New York - Rockefeller, The Ride and Dumbo

The intent was to get to Rockefeller early today for Ice Skating for the kids. After sleeping in till 9 o’clock because I didn’t set the alarm, the definition of early had to be varied. 

And upon arriving at the centre, the line up of people allowed us to change plans and go up to the top of the building for the lookout instead. 

It still makes me shake my head at the organisation required (and the fees involved) simply to catch a lift to the top of a building and look out over this sprawling city, however I do admit it is well worth it. 

The wind picked up whilst we were up there and became completely unbearable, so we cut the viewing short and headed down town to our next experience which was called “The Ride”. This is a great big modified bus where you all sit sideways staring out at the buildings and footpath and spend the next 75 minutes being entertained by the two hosts and some not so random actors on the side walks. 

Apart from the very funny and entertaining hosts, it is so interesting seeing a person on the side of the street suddenly break out into dance and/or song on the footpath, all the time with the rest of New York walking past as if they weren’t even there. 

I am pretty sure that even Tyler smiled a couple of times during this tour. 

Our next step was possibly one of our bravest. We ventured down underground and caught the Subway to Brooklyn. We did manage to survive the trip and so far, believe we have not caught any unnamed incurable disease. 

We escaped out into the sunlight above and spent the next hour exploring the quaint little eateries dotted around the area known as Dumbo. 

We eventually settled on a burger joint and got ourselves a years worth of unhealthiness in one meal. 

By the time we had finished, it was dusk and our walk home began - which was the whole intent of this trip. 

We joined a few thousand other people and walked back across the Brooklyn Bridge, watching the city light up before our eyes. 

We took our lives into our own hands again and caught the Subway back up to 50th street. 

This gave us a 5 minute walk back to our steamer where we could finally sit back with our feet up and enjoy a quiet drink or two. 

New York - finding our way

Orientation of your surroundings is a key part of surviving in a place like The Big Apple. And despite spending the day walking at least 20km, I am still lost at every corner. 

It’s not like you can say “walk up to the Starbucks and head East”. That would mean you would be walking around the same block for the entire day as there is literally a Starbucks on EVERY corner. 

We started off leaving our Hells Kitchen apartment and cooled down on the way to Central Park. There was a local market on which took up the 1st hour of our morning, then we just started heading across town, down town, across town again, up town, mid town, then finally home. 

The buildings are amazing, the amount of people walking the streets is amazing, and the number of drivers ignoring the beeping horns from the car behind them was amazing. 

Deputes if being our first day, we braved the odds and ordered some street food. Which was absolutely delicious. 

I don’t care what food standards are not followed..... I would eat there again and again. 

We mixed in some shopping for the kids, a visit to Times Square and a general look at many of the fascinating buildings. 

When our poor feet could take no more, we headed back and collapsed again (after opening the windows again to let some icy weather cool down the roasting inside heat). 

More exploring tomorrow. More tired feet. 

New York New York

The time had come to get to the Big Smoke. 

We somehow managed to get the hire car dropped off at 6am after finding a local fuel station and driving into the wrong hire company and missing the turnoff and getting stuck behind a slow bus and........

Anyway, I managed to de-stress once we had got our bags checked in and passed through airport security with very minimal fuss. 

We were all actually impressed with the United Air flight and the screen entertainment. The kids classed it as “better than Qantas “. It was admittedly very comfortable and a nice big screen with 100+ movies to choose from. It certainly helped pass the 4 hours flight time. 

Getting off the plane, we were hit with typical winter NY weather. About 1 degree C and light showers. 

We had a shared Airport transfer bus booked so we headed to the waiting area and prepared for the 10 minute wait. 

And waited. 

And waited. 

40 minutes later we were advised that they would be here in 10 minutes, so we prepared for the 10 minute wait. 

And waited. 

And waited. 

40 minutes later and a barrage of complaints fro Tracy and the other people waiting, the bus arrived, completely oblivious to our frustrations and the apparent lateness of his arrival. 

We were now in the middle of peak hour traffic, so our 45 minute trip was set to become a 90 minute trip and get us to our unit in the pitch black. 

Thankfully we did get dropped off at our doorstep, however with the thin streets, too many people, drizzling weather, 4 suitcases and a lockbox with a key code that wasn’t working, our (ok - my) patience was wearing thin. 

Once we eventually got into our sauna, I mean slightly overheated single room unit, and found a resting spot for all our luggage, we all crashed onto the one couch and bed that was to be our accommodation for the next 5 days. 

We had to do our best to turn the heat off, but these stupid old fashioned boiler radiators only seem to be able to be turned down - not off. 

I am guessing we are the only New Yorkers who have two windows wide open when it is -3 degrees outside and 35 degrees inside to try and get it to an ambient temperature closer to 20 degrees.   

We have some huge days ahead with many miles of walking and some very early mornings - all in the name of of a holiday.