New York, New York

 Happy Wednesday.

I'm back home after my amazing, wonderful, inspiring fun holiday to New York, Niagara Falls, Philadelphia and Washington  What a time we had!  I travelled  with an old friend  - we had never travelled together before but there were no sharp edges and we both have a love of  good food and a cold drink.  Having our own rooms at the end of the day was a bonus.

So New York!  I'm sure lots of you have been there before but for me a first.. I wanted to go in Autumn to experience the beauty of the colours which of course our southern states here in Australia also enjoy.  However the colours were beyond belief.  Every shade of yellow and brown with splashes of red thrown in, gorgeous showers of leaves falling gently to the ground and piles of colourful leaves lying rather despondently on the ground....almost as if they had had their moment and were making way for the other leaves to shine. Of course they really had no option!

We joines a tour called Colette Tour for 3 hectic days of walking and busing to the must see sights of NY which was most informative and easy to do.  Buses dropped and picked us up, directions were given, information shared, Broadway shows booked and enjoyed (The MJ show was like nothing I have ever seen) and laughter shared.  Somehow it seems easier these days to do a tour.  Once I would have winged it but I realize that you do miss alot because you just don't know where things are or how to get to them without great difficulty. I would always now suggest to any Baby Boomers, do a tour.  Easy peasy for you!

9/11 site of course sad to visit but the city has done a tremendous job and where the two towers sat is now a beautiful memorial place in which you could spend hours.  The Statue of course reigns supreme over the city,  the Hudson River a glorious waterway , Ellis Island has its share of history and the city itself is like no other. The New York Marathon,  Halloween and the elections were all happening when we were there so things were crazy, busy, exciting.  We had a wonderful final night at a place called "Don't tell Muma" which is a piano bay with talented singers serving and singing simultaneously .....all with great voices.  We managed to partake of a few Sex-in-the City Cosmopolitan cocktails and stumbled home through Times Square at midnight, abit doughy the next day.

We ate and ate and will share some of the godies we enjoyed.  A first for me were caramelized walnuts and a philedelphia cheese steak, eaten in Philedelphia hence the name Philly cream cheese.  The usual "classics" of hot dogs, bagels, tacos, baked cheesecake were enjoyed and a final French night of Coq au Vin and warm baguettes rounded off .  I always try EVERYTHING when I travel and anything new, foodwise, I pounce on.  Cannolis seemed to be the sweet of choice at Italian restaurants, filled with smooth custard and coated with icing sugar.

Niagra Falls is of course stunning, wet, one of lifes beauties and the Niagra River at dawn with the sun rising over it is the prettiest place to see.  Everyone donned bright pink ponchos on the wee boat that motors close to the Falls as the wind and spray is unbelievably strong.

Philadelphia a city with such history and we visited all of the usual haunts and of course ate our Philly cheese steak!  Such amazing things happened there when North America was first settled by the British and all that followed.  I learnt so much and I believe that a stimulated brain may help warn off dementia.  Who knows..... but if it does I am ok for a few months!  The Amish farm we visited was of great interest..... a simple but sometimes difficult life the man told us..  They must have lots of kids and a man must grow a beard but no moustache after marriage.  The Amish farmer could not answer why!!!!

Finally Washington, awash with media and the like ready for the Elections which are now over.  I loved Capitol Hill and the War cemetary.  So beautifully kept and manicured.  Visited JFK and Jackies grave - a fitting resting place for a couple who both lost their lives far too early. The Americans greatly value their military people who fought for their country.

I shan't ramble on anymore about my holiday - someone elses stories can become terribly boring and repetitive and of little interest to anyone.  However do try to visit somewhere you have dreamed of forever and there are now lots of options, cruising being an easy relaxed way to see the world.  I had a wonderful time and will keep NY forever in my heart.  (I loved the steam rising through the grates in the roads, generated by the underground.....SO New York!)

I am so grateful that I followed my dreams for an Autumn in New York and suggest you do the same, if of course you have a dream!

Until next time