Monday 10 December - NYC

Today Alison and Philip headed off after breakfast and a quality FaceTime session with the dogs (and Jessica)

 to reconnoitre the route to JFK by subway and Air Train in preparation for Jenny's departure on Wednesday. They managed to complete the journey out without a problem and decided that in fact that will be the way that will get to JFK on Sunday to pick up their hire car for the next part of the road trip. They had an hilarious time at the JFK entrance where a staff member convinced them to buy a 5 trip ticket for $25 in preparation for Wednesday. However, when Philip then mentioned that in fact he thought that they might use the air train again on Sunday, the attendant said in that case you need a $25 10 trip card. She then proceeded to approach passengers who were buying single tickets with cash until she had recovered $25 and used up our card. Then she fed the money into the ticket machine and presto we were the proud owners of a 10 trip card. I commented to one lady who handed over her $5 that we were not ticket scalpers and she laughed and said that this would just be another story she would have to share when she returned home!

A and P then headed back into town and unfortunately the number of passengers this time was larger and so they ended up standing for the entire journey. Chivalry is dead on the Jamaica Central line. Philip even received a death stare from one young african american girl he accidentally bumped when the train was pulling off from a station.

Back at the Beacon A, P and J reunited after Jenny had conquered her desire to do a solo journey on the subway to Broadway in search of an AMEX office which she discovered had closed! She made it home safely and even stopped off at the Fairway Market to buy some sweeties for lunch/afternoon tea.

With our taste buds thrilled by these delicacies we all then headed back to the subway and a journey downtown

 to visit St Paul's Chapel where the 9/11 rescuers rested and ate during the recovery.

 By foot then to NY City Hall and the County Court where Jenny was able to experience a Law and Order moment standing on the stairs.

We also walked past the road entry to the Brooklyn Bridge which was shrouded in fog as was the case for all of Manhattan for the day. Uptown then to Macys and into the madness of the world's largest department store in full Festive flight.

Jenny purchased a new Titan suitcase to use for bringing home her USA purchases. We had checked with United airlines earlier in the day and she can have an extra checked bag for $70. Also Philip and Alison bought some dinner supplies from La Cuccina food outlet in Macys - cheese ravioli with pesto sauce and 1/2 chicken with potato and gravy (the daily special). However, we are convinced that the chickens here are very small and in fact more likely the size of city pigeons that we have encountered.

Philip and Alison polished off most of a bottle of Italian Pinot Grigio with their dinner so they are feeling quite relaxed now.

Sunday 9 December - NYC

Out of bed at 7.30am and down to the subway to get Jenny to the 9.00am Radio City show. Made the journey with time to spare and Philip and Alison left Jenny in the show queue and headed off to 9.00am Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. Enjoyed being at the service - shame that when they announce a hymn then only sing one verse - but the cantor's voice was very good. Out of the Cathedral as the 10.00am congregation were heading in. A bit like trying to get out of a subway carriage!

Alison and Philip then walked off in very light drizzle to find the Marquis Theatre on Broadway to buy tickets for Evita on Friday evening. Box office doesn't open until 12 noon on Sunday - bummer. So P and A headed back to wait for Jenny outside Radio City. She was out at 10.30am and had thoroughly enjoyed the show. Snacked on hot dogs from a street vendor and Philip was overcharged so went back and got some dollars back. By this time it was starting to drizzle more so headed back to the Beacon to collect umbrellas and have cheese and crackers for lunch. Whilst lunching we made a little list of things that Jenny might still want to see.

Headed back onto the subway and first to Broadway for Philip and Alison to buy the Evita tickets. Walking then to Bryant Park and a look at the ice skaters and the stalls.

Further along the street to New York Public Library for a television moment to see the stairs where Carrie and Big went up for their wedding or non-wedding.

 Continued walking along 42nd Street to Grand Central station and did a quick tour of the main concourse.

Hopped aboard a train to Bleeker Street station to visit the Dean and Deluca store in SoHo and Jenny enjoyed a chat on the train with two German children. The little girl said cooee to Jenny when she heard Jenny was from Australia! Lots of yummy foods on display at Dean and Deluca and so we purchased our dinner provisions.

Jenny - prawns, tomato and cheddar soup and lemon meringue tart and Philip and Alison - sushi, black eyed pea and ham soup, almond and olive bread and also a lemon meringue tart to share! On the way out Philip was feeling thirsty and saw their special cold drink was fresh lemonade - sugar, two freshly squeezed lemons, ice and water. We all found it very refreshing and gave us a boost for tackling the subway journey back.

Returned to the Beacon and Philip and Jenny had a much needed nanna nap - Alison wrote emails while there was apparently some snoring coming from the bedrooms! We have now enjoyed our dinner and will have our lemon meringue tarts with a hot cup of tea shortly.

Saturday 8 December - NYC

What a day. Overcast and foggy here in the Big Apple but our spirits are so high. Philip and Alison left Jenny in bed and headed off at about 8.20am to try to get tickets to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Took an express train again like last night so had to back track to get to the station that we needed and then rushed to the Radio City Theatre where we were able to get special offer tickets at $129 for the two of us in the stalls centre.

What a magnificent show, the dancing and special effects including 3D were just magical and the story unfolded with an initial focus on Santa and then built to a finale of the Nativity.

On leaving the Theatre bought a ticket for Jenny to see the 9.00am show tomorrow (Sunday) - there was no way that she would be allowed to miss the opportunity to see the show.

Alison and Philip headed to the Rockefeller Centre to see the Christmas Tree

and then back to Broadway past a shop that we know Jessica would like to visit

and to the theatre where Jersey Boys is playing and bought tickets for the 2.00pm matinee today. Not a bad price of $137 per ticket for unobstructed view seats to the side of the stalls. P and A then snacked on a vendor hot dog before taking the subway back to the Beacon and Starbucks to break the news to Jenny that she would not be able to spend the day in bed and also would be up and out early on Sunday morning.

Well it is now night-time here and we have returned from an enjoyable afternoon/evening out and about. Headed Downtown to Jersey Boys (4th time for Alison and Philip and 2nd time for Jenny).

We all thoroughly enjoyed the show and our seats were great in the stalls - D row for Alison and Philip and L row for Jenny. The cast got a full standing ovation at the end. Headed two streets down Broadway after the performance to allow Jenny to experience Ellen's Stardust Diner with singing wait staff. We had to queue for 45 minutes to get a table but Jenny agreed that the experience made the wait very worthwhile.

Fully nourished we then headed down Broadway into Times Square to let Jenny see the lights. After that it was a trek back to the Rockefeller Centre to have a look at the Xmas Tree.

We are all now safely back at the Beacon and have enjoyed supper before we head to bed for some well-earned rest.

Friday 7 December - NYC

Overcast and drizzling rain greeted us this morning so we headed off with Beacon Hotel umbrellas to walk to and through the southern section of Central Park. Visited the "Doggy Day Care" centre on 72nd Street and Alison and Jenny went in to have a chat and also have a look at the video feed of the puppies in the play room downstairs. Owners can view the video feed on their computers or smart phones during the day to keep a check on how their puppies are fairing.

Along 72nd Street then to the Dakota Building and across into Central Park and Strawberry Fields. Then a leisurely amble through the park looking at the various statues, horse drawn carriages and squirrels. Ended up at the southern end of the park at the ice skating rink before exiting the park near the Plaza Hotel.

The "Three Musketeers" at the Central Park Skating Rink

Bridge and autumn leaves in Central Park

Even the horses are getting into the Christmas spirit!

After this short detour out of the park which allowed Philip to duck across the road and check out the delicacies on offer in the Plaza Hotel Food Hall, we headed back in to Central Park and strolled back up towards 72nd Street where we exited and then continued north to the American Museum of Natural History.

Jenny at entrance to AMNH

We visited the Hall of African Mammals and then went down to rest our weary feet and get some sustenance in the basement food court. Not the cheapest place to eat and some of the hot food is actually sold by the pound (lb). They weigh your plate at the checkout!

Back up into the exhibition halls and a visit to the Hall of North American Mammals where Jenny got to finally be close to a bear!

Through the display relating to coastal Indians and then the development of humankind, past the meteorites and into minerals and gems where we got to see the Star of India Sapphire which was donated to the museum in 1906 and stolen by "Murph the Surf" in 1964 but found later in a luggage locker and returned to the museum.

Star of India Sapphire

Finished with a visit to the dinosaurs on the fourth floor and the Asian Mammals near the exit. Philip was not really impressed with the layout of the museum or the methods of display. There was no real way to work your way through various exhibits without backtracking to get to the next thing. Also the lighting is so subdued that one gets the feeling that they are trying to save on electricity or don't want you to be able to clearly read the descriptions or see the detail of the displays.

Home to the hotel as schools came out and Alison got to use her teacher voice to pull some boys into line on a footpath that we were walking along on the way home. Alison and Philip had to head out again to visit the Barnes and Noble bookstore further up Broadway to see if a book that Alison had ordered in Chicago was waiting for pick-up. They decided to take the Subway but ended up on an express service and so instead of getting off at 79th Street as planned they went to 96th Street and then had to back track. Picked up the book and then strolled back and called into Fairway Market for dinner supplies - tomato and basil soup and bread. We have now eaten that course and Philip and Alison made Jenny put on her shoes and go back across the road to buy something for dessert. She warned them that if Richard Gere pulled up outside she would be gone. She wasn't long out the hotel room door when she burst back in almost doubled after laughing. She had been met in the hall way - no not by Richard Gere but an old bent over unshaved man in shorts who asked if she was going down.

Well she has now safely returned and we are going to enjoy some Juniors New York Baked cheese cake for dessert.

Thursday 6 December - NYC

We have woken up to a glorious morning in NYC. The photos below show the view from our windows at 7.30am. We think to day that we may head off to Empire State and then down to World Trade Centre and then the ferry out to Ellis Island while the weather is clear.

The day is drawing to a close - it is now 9.37pm here in NYC and we have had a magic day. Bought our 7 day Metrocards first up and then headed Downtown and to Herald Square where we exited to visit the Empire State Building. Queues were not bad and we were soon on the first observation level with the sun shining and sky clear for magnificent views in all directions. Rather crowded on the first level as most people don't pay the extra $17 to go to Level 102. Up at that level it was far less crowded even though it is fully enclosed so glass reflection can cause some problems. 

Jenny went on a souvenir shopping spree and so we then headed back to the hotel for cheese sandwiches for lunch and to drop off the shopping. Philip and Alison then hurried Jenny back to the subway and we took Line 1 all the way downtown to Rector Street. Visited the World Trade Centre site and the 9/11 Memorial which currently is comprised of a park of trees including one which survived the collapse of the buildings and the two pools where water cascades down into a black square in the centre and on the wall around each  are inscribed the names of those who died in each of the towers. It is a very moving tribute to those who lost their lives that day.

A visit then to Trinity Church on Wall Street and the purchase of some souvenir prints followed by a photo opportunity with the Wall Street Bull. Not so crowded this time so Philip now has his photo with the correct end of the bull while you will see below that the two girls in the party wanted to get up close and personal with other parts of his anatomy!

On to Battery Park which is largely fenced off as a result of Hurricane Sandy and a view out to the Statue of Liberty as the sun was setting. 

Jenny got very close to a squirrel and also once again did some souvenir shopping from a footpath vendor.

Tonight it was dinner from Fairway across the road again and then Alison and Philip headed back Downtown to Times Square for a reconnoitre regarding shows and the location of theatres.

Wednesday 5 December - Chicago to New York City

No photos in today's post so for those who need visual stimulation please accept our heartfelt apologies!   Left our hotel in Chicago at about 10.15am today and headed to O'Hare Airport. Self checkin which ended up being performed by an American Airlines staff member or two was fun. Jenny went a shade of grey when she saw the weight of her suitcase on the scale. Poor thing she has only one suitcase allowed for her return from the USA on Air New Zealand.

Then through security - boarding pass plus photo id just to get to the scanning lines. Oops Alison had made a special trip this morning to a super-market near our hotel to buy new bottles of water for each of us. No that wasn't going to get through so they had to be binned! Jenny tried to drink a third of hers before throwing it away and that came back to haunt her as we were approaching JFK airport - circling and then taxiing for quite some time. Our plane was a 737 and was packed - Alison and Philip thought that they had seen some Asian tourists in their travels pushing the boundaries of what was okay as cabin baggage. American travellers are obviously past masters at getting as much on board for free as possible. Bight the time our group (Group 4) was called to board there was very little space left in overhead lockers. Jenny ended up travelling with her backpack between her feet. At least they served a complimentary soft drink during the flight and Philip now knows not to have one in future - needed to visit the lavatory but by the time he made the decision, descent into JFK was starting and he had to return to his seat. Thank heavens for a relatively short walk from air bridge to terminal concourse!!!!

Up and down escalators in the terminal until we reached baggage claim and our luggage cam through on cue. Had paid and booked for a Supper Shuttle transfer so checked in with the operator and we had a 15-20 wait before loading with 6 other brave souls and taking what amounted to a roller coaster ride into Manhattan. Fortunately, we were the first group to be dropped off at the Beacon Hotel.

Our room here is on the 20th floor and looks down on Boradway and straight across to the Fairway Market which is a dream for shopping. We shopped and have just finished a real home cooked dinner of minute steak, mushrooms, baby potatoes, green beans and butternut pumpkin thanks to the facilities in our kitchenette. Only hassle was the smoke detector which went off as Philip cooked the mushrooms.

It is quite cool and breezy outside this evening. Tomorrow's forecast is for fine but ending to rain for the weekend. Alison and Philip have just returned from a walk to check out the distance to the closest subway station (72nd Street) and then continued a large block walking to Central Park and around the Dakota Building before coming back to the Beacon along 75th Street which is primarily a residential area of brownstone walk-ups. Poor photograph of the Beacon entry below. Time is now 10.16pm and the walk required jackets, scarves, beanies and gloves for Alison.

Tuesday 4 December - Chicago

Slower start this morning - only got to breakfast at around 8.50am. Fortified ourselves for what we planned to be a fairly lengthy morning/day and headed off in warm conditions walking down Grand Avenue to the Old Navy Pier. Alison and Jenny had to pose before we left with the Chicago Bears mascot which has been relaxing in the lobby since the weekend.

Entered the main building and visited the large indoor palm garden with dancing fountains.

While Philip rested, Alison (at Philip's request went down on to the pier to investigate the possibility of a Chicago River boat cruise. Best thing that could have happened as shortly after we were boarding a boat for a one hour architecture sightseeing cruise up and down the river. The guide's commentary was really informative and engaging and we learnt so much about the city and its buildings as we cruised.

Y Junction in the Chicago River

Old Rail Bridge

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

Building in centre with Gold Top - designed to look like a champagne bottle

We would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago. Must say however that we were very lucky as normally the cruises would have stopped by this time of year!

On our return to the Pier we enjoyed an ice-cream from the Ben & Jerry's Ice-cream Parlour - we had heard about how good these ice-creams were on a Foxtel show before we left home. Then investigated some more of the enclosed area of the Pier which contained a museum of stained glass windows and looked at the outdoor sculptures including the one below made of old canoes.

Our walk to and from the pier had taken us past a large wave shaped apartment building which we discovered on our cruise is a very exclusive address as it is the only residential building in the city that is built on the lake side of Lakeside Boulevard. It has been home  to such glitterati as Oprah, Tom Cruise, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

 Headed back to our hotel for a late lunch of yesterday's leftovers and then Philip and Alison left Jenny to rest and read while they headed quite a few blocks up State St to the nearest Barnes & Noble store chasing a children's book from a series that Alison has been collecting since her first visit to the USA. Unfortunately, they didn't have a copy in stock but organised for one to be ordered and available for us to pick up at the Broadway store when we are in New York.

At this stage the sun was sinking and as they were "relatively" close to the John Hancock Building, Alison and Philip headed there and took the fastest elevator in the USA to the observation deck. The sky was perfectly clear and the night lights of the city were coming on for a fairytale view of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, as Alison and Philip had originally been on a shopping expedition, they did not have one camera or smart phone between them so the photographic memories are only those maintained in the brains!

Dinner tonight consisted of a starter of hot popcorn from the popcorn trolley in the hotel foyer, followed by some bbq chicken wings and delicious garden vegetable soup bought hot from a little supermarket one block away. We are now busy repacking in preparation for our flight to NYC at 1pm Wednesday.