7th January

This is the view we woke up to this morning - sun rise over the Ben Franklin Bridge. The other side is New Jersey.

We caught the train to New Carrollton in Maryland and were picked up at the station by Bill and Margie. It is sure great to see them again and catch up on the last couple of years.

After lunch, Margie, Jess and I went to my favourite fabric store - Cottonseed Glory where a bought a lovely oriental kit for a quilt, fat quarters for our fabric exchange back home and fabric to make Amelia a quilt for her bed. I wanted to buy just about everything in the shop!!

Everything at the supermarket was very busy and Margie said it was because snow is forecast for tonight and everyone panic and stocks up in case they get snowed in - even thought not that much snow is forecast11

I finally washed clothes and I think I can make it till we get home before I need to do it again.

Finally did some washing

6th January

This morning we caught the hotel's courtesy shuttle to the Historical District of Philadelphia. As we had 30 minutes to wait for the trolley tour, we went across the road to see the Libery Bell. It was smaller that I expected but awesome just to be so close to it. It is not in a protective case but there is a rope around it and guards watching all the time.


We got on the trolley tour again and were going to go to Betsy Ross's house (she made the first flag) but it was closed for refurbishment - this is the off season - and, unlike New York, there aren't many tourists around. We got off at the African American Museum which was very interesting. We hopped back on the trolley and headed for the Rodin Museum. It was to kind of make for not seeing the one in Paris. There were lots of Rodin's sculptures but I was a little disappointed in the setting - very cold and harsh.

We then walked across to the Museum of Natural History and saw a very interesting exhibition on George Washington Carver. I have been interested in him since a read a story of his life when I was a child.

This is a large statue of Ben Franklin

This is a picture of the Philadelphia skyline. The Brown building is based on a phone jack and the taller one behind it is designed on a USB drive! It is a very nice city.

This is the City Hall. It is French Revival in style and is made of bricks with stone fascade. The only thing that spoilt it was the air conditioner in every window - on all four sides. Benjamin Franklin is on top of the tower and until about 30 years ago no buildings were allowed to be build higher than him!

The city has a public art program and all new buildings have sculpures out the front. This one amused me!!

We then walked back through the city to Independence Hall and did the tour. This is one of the rooms - I can't remember what they were all for but will update this when I know!!

This is the room where the Declaration of Independence was worked out. I had a really cool chandelier with candles!

We found a nice little Chinese cafe and had an okay dinner. We asked someone how to get to the Ice Hockey stadium and headed down to the subway. $4 and 20 minutes later we were there! Steve, Jess and Amelia were picked up at the hotel by someone they knew and met us there. Stephen had organised the tickets and we had seats just 12 rows behind the glass. I didn't take any pictures of the actual game but it was a lot of fun and the Flyers won - so everyone was happy!!!

At the end of the first period they had a children's game. This little goalie is only 7 years old. He was almost lost in his uniform

This is the kid's team. The kind of play like under 6s soccer - in a pack!!

This is Amelia in her Flyers track suit with a Flyers Tatoo on her cheek taking a picture of the children playing hockey with her mother's digital SLR!

Tuesday 5th January

We checked out of the hotel at 10:45am, caught taxis to Penn Station and by 11:35 were on our way to Philadelphia. The train was really nice with comfortable seats, trays like on aeroplanes and power sockets with every seat.




It only took 1hr 20 min to reach Philadelphia - what an easy way to travel. If we had gone by plane we would still be at the airport.





Our hotel room was ready when we got here so we checked in and Joe, Jess and I walked to the Historical District Visitors Centre. We are staying right near Penns Landing and next to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Joe and I bought tickets for the hop-on, hop-off trolley bus which are good until tomorrow evening. We did the complete circuit to orientate ourselves to the city and decide where we won't to go tomorrow.

We then went to a place that the tour guide recommended and had Philly Steak Sandwich for dinner. mmmmmmmmmmm

This is the view from our window tonight - Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Bruises from ice skating aren't too bad but I have found muscles that haven't been used for a while!!

Monday 4th January

After breakfast, Stephen and I caught the Subway to the Guggenheim Museum. I remember falling in love with this building back in the 1960s when I was doing art at school. It was even better than I imagined. There was a retrospective of Kandinski's work and there was a free audio tour that was excellent. I an usually not that keen on abstract art but the commentary really made it come alive!! It made me want to buy canvas, paint and brushes!!

After spending 2 hours at the museum we caught the Subway back downtown, Stephen got off at our stop and I headed a few more stations down to visit City Quilter. It is a lovely quilt shop in the middle of New York City. I bought some special New York fabric, some fabric for my patchwork groups fabric exchange, a pattern and a book. I then walked the 14 blocks back to the hotel (only about a mile!).

After a brief rest we headed out to Bryant Park, just a couple of blocks away that has a free outdoor ice skating rink. We only had to pay for skates. Beside the rink was a Carousel and Amelia got very excited as she had been watching her Mary Poppins dvd this afternoon. She had the ride all to herself and, as you can see, LOVED it.

Don't you just love the oversized gloves!!

We had lots of fun skating although the skates weren't marvellous. I haven't skated for at least 32 years and Joe hasn't skated for 25 years so we were both a little rusty. We both had one tumble each! And both have ended with bruised knees!!

Poor Amelia, I don't think she realised how shaky both her grandparents were!!

This is a fountain outside the ice rink. You can see how cold the air is. Joe was sure that the ice had been artificially assisted but it was natural!!

Oops, this one is out of order.

Amelia just loves ferris wheels and is particularly fascinated by this one in Toys'r'us in Times Square. She did have several rides on it while we were in New York.

Tomorrow we catch the Amtrak to Philadelphia.

Footnote: We keep laughing at drug ads on TV where the possible side effects take longer to explain than the ad itself!!

3rd January

We checked out of our apartment and caught taxis to an hotel downtown this morning. We decided to add a couple of days to NY and the apartment wasn't available for the extra days. We are staying 5 blocks from Time Square on the edge of the garment district and there are fabric shops everywhere but mostly just for the rag trade.

As soon as we had left our bags, we went up to Times Square and bought half price tickets to see Mary Poppins.

Joe and I then headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Unfortunately it seems to be set out in collections more than styles of paintings, sculpture etc (not unlike Macy's and their designer set up) and is just a maze of rooms all just labelled with the collection name. I went to see particular painters - mostly 19th American but never found them! I did find the following:

A Tiffany glass window

Another Tiffany glass window

Yet another stunning Tiffany glass panel

Small Degas statue - Ballerina Tying Her Shoe. Just love Degas.

We then caught the Subway back to Broadway just off Time Square to meet up with Jess and Amelia and saw Mary Poppins. It was just FABULOUS and the lead was from the original London production. It was very long and Amelia lasted very well. We had fabulous seats. It was in the New Amsterdam Theatre - an old, very ornate theatre and perfect for the show!

It only took us 10 minutes to walk back to the hotel!

Tomorrow is our last day in New York so we will have to jam in as many things as we can!

2nd January

This morning we ventures onto the Subway and caught the train to the World Trade Centre. Joe did a walking tour lead by a 9/11 survivor. He was deeply moved.

While Joe was doing the walking tour, I went to Century 21 a large discount department store specialising in name brands. It was chaotic but a least it was warm inside. I bought a couple of small things but the best bargains were some business shirts for Joe.

We grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then walked down to Battery Park. It was bellow freezing with Arctic Winds, snow flurries and the sun was shining. I have bought a long coat filled with goose down and I was still cold. You had to keep walking because as soon as you stopped the cold just seeped into every part of you.

In Battery Park was the globe from the World Trade Centre Plaza.

We got a brief view in the distance of Liberty. We did consider taking the ferry out but the line was about 1/2 long and we just couldn't stand in the cold that long.

We walked aroung to the Police Museum and then headed up Wall Street.

I finally got to see Tiffany's but didn't go inside:

This is the New York Stock Exchange

This is George Washington on the site of his first inauguration (across the street from the New York Stock Exchange)

Trinity Church in the Financial District

We headed back to the appartment and met up with Stephen, Jess and Amelia. Jess and I then headed down town (5pm) to go to Macy's to see if we could find any bargains!! There really weren't any but we had fun. I don't think I will be going back to Macy's again - the clothes are set out in Brands not items so if you want jeans you have to go to all the different designers scattered over 5 floors - very frustrating.

We got back to the apartment at about 9pm. It is true that NY is a city that never sleeps!! And it seems to be very safe!

Friday 1st January

This morning we went walking in Central Park with the plastic sled/disc hoping for a place to do some sliding. With no new snow since yesterday morning, the grass was starting to show through. We did find one small slope and Joe and Jess had a nice slide each but Amelia refused to even try it!!

We walked and walked and found all sorts of wonderful vistas:

We found Strawberry Fields which was a nice little corner, not far from where John Lennon used to live. Did a quick walk around it (5 minutes!!) to honour the his memory.

This is Amelia demolishing a hotdog!

In the ground near the entrance is this nice tribute to John Lennon. There was a busker sitting nearby singing Lennon songs.

We then finally found the horse and carriage rides - something we had been looking for for quite a while. It is a bit of a take - they follow each other around a short part of the Park and you don't see much but it was worth it for the novelty factor!! Amelia cried when she had to get off.

We then split up and Joe walked back to the apartment, Jess and Amelia went to the Central Park Zoo and I just wandered around the streets checking out some of the beautiful shop windows. Some of the shops were having sales but there were queues to get in. I am still waiting to do some bargain shopping. I then braved the crowds at FOA Schwarz toy store. It was mostly stuffed toys!! and it was stuffed with people.

I then headed up 5th Avenue and eventually came to the Guggenheim Museum. Unfortunately, it was getting a little late and I was worried that if I went in I would have to walk back through Central Park when it was dark. Might see if I can get back here before we leave.

The Guggenheim is almost directly across Central Park from our street so I entered the Park and walked around the reservoir. It was quite beautiful but the snowy walking path of yesterday was mud and big puddles today!!

This is looking across the reservoir to the western side where we are staying

This is looking towards the east side - the Guggenheim is in the middle

This is the walking path around the reservoir - you can see all the mud and puddles. The lights come on at about 4pm!

I was really surprised how safe Central Park is. It has been embrassed by local residents with enthusiasm and there are people everywhere walking their dogs, jogging, riding bikes or just ambling! At least I got some exercise today to counter all the food I have been eating!!

A footnote to Niagara Falls - I couldn't believe how expensive food was there and the taxes....... Joe and I had a light dinner at TGI Fridays and it cost $44.45 (which was exorbitant for what it was) but then there was GST - $2.22, Food Tax - $3.56, D.F.P (? tax) $1.33 bringing it to $51.56 and then they expect a tip on top of that!! The same food it about 1/2 the price here in New York.