Monday September 13th

I want to be a part of it New York New York!
After numerous texts it was agreed that we would meet Leona and Mike at Grand Central Station. And so we found our way to the most amazing station, beautifully decorated and incrediablly clean. We stood and waited and finally Leo and Mike showed up. Who would have thought that Joelle's gym sale would result in Leo and I meeting in New York.

We made our way though Times Square, amazing to the senses even in the daylight, and up the road to find breakfast. Chris and I couldn't go past a bagel and the kids tucked into their pancakes.

We walked back down to times square and to the giant M & M shop, which sold not only M&M but everything from M&M loo paper to pencils to PJ's.

We then went to the flagship Toys are Us store, complet with giant Ferris Wheel inside the store. And if they make it, and it's American, and lets face it most things are then you can buy it there. wHile the boys went hunting pokemon toys, Ella and I checked out the Hello Kitty section and the giant Barbie house. Leo and Mike just watched on in amazement.

We then made our way to Ninetendo World, so that Morghan could buy his new DS. So we made our way past the Rockafellow centre and to Nintendo World. Sadly for Morghan he was told there that the DSi's are now regional coded and we could not buy one here, nor could he buy any games. So with a disappointed boy we played some games and had a look around. As a consolation present for Morghan, I bought him a I Mario New York T Shirt! Which he thought was very cool.

Then it was time for more pounding the pavement and we went to Soho for Mike to go to the Apple store. We caught the subway, once again very clean. And then found our way to the store. Soho was very cool and looked like it was out of a TV show.

We made it and as Mike had his behind the scene tour of the store the rest of us played around ……….I want a I Pad!

We then found our way to forbidden Planet. Which suited Leo, Mike, Morghan and Chris. I have to say I agree with Ella it was a boring boy shop (don't kill me Leo).

We then found a restaurant and enjoyed some well deserved dinner. Exhusted with aching feet we found our hotel and our beds.

Tuesday 14th of September

The plan was to meet Leo and Mike at ten am at Tiffany's. The plan should have been read the map first. It took us twice as long to make it to Tiffany's. Anyway we made it to the home of beautiful silver jewelry. Well its all lovely but I really loved the silver jewelery. So as promised to Mum I went and tried on my tattoo, I mean my bracelet. Before Mum passed away I had told her I would get a tattoo with her name on it. She politely nodded and smiled. Later that day she rang me and said, don't you dare get a tattoo, I don't want to be remember with a tattoo, get a tiffany bracelet instead. So I did! I tried on a few but unfortunately/fortuantly the one that looked best was a link of hearts, which also happened to be the most expensive one. My wonderful husband insisted I get the expensive one and payed for it. Attatched is a silver heart engraved with Mum. Thanks Mum I felt you there with me and I know you would love it and thankyou Chris for buying my bracelet for me.

I had to go back on Thursday to pick it up.

We then went to FOA Schawaz and played. Ella and I loved fashion parade Barbie and we found the giant piano that was seen in the movie Big. Morghan and Chris found a hacky sack toy which Chris insists he bought for Morghan….more like Chris bought it for himself.

We then made our way down to Macy's, once again not walking distance but we walked it. We were suppose to meet Leo and Mike down there but they were running late so we sat in the square in front and ate Pizza. It was a perfect day, and the square was lush and green. It was delightful. Amazing but it is the little things that make a city perfect. Whilst there I ordered an ice coffee. An ice coffee in New York is cold black coffee with ice …..yuk!

We then went into Macy's childrens department to look for a flower girl dress for Ella. Sorry New York, kids fashion is not your thing!

Leo and I made our way down to Victoria's secret and Esprit…..boy can that girl shop. Sadly I still have four weeks and three countries's to go, so I can't buy much.

We said farewell Leo and Mike and they made their way back to the UK. We went up the empire State building for sunset. New York was a perfect warm day but up there it was windy and cool. At the top you could see forever and all the crisscross streets of Manhattan. We stayed up there until sunset and watched the city light up.

We made our way down, and had a little shopping trip to Gap ….I Love Gap! And then a quick bite to eat at a Deli and back to our hotel for a well deserved sleep.

Wednesday 15th September

Okay we had exhausted ourselves and we needed sleep so we slept in. Once up we grabbed a bagel and made our way to our bus tour to see lower Manhattan. We made our way to Times Square and on the double decker hop on hop off bus.

As we made it though Soho, I realized how cool this city was. Yep this city is always happening. We then jumped off at Ground Zero because we saw filming of what Chris though was LLaw and Order. It turned out to be blue bloods. We then walked around Ground Zero, an incredablly emotional experience.

We then jumped back on the bus and hopped off again at the Staton Island Ferry. Which meant we got brilliant free views of the Statue of Liberty without the price. The journey there and back was great. Whilst on Staton Island we had our obligatory hot dog ….one word YUK!

Back on the bus and we got to see Little China, Little Italy and the United Nations.

We had dinner at a little Pizza place, before heading back to times square where we managed to get our photo up on the screens!

We then walked home and fell into bed exhausted.

Thursday 16th of September

Woke up early for us ….9am. For our coffee, getting brave and tried a pumpkin shot coffee which was very nice and a bagel with egg (American's can't do eggs!).

Today we caught the uptown loop.

We were hardly on the bus when we jumped off to see Strawberry Fields and the tribute to John Lennon. Then it was back on the bus and though the Uptown, very posh and then onto Harlem.

We got off again at Central Park, our favorite place in the city. We went on the carousel and then found our way to the boat house for Blini's…..yum yum.

We caught the bus back to Times Square. Chris decided to take the kids back to the hotel and I would go and pick up my bracelet and have a wee shop. Shortly after he left big clouds descended on the city, and I too decided to turn back, as I ran from 5th and 50th back to Lexington and 40th huge claps of thunder and lightning could be heard and seen. I made it back drenched but unharmed. We heard later that people died in that storm.

That evening we did the evening tour, with the highlight being the twinkling lights over the city.

We had dinner at ten at place called five guys and fries ….. yum!

And once again fell into bed

Friday the 17th of September

A little sleep in after our late night.

Ella's request was a picnic in Central Park. We first made our way to Tiffany's to collect my bracelet and then over to Bloomingdales to look for a dress for Ella….once again no good. I'm actually not a fan of New York shopping.

We then went to Central Park where we picked up some sandwiches and a bottle of wine for our picnic. Our picnic was enjoyed by the model boat lake, lovely.

Whilst in Central Park we spotted Madonna filming!

We then hired bikes and rode the 6 mile loop around Central Park! We are so proud of Ella who managed it on her own without training wheels!

We then had another drink at the boathouse and a walk up to the Central Park Castle.

We then made our way to Times Square via a few shops, including American Girl (I do wonder what the next generation of American children will be like after seeing this place).

We had seen on the Net before we left a place called Mars which we decieded to try. This was our dissapointment of New York. Overcooked and overpriced food in a sad excuse for a Mars lookalike! ....Don't bother!

We wished we had of gone to theartre instead.

We made it to our hotel and packed for toomorrow's place trip[ to the UK.

Saturday 18th September

Up early and ready to have bagels for breakfast with coffee.

This time as we walked to the subway I spied a shop with stunning leather Jackets. They were on special because they weren't warm enough for a New York winter ..... suits me fine and I bought one ....Yeah I've been shopping in New York!

We made our way on the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge and we went for a walk over it ....the city is beautiful from here. We then tried to find the train mueseam for Ed only to find it was shut.

Back accross the bridge and to Little Italy for lunch where the San Giano festival was in full swing. We enjoyed the best Gnoci outside Italy here!

And then back to the hotel to pick up our things and then onto Newark airport.

Our flight to London was very tubulant. You know it's scarey when Chris gets scared .... so after a sleepless night we arrived in London!