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!