Niagara Falls

Up early the next morning to catch a flight from La-Guardia to Toronto then a coach ride with the group to Niagara Falls - Niagara Falls, Ontario, is a Canadian city at the famous waterfalls, linked to US by the Rainbow Bridge. It's site on the Niagara River's western shore overlooks the Horseshoe Falls, the cascades' most expansive section.  We had a falls view room on the 16th floor in Sheraton on the Falls. This was very special and when we entered our room Hels make such a loud exclamation of 'OMG' I heard one of the attendants in the corridor have a little chuckle.

After settling in we walked up Clifton Hill passing heaps of amusement shops with music blearing and lights flashing - bit tacky and so different to the natural beauty of the falls. Found a lovely Indian Restaurant (Guru) where we had a very tasty meal, checked out some other shops then headed back to our room to stare in awe at our beautiful view all lite up at night.  Absolutely spectacular!  Watched the 10pm Fireworks display while Helen slept!

The view from our hotel room, absolutely amazing!

At night the falls are lit up and change colour 

Met up with our fellow travellers for a 'briefing' before gorging ourselves with the Breakfast Buffet - not good when it is all you can eat!!  Walked down to the Niagara Parkway and bought an Adventure Pass from Niagara Parks -  Journey Behind the Falls (journey below and behind the heart of Niagara and stand right in the mist and spray):  Niagara's Fury (travel back in time 10,000 years to re-live the ancient story of the falls, witnessing the power and beauty of nature in 4D):  Hornblower Niagara Cruise (ride into the breathtaking American and Canadian Horseshoe Falls). Everything was amazing and the force of these waterfalls was unbelievable.  After an action packed day it was a freshen up and off to our hosts Gerry and Sandy's room for Happy Hour which started at 6pm and continued to 9.30pm!!  What a great group this is to travel with!

Walked to Perkins Bakehouse for breakfast then back to our room via the Casino.  Helen felt a bit unwell so went to bed while I walked across the Rainbow Bridge into US (had to show passport at the border!).  Went onto the Viewing Platform then took a lift down to ground level and the bottom of the American falls.  Met up with fellow travellers John & Judy who were drenched, so decided not to go down any further.  In the afternoon Hels was feeling better so took the 'WeGo' bus to the fourth Attraction included in the Pass, White Water Walk (deep in the Niagara Gorge explore the boardwalk overlooking some of the world's wildest stretches of "class 6" rapids).  This was also spectacular as the boardwalk takes you very close to the rapids.  Hopped back on the bus again and enjoyed the drive to the terminal passing Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Conservatory, Floral Clock.

One of the cruise boats going to the falls.

From the top of Horse shoe falls

Looking towards our hotel on the left and American side falls on the right.

At the base on a observation platform of the Horseshoe falls

Our hotel on the left

Two boats from the Canadian side are continually taking trips to the falls

On the boat heading to what seemed to be right under the falls - we were drenched by the spray  

Looking from the US side

A different colour, just amazing

We were surprised by the amusement alley around the area.

New York

After leaving Landsborough on an early train to Brisbane airport we caught an 11.30am flight to Los Angeles, which was nearly 13 hours then hopped onto our next flight to New York another 5 hours, arriving in New York the same day at 6pm. After arriving near the end of the day we still had a 2 hour shuttle ride to our hotel, Beacon on Broadway. Driving into New York at night was just a 'wow' factor and after checking in we visited the Fruit and Veg/Fresh Foods shop across the road, grabbed something for tea and breakfast before retiring to bed ready for a good night sleep! We had a self contained room, so able to stock up on a few items of food instead of having to eat out all the time.

No caption required, Statue of Liberty from a Hudson River cruise

In the morning we met up with fellow travellers before going our own way to see the sights.  We walked to Time Square where we caught a Hop-On Hop-Off bus (2 hour round trip) and experienced heaps of traffic, luckily we don't have to drive in it! Hopped off bus at Battery Point where we caught our first sighting of the Statue of Liberty.  Had the old hot dog for lunch then back on a bus again following the Hudson River to downtown.  Toured Madame Tussauds, founded by the wax sculpture Marie Tussaud now operated by an entertainment company. Thoroughly enjoyed looking through this venue with some of the statues so lifelike!  Walked back through Central Park - so beautiful - to our Hotel where we met the others for Happy Hour then ate tea at the Cafe next door.

John Wayne on the right 😉 at Madame Tussauds

Helen mixing with Royalty

More of the many wax figures - so life like

A popular, not so popular Trump

In the hands of the Incredible Hulk!

Second day in New York we were awake at 3am (guess our body clock will take time to adjust!).  Walked down to Time Square for our Hop-On Hop-Off Bus then disembarked at the Ferry Terminal where we enjoyed a ride on the Ferry cruising on the Hudson River, viewing the poshy Wharf District, viewing New Jersey on other side of the River.  We passed Ellis Island, a museum and former immigration inspection station in New York Harbour. It was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the United States as the nations busiest immigration inspection station from 1892 to 1954.  From Ellis Island we cruised up to the Statue of Liberty, a colossal neoclassical sculpture and it was fantastic to see up close and personal.  The copper statue, a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States, was designed by French Sculpture Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and its metal framework was built by Gustave Eiffel.  The Statue was dedicated on 28th October 1886.

Eventually caught bus back to Times Square (think a few buses went missing!), and hailed another to 9/11 Memorial Museum, passing through Bryant Park, 5th Avenue midtown, Empire State Building/ Koreatown, Union Square, Noho, Soho/Little Italy, Chinatown, to name a few.

Trump building

New York -Huge buildings and heaps of traffic

Walking down W69 St admiring the buildings

The Empire State building

The 9/11 Memorial commemorates the September 11, 2001 attacks which killed 2,977 people, and the 1993 World Trades Centre bombing which killed six.  The Memorial is tastefully created and offers peaceful surrounding to reflect on that terrible day.  We did not visit the museum as time slipped away and we needed to catch the bus back to Times Square.  Waited for quite a while for a bus, and when day light was dimming decided to walk back to Battery Park for the bus, not knowing that buses ceased at 5.35pm and it was now 7pm!!  It was either walking back or catching the subway and as Helen was dead against the subway at night, walking back was the only option.  On our journey home we stopped at Maddison Gardens for a pizza, stopped at the M&M World (amazing 3 storey shop of M&Ms) where we purchased M&Ms to give us strength to walk the final few blocks!  Arrived back at Hoel @ 10.30pm and felt safe walking along the Broadway with plenty of people out and about.  In all we had walked approx 75 blocks and were totally stuffed!!

The Oculus building near the 9/11 memorial - World Trade Centre Transportation Hub (replaces the Path Train Station that was destroyed during the 9/11 terrorist attack)

One of the two 9/11 memorial pools

Time Square at dusk

Even brighter and more people at night

More traffic and people

One of the unusual 'decoration' on the building windows!

Central Park - memorial to John Lennon 'Imagine'

Was a bit concerned visiting New York as Helen says she does not like big crowds or big cities, however after our experience she loves New York and would come back again for a longer period of time!