Away we go

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First Day - away we go!

We left Aberdeen at 630am to head to Heathrow, after only 3 hours sleep - far too excited!!!

As we were flying BA, we had 2 hours to look around the new T5, before heading off to NY!!

Our flight was delayed as someone tried to board with an expired passport - grrrr! Laura was panicking as we had tickets to a concert in Pennsylvania that evening, and time was tight.
As the flight boarded, in blocks of rows, we were almost last to head up. As we got to the boarding desk, the woman explained we could have boarded ages ago, we'd been upgraded to Business Class (£3,000.00 per seat!). Free champagne for Laura, as Graham was driving when we arrived in NY!!!
We'd planned to have a snooze on the plane, but business class was just too exciting. We had the fully reclining beds, and porcelain plates, real glasses and real cutlery!!!

We met a really nice New Yorker on the plane, Chris, who was heading out to visit family. It turned out he was heading to the same small town as us, Bethlehem in Pennsylvania!!!!

Upon arrival in NY, as we were in Business Class, we were second off plane (after 1st class!) and this meant we didnt have to queue long at border control.
All our cases arrived safely (phew) and we headed out into Arrivals, where we were met by a private driver, organised as a surprise by Graham. Laura was so pleased, it was the hottest day of the year so far, and we had a lovely air conditioned lexus hybrid, with chilled bottled water to drive us into Manhattan.
Our driver, Paul was great. He took us on a wee tour, and showed us his favourite view of Manhattan, from a slip road onto the Highway.

Upon arrival at our first hotel, we headed out to find food, Firstly finding the Waldorf Astoria! and several HSBCs!!! McDonalds was found! then we headed to the rental car company. After seeing the driving and the states of the vehicles, we were worried about being responsible for the car, but they reassured us, as "if its on the bumper, it dont count!"
We found our way out of Manhattan, using the Lincoln Tunnel, and headed over New Jersey, then out to Pennsylvania. It was a bit confusing, as the Junction numbers were going downwards, 43, 42, 41 and we were looking for 67.......... but we persevered and eventually were welcomed to Pennsylvania! It was clearly signed from the stateline, MUSIKFEST 09......
We found the park and ride, and arrived in Bethlehem by bus. It was a wonderful atmosphere, we had amazing corn on the cob, and made our way to the concert, which was on a slip of land in the middle of a river!

The supporting act, Matt Nathanson, was brilliant. But nothing as good as when Third Eye Blind came on. Laura has been a fan for 10 years, when she was introduced to them by her friend Inga who moved to Orkney from the US.

After the concert we headed back to Manhattan, it was a difficult drive, as by now it was 1130pm, we'd been up for over 24 hours, on little sleep. Coming over New Jersey at 1am, we were shattered, but the view of Manhattan was amazing........

Luckily we got a parking space right outside our hotel! and we were sound asleep in minutes.... what a day!!!

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Photos

Graham & Laura
Free champagne in business class

Graham
outside another HSBC - missing his work?!!!

Graham
At Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA

Laura
heading down the river

Laura
At the venue