24th December

Today we packed up, picked up a hire car and found our way out of New York City with Joe driving and Jess and Tomtom navigating.

We stopped at Albany, found a shopping mall and everyone did some frantic last minute shopping.

We arrived at our beautiful 1856 b and b in Cooperstown at about 6pm.

These are views from out bedroom windows. The rooms are big, spacious and each decorated with a different theme with beautiful handmade quilts which at least Amelia and I appreciate.

Jess and I rang family back home who are already in the middle of Christmas, Joe read Amelia The Night Before Christmas and Amelia hung her stocking near the Christmas tree.

23rd December

Today Joe and I went wandering around and saw lots of interesting architecture. We knew the touristy map for the hop-on, hop-off bus was not to scale but we didn't realise how far wrong it was!! We never did reach the World Trade Centre site!!
Jess messaged us to say they had tickets to the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Musical Hall so we headed up that way. We had lunch at a REALLY nice mexican grill then head up to the concert. It was just AMAZING. We had seats just 3 rows from the front. The dancing and the animation were just fabulous.

We saw 5 Elmos, 3 Cookie Monsters, 2 Pooh Bears, 2 Doras, Minnie Mouse and Sponge Bob. They ask you for a tip to have a photograp with them - almost glorified begging!!

After the concert we headed to Macys as I decided my coat wasn't warm enough. After wandering around with about 5,000 other people I gave up and we walked back to the apartment. We stayed in and looked after Amelia while Stephen and Jess went out to dinner in little Italy.

The lights on the front of Macys

22nd December

This morning we wondered down to Time Square and were just blown away by the screens, people and general traffic. Just about everyone there were tourists and were from all corners of the earth!!
Bought tickets for the hop-on hop-off bus and headed out. As we were leaving Time Square I saw the pictures of quilts on one of the big screens that I had been watching for. I only managed to capture the last one. We got off the bus and wondered around Macys while Jess looked for hat, gloves and scarf for Amelia. They had accessories for 0-1 and 4-12 but not 2-3!! We ended up crossing the street to Penneys where Jess had much more success. It was SO cold outside that we were happy for the refuge of KFC for lunch.
After our 'healthy' lunch we went up the Empire State Building. It is the most amazing Art Deco architecture and I was blown away by the marble and the classic details. At the top the view was amazing. The north and west sides were so cold and windy that it was impossible to stay for more than a few seconds. It is interesting trying to take photographs with thick padded gloves - especially as I can't feel the shutter button!
After lunch we got back on the touristy bus and went around the rest of the loop. We went back to Time Square to see what 1/2 price tickets were available for tonight's shows - there was nothing we wanted to see.
We found a seat in a very crouded McDonalds and has burgers for dinner - a day of high eating!!!
After dinner Stephen and Joe took Amelia back to the apartment via the Rockerfeller Centre to see the Sax 5th avenue light show again. Jess and I caught the bus to see the Christmas lights. The lights were just beautiful but the bus had a plastic covering so we couldn't take pictures and the driver accelerated past all the best lights!!
We wondered back via Sax 5th Avenue to see the light show one more time.

The is a giant button and needle at the beginning of the garment district

The beautiful Empire State Building

Joe, Jess, Amelia and Stephen on top of the Empire State Building

Christmas Lights

Time Square

21st December

Got on our flight to Atlanta and found that Joe and I were booked on the earlier flight to NY but Stephen, Jess and Amelia were on standby. We got to Atlanta and they managed to get on the NY flight - whoo hoo!!

There was snow everywhere on the flight from Atlanta to NY from the big snow dump 2 days before. A real winter wonderland.

Arrived in New York. Stephen, Jess and Amelia went ahead to get the keys to the apartment as we needed 2 taxis and we didn't want to be standing on the doorstep in the snow. Joe and I had lunch then caught a taxi to the apartment.

This is the view from the apartment kitchen.

This is the view from our bedroom!!

After settling in, we walked up to the Rockerfeller Centre and saw the absolutely, most beautiful Christmas tree. I have seen so many pictures of it over the years and it was so exciting to be actually there - along with several thousand other people jammed into a very small space. Sax 5th Avenue was across the street and they had lights all over the front like snow flakes. Every ten minutes they did a light show with the snowflakes to the tune of Carol of the Bells - one of my all time favourites! It was so exciting I almost cried!! We watched in twice.

Here is a link that will give a little idea of what it was like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVpYxlGKl3E

20th December

We left early today theoretically for NY knowing that we were probably going to spend the night in Jacksonville. Arrived at Jacksonville airport with all the signs saying that all flights were on time!!! THE SIGNS WERE WRONG!!! All flights had been cancelled but they hadn't bothered to update any of the indicator boards. Jess and Joe spent ages with the agent and they got us on a flight to Atlanta the next morning, on standby for a flight to NY and booked on a later flight to NY. We then had a room at the Holiday Inn which Betty's daughter in law has organised for us. Luxurious and cheap!!

19th December

Today we had family Christmas with Great Grandma. Betty and Jim came up and we there were LOTS of presents everywhere. Amelia spent much of the morning blowing bubbles. The house is not very large so it was a bit squishy. Lorna had spent a lot of time and effort making all sorts of tradition Southern Christmas delicacies.

After lunch, Great Grandma took Amelia to the local pond to feed the ducks!

18th December

David had to leave about lunch time as he has to work tomorrow. It was very hard to say goodbye. We had a pleasant lunch at a very cheap buffet and then shopped for family Christmas gifts at the Mall.