Dec 28, 2012 - The Big Apple

A 5am pick up, meant a very early start this morning. This turned out to be a moment of great excitement though, when we were picked up in the most pimped out limo we'd ever seen. It was just for our family, but would have comfortably seated 16 people. It came with full leather interior, complete with flashing colour-changing LED lighting throughout the car. Unfortunately for Zac, Sam and Tom, they only managed to stay awake for about 10 minutes until the comfortable seats just beckoned them to lie down. A very quick flight from Buffalo to...

Dec 14, 2012 - And so it begins.....

Ruff week but glad its over. Its time to turn this plan into reality. Thanks to home girl Julia for ride to Buffalo airport, John for portable water filter, Adam for pulling an all nighter with me (havent slept since 4pm on Thursday.), a BIG thanks to Andrew for helping me pack. Finally, thanks to the old man for helping in my organization and support, thanks to crystal for allowing me to borrow her sweet camera. I hope you have insurance...lol...jkjk ill protect it with my life. The moment is finally a couple hours away. Im excited and a...

Nov 17, 2012 - New York, New York

Friday 16th Cynthea goes to the pool at the Y for a swim first thing, but she has a bit of a hassle as you have to wear a bathing cap. She doesn’t have one, and the pool doesn’t have any available to buy. They send her to reception, but they don’t have any left for sale either. Cynthea is not impressed when the guy on reception tells her she will have to buy one down the street, she is not exactly dressed for that! She decides to hell with it, she will swim without one and see what happens. As she enters the changing room she spots a...

Nov 15, 2012 - New York, how do ya like them apples

Wednesday 14th November We leave Toronto just after midnight, arriving at the US border just before 2am. It takes twenty minutes to unload the bags, and after the drug dogs have done their job we are allowed off the bus. We collect luggage and wait for immigration control to process us all, there are about thirty five passengers, and we are the only bus in at this time. The staff on duty are pleasant people, they smiled, joked and talked to you, it is such a nice change. Only two guys on though, with a third person doing any luggage...

Nov 8, 2012 - New York again - this time snow

After fleeing the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (or Superstorm Sandy as they are now calling it) I returned to New York just in time for a nor-easter which is what they call a large storm coming from the North–East and which generally brings snow. This one didn’t disappoint. I decided to have a chill day and spent the day in the hostel watching the rain slowly turn to snow. By the time I ventured out for dinner, a blanket of white had settled on the city (and was still falling). The next day dawned crystal clear so I decided to walk the 30...

Oct 30, 2012 - NYC and Sandy

Well I finally made it to the city that never sleeps and was hounded by Hurrican Sandy. With the storm around the corner, I decided to get most of the downtown New York explored on the Saturday. I took a walk down Broadway past the farmers market in Union Square, Wall St and the New York Stock Exchange (location is unfortunately not photo friendly) down to Battery Park and the Staten Island ferry. The weather was less than ideal with the the storm building, but I got to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. At this stage I am just...

Oct 22, 2012 - A Keuka Lake day

Today was an absolutely gorgeous fall day - blue sky, sunshine and stunning Finger Lakes scenery! Milt, Roxanne and Carol vonHagn took us the short distance to Keuka Lake where we had a great lunch at a favorite winery, Bully Hill Winery; drove along the west side of Kueka to the Bluff, stopping to walk around the lovely stone Garrett Memorial Chapel; got apples at the Apple Barn; had delicious ice cream at the Seneca Farms ice cream shop! The vons have been my Bath family for years and it's always so special to be able to spend time with...

Oct 21, 2012 - Now in NY State!

We disembarked the QM2 after breakfast, about 7:45, to breeze through U.S. Customs. The taxi from the Brooklyn dock to Manhattan's Port Authority only took about 25 min. (and $27.00), arriving about 8:25. It was an almost 2-hour wait for our 10:15 Short Line Bus to Bath. The 6-hour trip went quite well. There was a stop in Monticello and we changed buses in Binghamton. Still colorful fall leaves in the Poconos and after Binghamton really added interest and enjoyment to our trip! My best and life-long girl friend, Carol Ann vonHagn, met us...

Oct 20, 2012 - Day 97 - New York City

The song "Taking Care of Business" by Randy Bachman will not leave my head today. We drove into New Haven to get the train into Grand Central Station, the 7:35 train would get us to Grand Central Terminal at 9:15 for us to make to The Wintergreen Theatre Back Stage Door by 9:30 to get our 10:00 tour. Great Plan. Worked, with some stress along the way. Got lost on way to New HAven Station but still made train. A train broke down and we had to pick up extra passengers so our express train became an all stops train for awhile making us 20...

Sep 26, 2012 - From NYC - a BIG thanks!!

Hi everyone: As we prepare to leave NYC later this morning we just want to take time to thank all those who have been following our Journal Entries and have been making comments back to us along the way. We especially want to thank those who took the time from their busy lives to come into Manhattan and/or visit with us. Absent from the attached pictures are Florence Lachman and Susan Stack as Mary's personal photographer (Joe) was not with her when they met for lunch. In addition, the camera shy Mayanne and Frank Briody are not pictured...

Sep 25, 2012 - The Jewel of NYC

Hi everyone: As you may have gathered we got to see quite a bit of New York City but the place we spent the most time in our month’s visit here was this very special part of this great city – Central Park. Central Park is one of those places that make New York such a perfect place to live. This huge park, 843 acres large, is located in the center of the metropolis Manhattan. Its design has been an example for city parks around the world. The park boasts 9 lakes, four theaters, an ice rink, several fountains, 22 tennis courts, 26 baseball...

Sep 24, 2012 - NYC Signs

Hi everyone: Although greatly reduced in numbers and much less complicated in their content, New York City still leads the world's biggest cities in its signage. Even though there are many, many more, I thought I would share just a few of them with you. ********************** BY THE WAY, Our last entry is coming soon so - Stay Tuned!!