New York to LA and home

Thursday, 24 October

Last entry for this holiday as I wait for my flight home. We caught a taxi to JFK Airport and it only took an hour. Thought it would take much longer after experiencing New York traffic for the last couple of days. A good flight to LA (6 hours) where we were met by Susan. Said goodbye to Anne and Susan, and made my way a few metres to the Tom Bradley terminal. Had to wait an hour and a half for the QANTAS check-in to open so sat outside the terminal with a drink and my book. It’s a 6 hour wait between flights but I’m enjoying the book so time is passing pleasantly.
We’ve had a great month doing our road trips in Nova Scotia and New England, but I’m now looking forward to home, family and friends. See you soon.

New York

Wednesday, 23 October

The weather was sunny today and we were able to see the tops of some of the buildings we missed yesterday. We had a 2 day pass for the HOHO bus so we hopped on and headed back to the Jewish Museum, which is at about the furthest point on the route. Fortunately it was open today. The museum focuses mainly on Auschwitz and gave a very detailed account of the plight of Jews and others.

We walked back to the Oculus, stopping for a hamburger on the way. Yesterday we didn’t know that it is a subway station and shopping centre, replacing the one destroyed on 9/11. The inside is huge and airy and light and quite beautiful.

Walked by the water to another pickup point for the HOHO and took it to stop 14 on West 14th St. A bit of a hike took us to the KGB Espionage Museum, where we saw all sorts of spy gadgetry, including a lipstick gun, bugging devices and a secret compartment in the heel of a shoe.

On the way back to the bus stop we had a quick look at the High Line, a park built on a disused raised railway line. Couldn’t spend long there as we didn’t want to miss the last bus back.

Ate in Friedman’s, the restaurant at our hotel, and I had a mohito to celebrate our last night in New York. Then up to our room to organise our bits and pieces before the flight home, or to LA in Anne’s case. It has been another big day and we are both exhausted.

New York

Tuesday, 22 October

Bought tickets for one of the HOHO buses and did a bit of hopping on and off as well as quite a lot of walking. First it was Grand Central Station, where I was interested to see a sectioned off area with soldiers scanning the crowd - and also being helpful with directions. Just a few doors on was the Chrysler building, my favourite NY building. Unfortunately it was shrouded in mist so we couldn’t see all the way to the top. Today was drizzly and misty all day but at least it didn’t bucket down.

A few blocks brought us to the Empire State Building, also disappearing into cloud. What we could see at street level was pretty unprepossessing.

Our next stop was at Battery Park for the Jewish Museum, which was closed. We walked from there to the World Trade Centre Memorial, an incredibly moving place with a square pool for each of the two towers and the names of those killed engraved around the edges. There were many firemen, police and emergency workers listed, who rushed in to help and lost their lives. Part of the complex is The Oculus, a train station and World Trade Centre shopping Mall with an amazing ribbed design.

Back on the bus for a very damp and windy ride back to Stop 1, just across from our hotel. We had a drink and a nibble for Edison Hour at our hotel (Hotel Edison) and then it was dinner at Sardi’s, a restaurant famed for its caricatures of theatre people through the years. Most of them we didn’t know but there were a few very familiar faces.

Boston to New York

Monday, 21 October

This morning we departed Boston’s South Station and headed for the big Apple by train. It was a good journey, taking about three and a half hours. We were in our new digs in time for lunch in the beautiful cafe next door. The Hotel Edison is an Art Deco building very close to Times Square. Unfortunately the plumbing seems to come from that period too. Everything else is lovely.

After lunch we had a look at Times Square, then caught a taxi to the Guggenheim Museum, just to have a look at the building. Across the road was Central Park and we walked back into the central area through the park. There are a lot of people jogging and riding bikes through that park!

Back in town we had a drink at a juice place with nice juice and awful music, then made our way to the Rockefeller Centre. We bought tickets to the observation deck on the 67th floor but had to wait a couple of hours for our time slot. Spent the time having a cuppa in the lobby area as we were still too full from lunch to have a meal.

The lift takes 45 seconds to get to the “Top of the Rock” and one of the staff estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 people go up every day. The views of the city were pretty impressive. Got back to our hotel around 11.30 so this won’t be published tonight.

Boston

Sunday, 20 October

Caught the red line train to Park St and from there we walked through the park to the State House with its golden dome and then the Old Granary Burial Ground, where many of the heroes of the revolution are buried.

Back to the park, past the frog pond and across to the “Make way for ducklings” sculptures. There were squirrels everywhere, one of which had taken ownership of a bagel. From here we crossed the road to catch the HOHO outside the original “Cheers” bar from the tv show.

We hopped off at Copley Square, had a look at a couple of churches and a big Muslim event remembering the grandson of Mohammed. Then it was a cuppa and a snack in the Fairmont Hotel.

Back on the HOHO trolley to stop number one, a short walk from Faneuil Hall, which is shrouded in scaffolding and closed for a concert. That was a shame as it is so connected to the history of the revolution.

We returned to the trolley and were dropped off at the Freedom Trail, close to where Karyn, Chris and I stayed last winter. Another burial ground, the Old North Church, where Paul Revere’s signal lamp was waved from the tower, and then a park with a statue of Paul Revere on horseback. From here we walked down past Paul Revere’s house and back into the old town. Then it was home again on the red line train.

Newport to Boston

Saturday, 19 October

We had a good drive to Boston, where we first dropped off our luggage at our hotel in Cambridge and then drove into the city to return the car. We were on a toll road before we realised it was EZ pass only but they’ll bill us for the toll so it’s OK. We did head in the wrong direction at first but Tomtom sorted us out. No problems returning the car. We said goodbye to it, thank you to Tomtom and set off on foot.

Decided the HOHO trolley would be our best bet as it’ll save Anne’s leg a bit. Took us a while to find the right place but we eventually managed it after a bite of lunch. A long wait for the trolley as two came by which were full. We did most of the route but hopped off when we were near the old centre of town. Saw the holocaust memorial and the market, had a cuppa and then caught the train back to our hotel. All the trains were free today in recognition of the inconvenience to commuters because they have closed the Orange line for maintenance.

Dinner here in the hotel. Our room is very nice but compact, with barely room for our luggage.
Sorry, no videos today.