Hello New York !!

Apologies for being a couple of days late with the blog but we are having such an amazing time being tourists and enjoying ourselves that time seems to slip away.  This morning we left our hotel at Boston and headed off for New York.  On our way we passed through Newport, Rhode Island, which is a lovely place.  Some of the houses are just incredible - lots of money in parts of Newport !!!

We stopped at the Breakers, which was built as the Newport summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy United States Vanderbilt family.  It was amazing - the 70-room mansion boasts approximately 65,000 sq ft (6,000 m2). of living space. The home was constructed between 1893 and 1895 at a cost of more than $7 million (approximately $150 million in today's dollars adjusted for inflation).

We then had lunch at the Pier at Newport, and met our server Barbara whose daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer at 38 years of age (2 years ago).  Barbara has only just moved to Newport from Florida, as the oil spill has ruined tourism and job opportunities.  We were ready to settle in for a session, but needed to get back on the bus.  Off again, through Conneticut and onto New York.   We drove through Queens, the Bronx and past Flushing Meadows - and then we saw Manhattan in the distance.  Those of you who have seen NYC for the 1st time will understand the excitement in the bus. 

We arrived at our accommodation - the New York Helmsley Hotel and realised that Caramel and June had left their luggage behind in Boston.  Thank goodness for Fedex.

Most of us headed off for a pizza dinner and then walked to Times Square (about 5 blocks away).  It is just as you have seen in photos and on TV, only better.  This city is amazing - busy, loud, exciting and fabulous.  Police presence is everywhere.  Once again, how do we sign off apart from saying that we are having an amazing time.

The Breakers

Newport

 Newport - with our driver Dave and guide Edith

New York