New York - World Trade Centre and Statue of Liberty

This morning greeted us with another wet NY miserable weather pattern. Wet, cold, windy and generally miserable. We took our lives into our own hands once again and found our way underground onto the Subway, heading down to the World Trade Center and the memorial for the Twin Towers. 

After lining up outside in the rain for 30 minutes, we eventually got our tickets and passed through security equivalent to passing through LAX Airport. 

The memorial and exhibits were fascinating and horrifying. The damage and coordinated attacks and how they were all pieced together was one of the more sombre things I have seen this holiday, yet was so intriguing in the same breath. 

No photos allowed inside, and being actually right next to the foundations of the original Twin Towers was kind of eerie, yet incredibly interesting 

We got out mid afternoon and headed a little bit further downtown to the ferry to Staten Island and Ellis Island. 

The rain was still coming down, the wind had picked up a bit and the overall weather was still pretty miserable. 

It didn’t deter us however and we still got on the boat and headed out to see the Statue of Liberty followed by the fascinating buildings on Ellis Island. Due to both the lateness and the weather, we chose to not get off the ferry , which was a handy decision considering it was the second to last one that we could catch to get back onto mainland. 

One more bravery award was redeemed when we got on the Subway for the last time to get home. 

Tonight was pizza night. We ordered enough to feed the whole of Cambodia, yet somehow, there was none left 30 minutes later. 

We leave tomorrow for a much more relaxed Rhode Island visit with our good American friend Jen and her partner Jay, along with Jen’s 2 adult children. 

We are all secretly looking forward to a much more relaxed few days in the build up to Christmas. 

New York - Bryant Park & Madame Tussaud’s

Dylan has been hanging out to go ice skating in NY, so this morning is his day. 

But first, breakfast in New York style. 

There was a little restaurant around the corner that had been recommended to us for their unique hosting style, so we were up early and at the Stardust Cafe at 7:15am. Only to join the queue of 20 other people waiting to get into the already full establishment. 

We waited for about a further 15 minutes and finally got our turn. 

At US$18-$22 per breakfast plus another US$6-$8 for a drink, it turned out to be the most expensive breakfast we have ever had!  

The big difference with this place is that the waiters / waitresses are all broadway wannabe’s and are continuously singing and dancing with a microphone as they walk around the tables serving meals. Was a very entertaining morning for everyone except my wallet. 

Our experience seeing Rockefeller rink yesterday and some suggestions from others saw us heading to Bryant Park instead for the ice skating today. This rink is actually 2-3 times bigger and seemingly populated by half the number of people. And free - except for the skate hire. 

The beaming smiles from all 3 kids told us that we had made the right decision in doing this, and it gave Tracy and I some time out in the sub zero temperatures to “chill” for a short time. 

They lasted about an hour and a half, and then we went for a long walk to visit the lower end of Manhattan in search of some Australian champagne to take to Rhode Island with us in a few days. 

Whilst on the walk across town, it actually started snowing a few times , albeit very lightly. Dylan’s inner 6 year old surfaced and it was amusing for us seeing him jumping around trying to catch the fluff in his open mouth. It was just as amusing watching New Yorkers walk around him without a second look as if he was not even there. 

Next stop was Madame Tussaud’s. Tracy and I had been there 16 years ago and felt it was such a unique experience that we just had to do it again with the kids. 

We finally escaped and could hardly stand on our aching feet anymore. We headed back to the sauna for some dinner and rest, before collapsing in readiness for another big day tomorrow. 

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. 

Disney - again

This morning was a hard morning for me. Not only was it to be our last day to visit the Theme Parks, but it was also the day Tracy wanted to drive. It’s not that she is not a good driver or anything, I just didn’t want to pay the excess from the scratches my fingernails were going to make in the door handles or the hospital bill from my racing heart condition. 

Turns out that anxiety of being a passenger is far worse that the reality. Tracy did an awesome job of doing half the speed of everyone else on the road and getting us to the park before closing time. 😎

Once we got there and I had managed to straighten out my knuckles, we went to the more traditional Christmas exhibits that slowly rolled through the amazingly decorated themed. 

This was Tracy’s childhood dreams of Disney and I secretly think we all enjoyed the slower pace. 

The next few hours we relented and revisited all the rides for our adrenaline junkie and finally called it quits at about 3pm. 

An early night was planned for tonight along with some well earned rest this afternoon. 

We have an 8:15 flight in the morning, which on the surface sounds reasonable. 

Except it takes about an hour and a half to drive to the rental car location (for those that know where they are going), another half hour to get from the rental car place on their bus, and the great unknown of getting through LAX security ( which ultimately was quicker than I have experienced anywhere). 

California World

After our “rest day” yesterday, we were up once again before 7am and in the car heading towards the Disney Parks. 

This time we were off to California Park for the day which is essentially the same place but just across the courtyard area. 

This turned out to be a lot less glitzy than Disneyland and very much “rides” oriented. 

Of course, Dylan couldn’t have been happier, so once again I let my inner child surface and agreed to go on all the rides with him. 

Some of these were the scariest rides I have ever been on. Yet, within a few moments of shitting my pants on what must have been the worlds fastest roller coaster, I was so pumped that I agreed to go on them again. Stupid comment I see now, but I did. 

This park was very much themed with whole sections decked out with the appropriate rides and famous landmarks, and we did our best to visit them all. 

Our weary bodies were getting thankful for the early finish, however our tickets allowed us to head back into Disneyland, which we did to revisit the spectacular night lights and fireworks show. 

We eventually stumbled out around 9:45 and headed off home.... looking forward to some well earned rest and sleep. 

Hollywood

For reasons only known by those that organised it, today was planned to visit Hollywood and walk down Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. 

I say this because it is nearly a 2 hour trip in this horrendous traffic to travel 62 Km

The kids were about as interested as a sleeping dog would be interested in a passing cat, but we mananaged to get them to stay off Snapchat for 30-45 minutes whilst we walked looking at the stars in the pavement and the weirdos that make Hollywood famous. 

We eventually turned the corner and went down Hollywood Boulevard towards the famous Kodak Theatre as named by Tracy. (It was so famous that I had never heard of it by that name.)

This certainly taught the kids that their dad did actually know what he was talking about sometimes. 

We were about halfway down when we can across some characters dressed as Superman and Spider-Man. 

Grabbing the two boys that asked if they wanted some photos. 

Boys: Yeah ok

Me: NO

Boys: Why not?

Superheroes: Yeah - why not?

Me: NO!

Superheroes: C’mon just.......

Me: NO!

Boys: Why not

Me: Fine.... whipping out iPhone, takes two quick blurry photos

Superheroes: well done mate..... $10 each thanks. 

Me: Pi## off. That’s why I said no. 

The next 200 metres and 3 minutes had the superheroes being super dicks and accosting us and even grabbing the boys arms at one stage until I threatened them that I would take off my shirt and become the incredible blob and squash them both if they didn’t leave us alone. 

I think the boys now understand why I told them not to say yes to anyone for anything. 

Turns out I had the last laugh. The pictures weren’t blurry at all. 

The kids were reasonably shaken over the whole ordeal, so we got in the car and went exploring. 

We went to Mulholland drive and found a couple of lookouts where we could see the famous Hollywood sign and overlooking the rest of Hollywood. 

I wanted to see some of the famous million dollar streets, but quickly became lost ( which of course was 100% due to Tracy’s navigating 😎)

We finally managed to find our way to the famous Beverly Hills sign where we took a couple of photos and then decided that we really needed to start making our way home. 

My advice now - NEVER try to leave Hollywood after 4:30 if you need to go to the other side of LA. 

We tried a couple of alternate routes that according to Apple Maps would save us 5 minutes rather than going via the freeway 

This couldn’t have been more wrong. There must have been two million cars trying to pass through the same 200 sets of traffic lights up one way roads that had signals only letting 5 cars through at a time. I will NEVER complain about Adelaide traffic again ( ok I probably will, but this was just insane). 

After about 90 minutes, I managed to get onto a freeway ramp, only to be stopped instantly in line with the other 3 million cars that were trying to go out of LA. After much swearing and frustration and another 60 minutes , I finally reached our exit ramp - and drove straight past it. (Insert multiple expletives here). 

6 lanes of traffic - all of them basically stopped. 

We still had to get something for tea, and with my bladder fuller than the Nile River st the end of Winter, I left Tracy and the kids at the shop while I ran home avoiding a burst kidney by about 5 seconds.