Every Cloud Has an Autumn Tinted Lining

Let me finish a little backwards.  We finally arrived home 27 hours later than we had anticipated!  We arrived in Vancouver 1.30 am their time, which our bodies, operating on New York time, said was 4.30 am.  We were put up in an airport hotel, not the Fairmont Waterfront where we had stayed a few weeks previously and I informed the airport staff we would be happy to return to!  We were comfortable nonetheless at the "Sandman" sleeping soundly for 8 hours before brunch on Air Canada and headed into Vancouver to kill time.

Now Vancouver would be one of my favourite cities we experienced so was happy to be there and having a sense of the place felt very at home.  We did a few things we were disappointed we hadn't gotten round to on our one short day at the end of stage 1.  Coincidentally we also both found bangle/bracelets to match necklaces we had both bought previously, which was a real bonus.

The waterfront walk to Stanly Park we wanted to do when we
were here but didn't have enough time

The best part of the unexpected stopover was the hues of fall that had finally arrived!  The best we had seen.  Still not nearly as good as the postcard views that had been taunting us for weeks, but better than the glimpses we had experienced.  Whether you take the "God works in mysterious ways" philosophy or the "How much luck can you have on such an epic 8 week journey" in the end we were happy to have this unwanted detour.

Now where was I ... ah yes ... the fog lifted enough to enjoy the New England vibe of Bar Harbor.  It really is a lovely part if the world.  Such amazing architecture and stunning coastal scenery.

View from Cadillac Mountain

With our bags packed - (they were getting very heavy!)  8 of us headed from the dock to the Boston Sheraton and then hit the tourist trail as we only had the day.  Between the hop on/hop off bus and lots of shoe leather we saw the main sites of Boston. 

Boston Trolley Tour

They lied! .... everyone didn't know my name but it was a buzz to visit



A great mix of history and contemporary culture


Amtrack was our next adventure as we headed for New York.  A very pleasant journey though the train travelled so fast it was hard to see too much as we passed through places with names we knew such as Providence, Bridgeport, New Hampshire and Stamford.

With the adrenaline pumping we alighted at Penn Station and had to get cabs to the Belvedere Hotel, our home for the next two nights.  What an experience!  Cabs must make up 50% of registered vehicles in NYC as they're everywhere.  The memorable journey, which only lasted about 15 minutes, was an incredible introduction to the Big Apple!  Lane markings are clearly only vague suggestions as they are ignored.  Horns accompany tactical moves that reminded me of the spawning salmon jostling for first place in the race up river.  The cab squeezed into space that we could not see.  Bumper cars without the bumping, miraculously!  We all stumbled into our foyer white faced and speechless having all experienced the same side show ride "Welcome to New York".

Our Hotel, booked by APT, was positioned perfectly - on W48th st near 8th street for those of you in the know.  Sitting on my bed I could see the Time Square ball in the mirror!  We hit the streets straight away, off to Time Square.  What a cacophony of sound and colour, people and traffic.  It's exactly how you imagined but so much more.  We walked and walked ending up on the top of the Rockefeller Center for sunset - lots of OMG we're in New York!

Where  do you start when you have less than 48 hours in a place like this?  Between Monday and Tuesday morning we took advantage of the Hop on Hop off bus (tickets for which were part of our deal) and WALKED.  Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Central Park, St Patrick's Cathedral,   Broadway show (Rock of Ages), Grand Central Station .... taking 100s of photos and not one of them goes close to capturing the experience. Nothing beyond Manhattan was seen.

View from our room

Peace Tower at Ground Zero

What is left of a sculpture of the world from the
World Trade Center site

Central Park

St Patrick's Cathedral

Broadway show we saw and thoroughly enjoyed

I wouldn't say I like New York and I wouldn't rush back, though I'd go back if opportunity rose.  It has to be experienced, so put it on your Bucket List. "Excessive" is the best word to describe it -- excessive noise, excessive colour, excessive traffic, excessive police presence, excessive people, excessive opportunities of things to do and see, excessive number of landmarks you've heard about and seen in movies/TV/news - and excessive sadness ... I couldn't get 9/11 out of my head the whole time.

What a high to end our jam packed itinerary.  I certainly know how lucky I am to have had such a fabulous experience and I hope you have been inspired to experience some of what I have absolutely loved.