US Trip 2016
Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Niagra and New York
Washington DC
Day 1 - Arrival
Our first introduction to the US this time around was the usual line at passport control. Once through that we picked up a cab and the shelter of air conditioning again. The journey to our hotel was long but we were in no rush. The hotel room gave us an excellent view of the Washington skyline. We needed food so after some unpacking we walked across the road to the golden arches and burgered up. The hungry one among us was not impressed and vowed not to eat at the place again - at least while we were still in the States.
Early morning on Capitol Hill
Day 2 - Tourists are Us
Our first full day and we headed, via the bus laid on by the hotel, to the centre of town and the Hill. We visited a couple of museums. First we wandered around the Museum of the American Indian. A great looking modern building and we had to go through a security check (it would be a feature of all subsequent museum visits). After we enjoyed a couple of the several floors we tried the food but again it didn't excite. It is themed to match the museum and not to our taste. We did some shopping before we left and walked on to the next museum, next door.
The Air and Space museum. It holds a lot of big exhibits and after taking in the interesting ones we grabbed a little cool refreshment before leaving and walking back to the hotel. I knew the way having got up at the usual UK time and wandered over to the memorial in the early hours - local time. On my return journey the sunset was beautiful and the city was becoming slightly busy as the city workers arrived. Later we walked up to the central station in time to pick up our car rental. Then the excitement of driving through unfamiliar streets in a unfamiliar car on the wrong side of the road following the satnav.
Day 3 - Hershey Excitement
Next day I drove us up to visit friends and then onto Hershey Park. Again we followed the specially hired sat nav which faithfully guided us out of town and onto our first American traffic jam (not its fault). We got to their house in one piece with only the odd bit of excitement as its instructions were executed. The young folk and one parent did the rides while I wandered around the shop, fake factory tour and then up to the gardens, including a lovely butterfly house.
Day 4 - Small Town America
The oldies dropped in on York Town. Meanwhile the youths entertained themselves and visited a local studio. After dropping the rental back at central station we again ate at the diner there - fabulous!
Day 5 - More museums
More museums and memorials with the friends as they had come down to join us and we all acted like tourists again. We walked down to the Lincoln, via the Washington and back to the Museum of Art. Then up to the station to wave our friends off we before we lined up and then took a red taxi through streets and roads, now feeling somewhat familiar.
Day 6 - Safeway
Rain, it actually rained briefly. We walked down to a local shop sheltering in a library on route. It was a nice library with helpful staff and busy, especially for a Saturday. So not a restaurant that day, instead we shopped for food and no cheese was involved. David however got his lunch from the Subway. The street where our hotel resided homed five churches we noted; not unusual we were told.
Day 7 - Big Bus
One final day in the capital to enjoy the sights of DC by big bus. It was hot yet again so we did little walking preferring to let the bus take the strain. Later we walked up to the station to prep us for the next journey and dined on pizzas. And one last visit to the Haagen-Daas stall before we took a taxi back.
New York City, New York State
Some Tall Things in New York
Day 8 - September 1st, Big Train
Amtrak to The Big Apple was not bad. The station at DC is a lovely on old building but the train itself was no beauty and nearly half an hour late leaving. We found seats easy enough, they are big seats by our standards. I am disappointed that for much of the journey you can see little more than trees and embankment. Still a nice enough way to travel and less hanging around even with the delay than flying. Our hotel provided a view of the Novotel behind us and a 24 hour local shop but it was close to Time Square. We wandered down to see its bright lights.
Day 9 - September 2nd, Modern Art - is it art?
The Rockefeller concourse is the height of some ambitions, I kept my feet firmly on solid ground while others headed for the Top of the Rock. All down on the ground and we explored some more. We walked past a Lego store and decided to pop in, old habits die hard. We didn't buy anything then walked on to the Museum of Modern Art. We had a early start next day so we cut it short.
Day 10 - September 3rd, Mostly Canadian Niagra
We were picked up from the hotel and after a quick plane trip picked up again for our day in Niagra. We were taken around Niagra Falls, both Canadian and American sides, by a guide in our very own bus. Mostly we were in Canada, they have more to entertain. Lunch was buffet high up in a hotel over looking the falls, a scene for which the word spectacular is fitting. We took pictures from all angles and from the boat, up close and personal, great fun though it was always either damp or hot.
A Curious Incident
Day 11 - September 4th, A Curious Incident on Broadway
We ate in a deli up the avenue. After the long day before we were having a quiet day but later Broadway would show us some fine entertainment. We started with a play. We stood in line in Times Square ticket office. Some folk were managing the queues so we got to front quite efficiently.
The play was great; some interesting attempts at an english accent. The scenery was inventive. The walls hid no end of stuff, from prompts to stairs. The lead actor was excellent.
Day 12 - September 5th, Go Big Bus, Go North!
First stop the Natural History Museum and dinosaurs. To those used to the London equivalent this isn't bad and the dinosaurs are quite impressive. Back on the Big Bus and then we dropped into Guggenheim museum. A more interesting building than the exhibits it housed but I guess it was the luck of draw.
Day 13 - September 6th, Go Big Bus, Go South!
Prelude to Something Great
Heading south we drove through Little Italy before reaching the boat and over to the statue and Ellis Island. There we visited the Immigration Museum - a more sober affair. We got a really good view of the panorama of the New York skyline from the boat. Heading back up the streets we past some infamous piers and the raised railway line now converted to a garden walk. Later a musical which has us singing our way through the streets - not at all Something Rotten.
Day 14 - September 7th, Any old flat Iron
We walked down to the Flat Iron building and then searched for somewhere to get some thing to help with E's asthma. Walking back up the avenues we eventually found Central Station and wandered around. David found some little goodies in a shop there.
Day 15 - September 8th, We fly!
Leaving our baggage at the hotel we walked a couple of blocks up towards the park, stopping to get a nice pancake for breakfast. Central Park was busy as we wandered around. Must be said we were not impressed by Strawberry Fields, underwhelming. Coming out on the east side we wandered down Madison Avenue, window shopping the many fine goods but not quite a fit for our purses.
Reflections
Food - You seem to get cheese with everything and healthy eating is a challenge. The heat meant we were forever carrying water around. Plenty to do and see but glad to be back to a decent cuppa!
Being central in both cities made walking a decent way to get around and meant we could go out and quickly find something interesting. The temperatures in the thirties, celsius, did have us in a taxi a few times in Washington. The tallness and the frequency of buildings in New York provided easy enough shelter.
