I wasn't once reminded of the Pogues and Kirsty

I think it would be fair to say we had a great time in New York City and that it was worth the long drive there and the long drive back. As lulah sings 'New York, New York, it's a helluva drive!'. We left Milton at 5.30am and arrived at the hotel at 4.30pm. It's around 750km. The border crossing (with the need for photos and fingerprints) took 90 minutes and with other stops for food etc totalling another 90 minutes it was probably around 8 hours driving. The snow gradually decreased the further we got away from Canada.

The hotel was really rather good, great value and a short bus trip from 42nd Street. I'd highly recommend staying there to anyone who doesn't want to spend the exorbitant hotel prices of Manhatten itself. Special mention has to go the buffet breakfasts where you could have: scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast, pancakes, cooked-to-order omelettes, waffles, toast, bagels, cereal, fruit salad, yoghurts, fruit etc etc etc. Really, really good value and something we all enjoyed each morning!!

The other really good part (an a surprise to me) was meeting up with A's NYC-based internet friend and her family. Spending time with native dwellers really shows you much more of a city than just being a tourist and we had a great time with them and ate really well for very little (a chinese for nine of us cost around $50!!!!)

We did loads, perhaps too much given how tired we now feel, but it was probably worth it And of course just walking around the streets brings you on to the set of film after film after film. I particularly enjoyed seeing New York Public Library given its inclusion in The Day After Tomorrow and the burning of its books to keep warm. I resisted the urge to reenact.

So, we did:

  • The world's largest Build-A-Bear shop
  • NintendoWorld
  • Rockerfeller Centre
  • Macy's
  • Skating at Bryant Park
  • Grand Central Station
  • Times Square
  • Toys'R'Us
  • M&M World
  • South Street SeaPort
  • Statten Island Ferry
  • Greenwich Village

    On the way out of the city on the bus for the last time we all debated how long it should be untill we go back. I think we settled on 2011!!!!