Blogs from Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, North America - page 14

Whist the temperature was still in minus figures, it had warmed up slightly and it had also started snowing. We were planning on going on a sight seeing boat cruise, which only run once per day in the afternoon so we thought we would go to the terminal at Pier 83 to book it first. Once that was done, we thought we would go for a walk in Central Park. On the way there we walked past the Trump Tower. It was funny to see a number of people taking pictures of the Trump Tower sign at the front whilst giving it the finger. Well, it made me laugh anyway, particularly as we have only been here a few days and are already getting sick of having that idiot forced down our throat. By the time ... read more

I woke-up excessively early due to the time difference, so I headed to Brooklyn for some early morning photos by the Brooklyn Bridge. I should have got out of bed quicker as it took a long while for a subway train to arrive and the journey itself took longer than I expected, so by the time I got there it wasn't early morning any more. Last time we were in New York, you just needed to buy tickets for the subway. Now it seems that you need to buy a Metro card (like a London Oyster card) and then credit that. Despite the early hour, there was a lady in the ticket office who was remarkably patient with the stupid, clueless Brit who, for some unknown reason, was going to Brooklyn at 5.30am. London - two ... read more

One date aligns within our family that bonds three of it's members more closely than they may have been, had that date been even a day out of sync. Our eldest daughter was born on my parent's wedding anniversary and that date in 2015 saw my daughter celebrate her Sweet 16 and my folks, their Ruby Wedding. A year previously, when asked how they'd like to celebrate, the notion of a trip to NYC was banded around. Within weeks this trip for the seven of us was booked and planning commenced. Although our children had never been to NY, we have previously been twice together as a couple, and for my parents this would be their sixth time in the city that never sleeps. Remarkably, given the number of visits we'd previously made collectively, the excitement ... read more

It’s here, the end, the Last Day. I am sad that it is over but I’m really excited to see everyone, catching up on all the stories I have missed. It’s been a wonderful, amazing and at times slightly stressful experience. I had so much fun. Met some lovely people and made some new friends. I’ve lost count of the number of people who asked, upon hearing about my trip, what my highlights are? What was the best part? The honest answer, is there are too many highlights to name just one. My favourite country was Argentina? Canada? The best part hmmm walking on a glacier, experiencing the awesome power of water at Iguazu Falls and then again at Niagara Falls. Seeing a brown bear up so close in Canada or maybe it was discovering the ... read more

As the ship pulled into Cape Liberty we overheard a young girl saying "you can smell the dirty of New York City" and she was very right...but there is something special about this city that brings us back here time and time again. The people, the places, the stories, the sights and the lives of New Yorkers make this a place that million of tourists flock to every year. You can't help but wonder as you watch the New Yorkers on the trains - what it must be like to live and work in this concrete jungle - where space is strictly limited and patches of grass, trees and gardens are only to be found at big parks - Central Park and the likes. Imagine raising a family, or even having a large dog here when ... read more