New York, New York

When it rains in New York, it proper rains! We caught the bus from the airport, hopped off at The Port Authority, a 20 minute stroll to our hotel. Checked in and slept for couple of hours…

The Kixby Hotel is just around the corner from Macy’s and The Empire State Building. A boutique hotel. They’d thoughtfully put a note and bottle of something fizzy in the room, wishing Ali a Happy Birthday. Nice touch.

We freshened up and headed out around 2pm. We’d noticed a umbrella in the wardrobe but figured we’d not need it!

We gave ChatGPT a list of things we’d like to do, the time available and asked for an itinerary and 30 seconds later, the perfect itinerary… which we obviously ignored 😉

Time Square, then on to Central Park, via Cognac, a perfectly positioned restaurant for dinner and cocktails pre Park stroll.

Out of t-shirts, on our way to Target, the sky became dark and I literally saw the rain coming down Broadway but without the brollie there could be no Fred Astaire moment 😉 “Ali, in here…” 

Seconds later SPLISH, SPLASH, SPLOSH, the heavens opened and those poor souls on that open topped bus had nowhere to go! But this little princess got a new coat to match her boots 😉

It’d been a long day, home for an early night with a plan of The Statue of Liberty, Greenwich Village and a steak dinner.

Good night’s sleep, omni card purchased, subway to The Battery and our first distant view of the beacon of hope that Liberty represents.

Ironically, Clinton Castle, the source of the official, official tickets at around 25 dollars, is surrounded by a ring of organised gangs wearing “official” bibs and selling non-stop tours for 44 dollars.

Tickets purchased, we went in search of breakfast and enjoyed a sandwich in Battery Park before boarding the boat.

Got a pic on boat that reminded me of the open sequence to a bunch of movies from my childhood.

Went up to the pedestal and walk around with minimal fear of heights!

Greenwich Village by subway. Wandered around, had a cool vibe, found a quiet cafe, corfeee and relax.

25 mins walking in wrong direction, via the Batmobile, we hopped back on the tube and headed for home, via Macy’s. How many dresses! Thousands at great prices, a Miracle on 34th Street.

Time for dinner. We had a plan but that changed. Three tiny bottles of dog and a veggie burger later, it was time for more photos in Time Square.

Headed in the wrong direction, for a change, to The Empire State Building. I’m normally so good with directions, been rubbish this holiday, probably all the 5G 😉

Did America have an Empire or did they simply build it in homage to us Brits, probably…

9am relieved those were wee bottles of Newcie Brown. Packed and checked out by just after 11am, ready for today’s 20k.

Breakfast on Maddison Ave, a stroll through the gardens. No tacky ferris wheels here, a jazz band setting the mood on a sunny spring Monday morning.

Burlington’s for some gifts and the slowest checkouts ever!

Visited Grand Central Station to admire the ceiling and then up Park Avenue. Negotiated a good deal on some bags and back to hotel to deposit our spoils.

Coffee and a spot of blogging while Ali got a few final gifts before we head for bus station and airport… saving the planet, one communal journey at a time.

Our airport bonus, free Starbucks 😉

Thank you New York.

Thank you Las Vegas.

Thank you Toronto.

Thank you Ali.

Better start planning our 25th Anniversary in June xx