
When we finally made it to our restaurant, it was chaos - they had set up two tables in two separate rooms for only 31 people. We were 39. Our tour director was not happy. So they put the first 15 people in the room that was prepared and I was a part of this group. Lucky I was because, after about 5 minutes of sitting, I went to the bar to get a drink and found that the others still weren't seated as their table wasn't even ready.
Apparently, they had a wedding on so they had taken over our original room. During our meal, we could see our tour director having "words" with the manager of the restaurant.
The meal was huge! It was served "family style" which means that you all sit on a long table and platters of food are brought in to share. We started with a Ceaser salad, then spaghetti bolognase, then tortellini, then... chicken marsala then... chicken parmagiana then .... yep, even more food .... dessert platter of casata, tiramisu, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake and fruit. It was soooooooo much food! I fnished at the pasta and, luckily, left room for dessert .... just. I just managed to eat the fruit and left the chocolate stuff for everyone else. It was waaaaay too much food.
It was then time to recover back at our hotel for the night.
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| Lincoln Memorial |
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Day 19 - Friday 1 June 2012
PHILADELPHIA AND WASHINGTON DC, USA
Weather: Left NYC on a bright, sunny and hot morning but, as we progressed south, there were clouds and heavy rain as we entered Washington DC.
We spent most of today on the bus travelling from New York city down to Washington DC.
We had a 1 and a half hour stop in Philadelphia and, boy oh boy, were the school kids out!! Thousands of them!! School bus after school bus after school bus full of school kids!!!
We had a quick tour around town from the bus then, our main aim was to at least get a photo of the Liberty Bell. There was a huge line of school kids to get in the building where the Bell is kept. We managed to get a photo through the window.
We then had a quick orientation of the surrounding historical area, including Benjamin Franklin's grave, then had time for a quick lunch .... all the while fighting the swarms of kids!! We were advised that we were to encounter school kids in Washington DC. Great. Just great.
Then it was back on the bus towards Waghington DC.
About an hour away from out destination, the heavens opened. Thank goodness we had a skilled driver as it was a pretty heavy downpour. Our guide advised that this is typical Washington weather and that it won't last long. She was oh so wrong. It continued all night.
Our hotel is the Washington Hilton. Famous for being the place where Ronald Reagan was shot. They have now built something like a mini garage over this spot with a roof and no doors so that when "special" people come to stay, the car can just drive up and safely deposit their passenger without anyone seeing who is in the car.
We managed to finally get to our hotel 10 minutes before we had to leave for our restaurant for dinner - as it was Friday, the traffice was really heavy. We had enough time to find our rooms, dump our stuff and leave again.
Most of us had our rain weather gear in our suitcases which were still under the bus. When we arrived at our restaurant - Clyde's - the bus couldn't park outside as there was no spot for it. We had to park across the street and around the corner. It was pouring with rain. By the time we were inside the restaurant we were soaked.
The food and service were great. I sat at a table with a couple named Maureen and Michael and a woman travelling on her own named Susie - all from Melbourne. Maureen and Michael were reluctant to sit with me at first as they were looking for a booth just for themselves. I had just sat down at the first booth I'd found as no one wanted me to sit with them. I didn't care. At least I had a table and anyone who wanted to sit was more than welcome. This often happens when travelling by yourself.
I haven't warmed up to any group yet but there are plenty of days ahead. There are no Dulcie and Steves, no Maureen and Tonys, and definetley no Marilyns in this bunch. Not even a Lorna and Donald. There is a woman sitting two seats away from me who has a really loud, annoying voice and won't shut up! Even when our guide is talking. Her hubby hardly says a word - probably because she's always talking!!
After dinner it was time to go back to the hotel and finally rest. It was pretty tough going as there was still peak hour traffic at 10pm.
Tomorrow we tour the city.
Weather: Left NYC on a bright, sunny and hot morning but, as we progressed south, there were clouds and heavy rain as we entered Washington DC.
We spent most of today on the bus travelling from New York city down to Washington DC.
We had a 1 and a half hour stop in Philadelphia and, boy oh boy, were the school kids out!! Thousands of them!! School bus after school bus after school bus full of school kids!!!
We had a quick tour around town from the bus then, our main aim was to at least get a photo of the Liberty Bell. There was a huge line of school kids to get in the building where the Bell is kept. We managed to get a photo through the window.
We then had a quick orientation of the surrounding historical area, including Benjamin Franklin's grave, then had time for a quick lunch .... all the while fighting the swarms of kids!! We were advised that we were to encounter school kids in Washington DC. Great. Just great.
Then it was back on the bus towards Waghington DC.
About an hour away from out destination, the heavens opened. Thank goodness we had a skilled driver as it was a pretty heavy downpour. Our guide advised that this is typical Washington weather and that it won't last long. She was oh so wrong. It continued all night.
Our hotel is the Washington Hilton. Famous for being the place where Ronald Reagan was shot. They have now built something like a mini garage over this spot with a roof and no doors so that when "special" people come to stay, the car can just drive up and safely deposit their passenger without anyone seeing who is in the car.
We managed to finally get to our hotel 10 minutes before we had to leave for our restaurant for dinner - as it was Friday, the traffice was really heavy. We had enough time to find our rooms, dump our stuff and leave again.
Most of us had our rain weather gear in our suitcases which were still under the bus. When we arrived at our restaurant - Clyde's - the bus couldn't park outside as there was no spot for it. We had to park across the street and around the corner. It was pouring with rain. By the time we were inside the restaurant we were soaked.
The food and service were great. I sat at a table with a couple named Maureen and Michael and a woman travelling on her own named Susie - all from Melbourne. Maureen and Michael were reluctant to sit with me at first as they were looking for a booth just for themselves. I had just sat down at the first booth I'd found as no one wanted me to sit with them. I didn't care. At least I had a table and anyone who wanted to sit was more than welcome. This often happens when travelling by yourself.
I haven't warmed up to any group yet but there are plenty of days ahead. There are no Dulcie and Steves, no Maureen and Tonys, and definetley no Marilyns in this bunch. Not even a Lorna and Donald. There is a woman sitting two seats away from me who has a really loud, annoying voice and won't shut up! Even when our guide is talking. Her hubby hardly says a word - probably because she's always talking!!
After dinner it was time to go back to the hotel and finally rest. It was pretty tough going as there was still peak hour traffic at 10pm.
Tomorrow we tour the city.
Friday, 1 June 2012
Day 18 - Thursday 31 May 2012
NEW YORK CITY, USA -Last Day
Weather: Bright, sunny and hot - again.
Got up really early today to make my way over to The Empire State Building. I arrived there 10 minutes before it opened at 8am. There was already a queue. As I already had my ticket, I went through the security check and straight through to the elevators.
After stopping at the observation deck on the 86th floor first, I then made my way up to the very top at the 102nd floor. I can officially say that I was the very first person to the top today! Didn't get a badge or certificate for this though. I had the top all to myself for at least 15 minutes. Then, I was invaded by Chinese tourists which marked my time to go.
I started to walk uptown to Central Park and to take photos of the Guggenheim when I remembered that I hadn't been to Grand Central Station yet. I was the only one there taking photos but not for very long. While I was doing this I noticed that the ceiling had some kind of design on it. After looking through the camera lens, I discovered that the pictures were star constellations. They're very hard to see but they are certainly there.
Apparently, our Welcome Reception was going to be set on a boat while cruising the harbour. I advised her that I'd already done the whole cruise thing and that I wasn't going to go tonight. She was fine with it and advised breakfast time and luggage time for tomorrow - both 7am.
I took a small nap then started typing up my backlog of blogs and downloading my photos.
Tomorrow, my tour starts so it's goodbye to New York, hello Amish country.
All in all, I was quite surprised how simple it is to get around in New York - Streets run South to North (Downtown to uptown) and Avenues from East to West. Also, how safe I actually felt. There is so much police presence everywhere you go and I really liked that. I didn't even get lost once and I helped a lady with directons to St Patrick's Cathedral today. She mistook me for a local and was surprised that I could help her.
Weather: Bright, sunny and hot - again.
Got up really early today to make my way over to The Empire State Building. I arrived there 10 minutes before it opened at 8am. There was already a queue. As I already had my ticket, I went through the security check and straight through to the elevators.
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| View from the top of The Empire State Building |
I started to walk uptown to Central Park and to take photos of the Guggenheim when I remembered that I hadn't been to Grand Central Station yet. I was the only one there taking photos but not for very long. While I was doing this I noticed that the ceiling had some kind of design on it. After looking through the camera lens, I discovered that the pictures were star constellations. They're very hard to see but they are certainly there.
 |
| Grand Central Station |
Then it was off to the other side of town to Central Park and the Guggenheim. It was a veeeeeeeeeeeery long way! What the hell was I thinking! Once I reached Central Park, I had to sit down. I was so tired but I was determined to keep going. If you can imagine a grid where The Empire State building is on 33rd Street and the Guggenheim is between 88th and 89th streets, that's how far I walked today. Don't get me wrong, I did have moments where I almost gave up but I was so close to my goal....only to be disappointed. Once you've seen the Bilbao Guggenheim, this one just doesn't compare, although it was the first.
By the time I walked back to the hotel, I collapsed on the bed and didn't move for a very long time. At 3pm I had to meet my tour director in the lobby. I received my documents, luggage tags and was told that no one seemed to have received her Welcome Letter which stated what was going to happen on the first day. I luckily recieved a telephone message from her yesterday, but didn't listen to it until this morning.
Apparently, our Welcome Reception was going to be set on a boat while cruising the harbour. I advised her that I'd already done the whole cruise thing and that I wasn't going to go tonight. She was fine with it and advised breakfast time and luggage time for tomorrow - both 7am.
I took a small nap then started typing up my backlog of blogs and downloading my photos.
Tomorrow, my tour starts so it's goodbye to New York, hello Amish country.
All in all, I was quite surprised how simple it is to get around in New York - Streets run South to North (Downtown to uptown) and Avenues from East to West. Also, how safe I actually felt. There is so much police presence everywhere you go and I really liked that. I didn't even get lost once and I helped a lady with directons to St Patrick's Cathedral today. She mistook me for a local and was surprised that I could help her.
Day 17 - Wednesday 30 May 2012
NEW YORK CITY, USA - Day 2
Weather: Overcast in the morning, but still hot, hot, hot!! Steamy hot!! Bright and sunny in the afternoon.
As I went to bed late last night, I'd planned to have a sleep in today. Not possible when everyone around you is up at 6am and slamming their doors as they leave!
First thing for me to do was to go down to Grayline's office and pick up my tickets for tonight's tour - Night on the Town. I had to go on a day when their air conditioner was broken. I started sweating as soon as I opened the door!! And not only me - the workers inside were worse.
Once I picked up my ticket, I was free until 5:30pm. I made my way uptown to Central Park. It was further than I thought. The walk was even harder because of the heat but it was still faster than taking a taxi - it looks like peak hour all the time here in NYC.
I walked around Central Park for a while, coming across the biggest, fattest squirrel I'd ever seen! Initially, when I caught sight of it out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a rat but then the fluffy tail gave it away.
It was then lunch time so my hunt for a decent place to eat that was not too overcrowded began. I ended up going to San Martin Italian Restaurant across the road from my hotel. As the outside seating area was full, I thought there wouldn't be a table for me. Then I went inside and discovered only one table of 5 and a table of 2 were being used - the rest of the restaurant was empty.
Now, this restaurant is supposed to be an Italian restaurant and their food is, but their staff and chef are all Latin Americans! I found it a little funny as I dug into my risotto primavera, full of vegetables. Yum!!
Then I went back to my hotel to clean myself up and rest before my night tour.
Our first stop of the tour was the High Line garden.
It was quite a good idea instead of getting rid of the tracks, they were beautified.
Then we walked over to the Chelsea Markets to meet our bus. We then headed off through the streets to the South Seaport - a familiar sight for me as this is where I'd taken the cruise yesterday. We were due to take the 1 hour dusk tour on a NY Water Taxi - the last taxi for the night.
As this was going to be a longer trip, I'd taken an extra motion sickness tablet just in case. I didn't need to have done this though. The Water Taxi guide made me forget all about being sick and seeing Lady Liberty at sunset was spectacular.
As the tour progressed, it started to get darker and darker and we were lucky that the weather was so clear as the sunset was beautiful. Seeing the city at sunset and at night with the lights on was truly a beautiful thing to behold. Even New Jersey looked great!The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by an organisation called Friends of the High Line.
Our water cruise ended after going under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Then it was time to get back on the bus and head to our Italian restaurant - Grotta Azzurra - in Little Italy. As everyone was in groups, I asked a lady that was also travelling by herself if she'd like to sit with me.
Her name was Nicole and she was from Switzerland. Her daughter is an exchange student living in Maine so Nicole was visiting NY before heading for her daughter's graduation. Her husband is flying in on 1 June to be with them.
We chatted about our travels, family, etc. She was great company and before we knew it, it was time to go back on the bus for our final destination - Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.
What a fantastic view from the top! The city looked beautiful with all the lights on. Of course, the Empire State Building was popular but the whole city is breathtakingly beautiful.
This is where the tour ended. Nicole and I said our goodbyes and she left to find a taxi to take her back to her hotel near the Empire State Building. I stayed behind and took some night photos of the Rockefeller Plaza. As I was only a few blocks from my hotel, I walked back - I was a little more confident as there were police on nearly every street corner.
Then, it was bed time. Tomorrow, The Empire State Building.
Weather: Overcast in the morning, but still hot, hot, hot!! Steamy hot!! Bright and sunny in the afternoon.
As I went to bed late last night, I'd planned to have a sleep in today. Not possible when everyone around you is up at 6am and slamming their doors as they leave!
First thing for me to do was to go down to Grayline's office and pick up my tickets for tonight's tour - Night on the Town. I had to go on a day when their air conditioner was broken. I started sweating as soon as I opened the door!! And not only me - the workers inside were worse.
Once I picked up my ticket, I was free until 5:30pm. I made my way uptown to Central Park. It was further than I thought. The walk was even harder because of the heat but it was still faster than taking a taxi - it looks like peak hour all the time here in NYC.
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| World Trade Center site at sunset |
It was then lunch time so my hunt for a decent place to eat that was not too overcrowded began. I ended up going to San Martin Italian Restaurant across the road from my hotel. As the outside seating area was full, I thought there wouldn't be a table for me. Then I went inside and discovered only one table of 5 and a table of 2 were being used - the rest of the restaurant was empty.
Now, this restaurant is supposed to be an Italian restaurant and their food is, but their staff and chef are all Latin Americans! I found it a little funny as I dug into my risotto primavera, full of vegetables. Yum!!
Then I went back to my hotel to clean myself up and rest before my night tour.
 |
| Brooklyn Bridge - Brooklyn side |
It was quite a good idea instead of getting rid of the tracks, they were beautified.
Then we walked over to the Chelsea Markets to meet our bus. We then headed off through the streets to the South Seaport - a familiar sight for me as this is where I'd taken the cruise yesterday. We were due to take the 1 hour dusk tour on a NY Water Taxi - the last taxi for the night.
 |
| Lady Liberty at sunset |
As the tour progressed, it started to get darker and darker and we were lucky that the weather was so clear as the sunset was beautiful. Seeing the city at sunset and at night with the lights on was truly a beautiful thing to behold. Even New Jersey looked great!The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by an organisation called Friends of the High Line.
Our water cruise ended after going under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Then it was time to get back on the bus and head to our Italian restaurant - Grotta Azzurra - in Little Italy. As everyone was in groups, I asked a lady that was also travelling by herself if she'd like to sit with me.
We chatted about our travels, family, etc. She was great company and before we knew it, it was time to go back on the bus for our final destination - Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.
 |
| View from Top of The Rock - Rockefeller Center |
This is where the tour ended. Nicole and I said our goodbyes and she left to find a taxi to take her back to her hotel near the Empire State Building. I stayed behind and took some night photos of the Rockefeller Plaza. As I was only a few blocks from my hotel, I walked back - I was a little more confident as there were police on nearly every street corner.
Then, it was bed time. Tomorrow, The Empire State Building.
Day 16 - Tuesday 29 May 2012
NEW YORK CITY, USA - Day 1
Then, it was time to go back on the bus, drive thorugh Central Park and head over to St Patrick's Cathedral. Because we were ahead of schedule, we were allowed to go inside the builing as they usually show the building from the outside only on this tour. Simply spectacular but that's becasue I love my churches.
Weather: Hot, hot, hot!! Steamy hot!!
If you're wondering, I didn't write a blog of Monday 28 May as this day was spent travelling from Vancouver to New York City. I got up late and I was at the airport at 9:30am for a 2pm flight. Lucky I was early as when I arrived, there was a huge queue at the Air Canada check-in counters.
I finallly made it through all the security and was at the gate at 11:45am. Then, my flight was delayed for 1 hour. We finally took off at 3:05pm and landed at Newark Airport, New Jersey at 8:15pm Vancouver time - which made it 11:15pm New York time - and it was stinking hot and humid. I finally arrived at my hotel at 12:10am on Tuesday 29 May after waiting for my luggage forever. When I go up to my room, I discover that they have given me the disabled room. Which is a little weird.
So today, I slept in until 9:00am and went to join the rest of the world for breakfast at 10am. There were only 5 people in the dining room. I'd missed the early morning rush.
After breakfast, I got myself ready to take on New York City. I asked the concierge for a map (not that I needed one but thought better to be safe than sorry) and she was kind enough to show me where I had to go to meet my tour group for my New York tour.
It didn't look far, and it wasn't really. She advised that it would take me about 20 minutes to walk it. I took 10 minutes.
One step outside the hotel and I was already sweating. Hot and humid - yuk! My walk took me past the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefelly Center and Radio City Music Hall. There was a huge queue outside Radio City.
When I finally saw my destination, one look to my left and I discovered the lights of Time Square. As I now knew where I had to be at 12pm, I wandered over to experience Times Square. And what an experience it was!
Lights, lights and more lights. People, people and more people. Sailors, sailors and more sailors! That's right - the Navy's in town! Lucky me!!
I went into every gift shop down the street not only looking for souvenirs, but also to get some relief from the heat! The stores had their air conditioners up full!
Before I knew it, it was 11:55am so I made myself to the Winter Gardens theatre to meet my OnBoard tour group.
I was the only one travelling alone - surprise, surprise. Our guide, Bronx Jim, was fantastic. Witty and very knowledgeable.
Our tour started with a cruise from Pier 84 to Battery Park for our 9/11 Memorial part of the tour - and I did not get sea sick, even though it was slightly rough. Before you enter the memorial, there is a separate memorial to the fire fighters who were killed in the attacks. There is also a memorial keeper who keeps the memorial clean and shiny.
We then made our way across the road to the main 9/11 Memorial. As can be expected, there is major security - not as bad as the airport but there are police everywhere.
The memorial was a little disappointing as it was more tourist attraction than a memorial. I, of course, was also one of these tourists taking photos of the memorial fountains, the callery pear tree that survived the attacks and the new World Trade Center buildings - the finished ones and the ones still under construction.
Originally, before I went in, I didn't realise that they were rebuilding the World Trade Center - with 7 buildings like the original set up. 1 World Trade Centre is almost completed, 2 World Trade Centre is already finished and construction on 4 World Trade Centre has begun. 1 World Trade Centre will be taller than the original as a show of defiance to those who attacked on 9/11. It's a pretty spectacular building.
We did a walk down Wall Street, saw the bull which was surrounded by people so it was pretty hard to take pictures, saw the original American Stock Exchange (as it was originally called), the New York Stock Exchange and the place where president Washington was inaugerated.
Then it was off to the Seaport Pier for a small snack break before heading for a boat cruise back to where we started on Pier 84. On the way, the boat captain stopped the boat for photo opportunity of the Statue Of Liberty. Pretty hard to take a clear picture as we were shooting into the sun and the boat was rocking like crazy.
Our next stop was to see the Flatiron building then we drove over to the Dakota Building, across the road from Central Park, which was the home of John Lennon and where he was killed. We then crossed the road to the Strawberry Fields section of Central Park and were given a talk by "The Mayor of Strawberry Fields" who also sees himself as the keeper of the "Imagine" mosaic. He looked like a homeless guy to me.
If you're wondering, I didn't write a blog of Monday 28 May as this day was spent travelling from Vancouver to New York City. I got up late and I was at the airport at 9:30am for a 2pm flight. Lucky I was early as when I arrived, there was a huge queue at the Air Canada check-in counters.
I finallly made it through all the security and was at the gate at 11:45am. Then, my flight was delayed for 1 hour. We finally took off at 3:05pm and landed at Newark Airport, New Jersey at 8:15pm Vancouver time - which made it 11:15pm New York time - and it was stinking hot and humid. I finally arrived at my hotel at 12:10am on Tuesday 29 May after waiting for my luggage forever. When I go up to my room, I discover that they have given me the disabled room. Which is a little weird.
So today, I slept in until 9:00am and went to join the rest of the world for breakfast at 10am. There were only 5 people in the dining room. I'd missed the early morning rush.
After breakfast, I got myself ready to take on New York City. I asked the concierge for a map (not that I needed one but thought better to be safe than sorry) and she was kind enough to show me where I had to go to meet my tour group for my New York tour.
It didn't look far, and it wasn't really. She advised that it would take me about 20 minutes to walk it. I took 10 minutes.
One step outside the hotel and I was already sweating. Hot and humid - yuk! My walk took me past the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefelly Center and Radio City Music Hall. There was a huge queue outside Radio City.
When I finally saw my destination, one look to my left and I discovered the lights of Time Square. As I now knew where I had to be at 12pm, I wandered over to experience Times Square. And what an experience it was!
Lights, lights and more lights. People, people and more people. Sailors, sailors and more sailors! That's right - the Navy's in town! Lucky me!!
I went into every gift shop down the street not only looking for souvenirs, but also to get some relief from the heat! The stores had their air conditioners up full!
Before I knew it, it was 11:55am so I made myself to the Winter Gardens theatre to meet my OnBoard tour group.
I was the only one travelling alone - surprise, surprise. Our guide, Bronx Jim, was fantastic. Witty and very knowledgeable.
Our tour started with a cruise from Pier 84 to Battery Park for our 9/11 Memorial part of the tour - and I did not get sea sick, even though it was slightly rough. Before you enter the memorial, there is a separate memorial to the fire fighters who were killed in the attacks. There is also a memorial keeper who keeps the memorial clean and shiny.
We then made our way across the road to the main 9/11 Memorial. As can be expected, there is major security - not as bad as the airport but there are police everywhere.
The memorial was a little disappointing as it was more tourist attraction than a memorial. I, of course, was also one of these tourists taking photos of the memorial fountains, the callery pear tree that survived the attacks and the new World Trade Center buildings - the finished ones and the ones still under construction.
Originally, before I went in, I didn't realise that they were rebuilding the World Trade Center - with 7 buildings like the original set up. 1 World Trade Centre is almost completed, 2 World Trade Centre is already finished and construction on 4 World Trade Centre has begun. 1 World Trade Centre will be taller than the original as a show of defiance to those who attacked on 9/11. It's a pretty spectacular building.
We did a walk down Wall Street, saw the bull which was surrounded by people so it was pretty hard to take pictures, saw the original American Stock Exchange (as it was originally called), the New York Stock Exchange and the place where president Washington was inaugerated.
Then it was off to the Seaport Pier for a small snack break before heading for a boat cruise back to where we started on Pier 84. On the way, the boat captain stopped the boat for photo opportunity of the Statue Of Liberty. Pretty hard to take a clear picture as we were shooting into the sun and the boat was rocking like crazy.
Our next stop was to see the Flatiron building then we drove over to the Dakota Building, across the road from Central Park, which was the home of John Lennon and where he was killed. We then crossed the road to the Strawberry Fields section of Central Park and were given a talk by "The Mayor of Strawberry Fields" who also sees himself as the keeper of the "Imagine" mosaic. He looked like a homeless guy to me.
 |
| Lady Liberty |
 |
| St Patrick's Cathedral |
Back on the bus and back to the Winter Gardens theatre and the end of our tour. We saw so many things, it was quite a lot to take in - Trinity church, Trump Towers, NBC Studios, the Today Show studios, Rockefeller Plaza, to name just a few.
 |
| Flatiron Building |
After our tour, I walked over to Time Square again in search of somewhere to eat. I thought I'd go to Planet Hollywood but this had a queue a mile long. Same story for the Hard Rock cafe and even McDonalds. I finally decided to have something at TGI Friday's. I got really quick service - I received my food withing 10 minutes and it tasted freshly made.
After eating it was time to go back to the hotel, clean up after sweating like a pig all day and relax. Boy, oh boy did we do a lot of walking. But it was worth it.
The walk was great but I did get a little scared as it was getting dark and, the further away from Time Square I got, the less people there were on the street. As I was waiting at the lights to cross over to the hotel, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. It was the Chrysler Building all lit up. Took a few photos.
Tomorrow, I plan to take it easy. I only have a night tour so I pretty much have a whole day free. The weather is supposed to be cooler tomorrow - raining and 26 degrees - so I'm hoping the tour still goes ahead.
When I was finally back in my hotel room, I realised that I'm as red as a lobster. Sunburned nose, face and arms. I have a very white watch mark.
Monday, 28 May 2012
Day 14 - Sunday 27 May 2012
VANCOUVER, CANADA - Aquarium and my last day in western Canada
Weather: Overcast and cool in the morning, warm and sunny in the afternoon.
After a late start to my day, I made my way at a leisurely pace towards Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium. I took the short way via the road instead of along the Sea Wall. I thought it was going to be a quiet Sunday stroll in the park. I discovered a whole bunch of people as, unknown to me, Vancouver had a walk-a-thon on today at Stanley Park. There were tents of food and fun, music and a whole lot of kids. So much for my quiet Sunday!
The aquarium is pretty small compared to ours in Melbourne. The have a small outside area where they have the seals, dolphins, sea otters, beluga whales, small porpoises and their new exhibit - the African penguins. I really felt sorry for these animals being in such small enclosures. The otters were really, really cute though!
They really have been adversiting the penguin exhibit so I was really looking forward to it. I was expecting something like what the Melbourne aquarium has. Instead, there were barely 5 penguins in a small enclosure. Disappointing.
Don't know what a butterfly house and a monkey cage were doing there but there they were. I felt sorry for the small, black monkeys in that cage as it seemed too small. Even the shark enclosure was tiny!
As you entered the aquarium, they asked you to stand in front of a green screen and take your photo. On my way out, I went to the desk to pick up my photo. I had a choice of a dolphin background, a beluga whale background or a penguin background. I chose and paid for my photo with a penguin background - such a tourist!
Then I took a stroll around the park before sitting down and having a sandwich for lunch. Saw two black squirrels running around on the grass but they were too quick for me to take a photo, as I was eating at the time.
On the way back to the hotel, I noticed that the peak hour traffic was heading the opposite way - towards Lions Gate Bridge and out of Vancouver towards the US boarder. All the US folks going home.
After lunch, I made my way back to my hotel to drop off my stuff before heading out again for one last walk along the Sea Wall and along Robson Street - a final fair well to Vancouver. I even walked down streets I'd never been down before.
Tomorrow it's off to New York and the start of my east coast adventure.
Weather: Overcast and cool in the morning, warm and sunny in the afternoon.
After a late start to my day, I made my way at a leisurely pace towards Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium. I took the short way via the road instead of along the Sea Wall. I thought it was going to be a quiet Sunday stroll in the park. I discovered a whole bunch of people as, unknown to me, Vancouver had a walk-a-thon on today at Stanley Park. There were tents of food and fun, music and a whole lot of kids. So much for my quiet Sunday!
They really have been adversiting the penguin exhibit so I was really looking forward to it. I was expecting something like what the Melbourne aquarium has. Instead, there were barely 5 penguins in a small enclosure. Disappointing.
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| Sea Otter |
Then I took a stroll around the park before sitting down and having a sandwich for lunch. Saw two black squirrels running around on the grass but they were too quick for me to take a photo, as I was eating at the time.
On the way back to the hotel, I noticed that the peak hour traffic was heading the opposite way - towards Lions Gate Bridge and out of Vancouver towards the US boarder. All the US folks going home.
Tomorrow it's off to New York and the start of my east coast adventure.
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