Trip report part 3 - final

Thanks Bettina, my daughter is a very determined young lady!!

I forgot to mention that we spent time on Tuesday in the NBA store buying lots of basketball stuff for daughter and husband and son at home - all basketball fans. The NBA should be solvent for another few months after our visit!!

Thursday 22 December 2005

We were meant to visit the SOL and Ellis Island today but as daughter was still a little queasy, we felt that the boat trip, waiting in line and going up all those steps might not be good for her. Still undeterred, we did the NBC tour. Apart from rather unpleasant staff in the NBC studio store the tour was great. Unfortunately we couldn%26#39;t get to see Conan%26#39;s studio - daughter is number 1 fan but the tour guide was enthusiastic and funny.

Then we went to FAO Swartz - got photographs of the %26#39;nurse%26#39; in the %26#39;new born baby%26#39; unit. Cute.

Into Tiffany%26#39;s where I actually bought something. Staff were delightfully snooty.

We went for lunch and I pursuaded my daughter to have a lie down at the hotel. Good idea as when she woke up she started to feel a little better.

So we decided that it might be nice to go downtown again as we liked it there best. We were going to get a taxi but due to the strike we couldn%26#39;t get one. The turned out to be the best thing to have happened. We set off at around 7pm and walked for around 4 and a half hours. It didn%26#39;t feel like we walked so much - there was such a lot to see. On our way back we called into the Old Navy stores - open until 11pm and we got a few bargains.

Back to hotel for a bedtime drink.

At this point I want to emphasise that at no time did either of us feel unsafe. Even in dark areas, broadway at night, Madison Sq Garden, the Village. All of which are not too lit at night.

Friday 23rd December

Today was our last day and we had to leave at around 1pm. We were advised that this wouldn%26#39;t be long enough for SOL so we regretfully decided that we couldn%26#39;t do Ellis Island or SOL on this trip. However, we did go past it on the Statten Island ferry. Liberty stood proud and welcoming. What a sight for all the immigrants on arrival to the US. We got a subway back to 42nd street, couldn%26#39;t believe it was only $2 each!!

Although the strike was over, we decided it best to arrange a hotel car to take us to the airport. Couldn%26#39;t believe it when they lined up a limo for the same price!!! So with genuine tears in our eyes we left New York. An unforgettable experience.

My highlights are:

* Yellow cab from airport

* Central Park on a Sunday

* Walking, walking, walking. Not usually my favourite pastime, but in New York the only way to get around - really enjoyable.

* Pancakes and maple syrup

* The White Rabbit

* S ex and the City and Manhattan tv, NBC and movie tours

* Knicks game

* The group of young guys singing Barbie girl to my tall blonde daughter

* Times Square at night

* Being wished %26#39;happy holidays%26#39; everywhere we went, even on the speaker on the subway!

* Macy%26#39;s

* New York at night - from TOTR

* Tiffany%26#39;s

* New Yorkers. Lovely friendly people. Gorgeous accents, good looking and mostly sounding happy.

* Ground Zero

* The wonderful layout of Manhattan. I have the worst sense of direction in the world but Manhattan is so logical, it is impossible to get lost. We were on 38th street. That actually means the 38th street from the bottom of the map. I felt like an expert when a tourist asked ME for directions!

* The fact that although we were there on the busiest week of the year, at no time did we feel that it was overcrowded. Everyone, even those commuting by foot because of the strike so the walkways were even busier, seemed to walk in an organised way. Virtually no collisions!

* St Patrick%26#39;s Cathedral

* Queen%26#39;s and the little Irish pub

* Not having to be glamorous just wearing boots, jeans, warm coat and scarf - comfy and warm.

I am finishing by saying a huge THANK YOU to all the trip advisors who gave me so much help and advice before our trip, and a huge THANK YOU to all you New Yorkers who made our trip so unforgettable.

If I was a native New Yorker, I would never leave....

Trip report part 3 - final

You really did well! Now rest up and start planning your next trip.

Have a wonderful New Year%26#39;s.

Trip report part 3 - final

Great list of highlights which sounds like you had a really good time. BTW, New Yorkers have an innate ability to walk down a sidewalk that has people from buildings to street without touching anyone.

So true, nyc10025. I%26#39;ve always been amazed how there can be hordes of people heading toward each other, crossing in both directions on a street when the ';walk'; sign comes on, and no one runs into anyone else. It%26#39;s almost like a well-choreographed movement, but it happens spontaneously!