Days 95 - 99 - Niagara Falls, Buffalo, New York & Home

Day 95 – Niagara Falls to New York
Up at a reasonable time, packed our bags, headed across the road to Dad’s Diner for a bargain breakfast and then cycled down the hill again to see the falls in daylight. Still there!
We cycled around for a while, stopping to take lots of photos. Once we felt we’d seen enough we headed back towards the hostel, checked out, did a bit of blogging and e-mailing and then headed over to trusty Dad’s Diner for lunch before once again experiencing the joys of Greyhound bus travel to Buffalo.

The bus was about 30 mins late but we had plenty of time. Crossed the border back in to the US, (there was a film crew at the border filming people going through immigration – who knows, perhaps we’ll be on TV) and then got the shuttle bus pretty much straight away to the airport.

Checked in, bit of food and whiled away the time watching/scrutinising some guy painting yellow lanes on the ground of the airplane parking bays outside. (Amazing what passes for fun when you’re bored!)

75 minute flight to New York, arrived at around 9, with a good view of Manhattan by night as we flew in. Eventually got our bags and got the Airtrain and subway to the city where we walked the 7 or 8 blocks to the hostel. Great location in the heart of the city with a good gym and a pool but tiny rooms and we had bunk-beds – how romantic!

Crashed out after a long days travelling.

D x

Day 96 – New York
Lazy start, I went to get us some tea from a Starbucks around the corner while M snoozed. I then proceeded to drop one of them all over the floor to the hotel lobby – luckily it was M’s so I was OK ;-)

Changed and breakfast at a café around the corner and then plans to wander up 5th Avenue to Central Park were altered by some guy called Pope Benedict!

He too was in town and they’d fenced off 5th Avenue for a procession so we detoured around it up into the park where we lazed around and people watched for a bit – beautiful sunshine and shorts weather – gorgeous!

Then back to the city, had a light lunch in a small café near the park and watched the Pope on TV – far easier than fighting the crowds. He was in a custom made Mercedes with a bullet proof glass box on the back which he sat in and waved – it was even called the Popemobile…. Brilliant!

Then finally got to wander through the crowds along 5th Avenue, passing the biggest 'cop' convention before stopping in at various shops, with hopes of buying M some new work wear – we both ended up buying underpants/knickers….. rock and roll!

Walked along Broadway, past Times Square all the way to Macy’s (largest department store in the world) by which time we’d both had enough so we bee-lined it back to the hotel, pleased to be out of the crowds.
Bit of down time and then it was off out for dinner. Luckily we were in a pretty good area for restaurants too and we stumbled across a nearby Indian restaurant.

Decided to give it a go as it was full of Indians and we weren’t disappointed although it wasn’t spicy enough for M!

Fairly early to bed after a long day of pounding the pavement.

D x

Day 97 – New York
Both up early and down to the pool for 30 lengths. Feeling refreshed and ready for more, we headed out, breakfast at our local café and then the subway north to the Guggenheim Museum. I was very disappointed as the building (which is very cool – a big white spiral basically) was covered in scaffolding for renovation work so you couldn’t see it plus there was some bizarre exhibition in the main gallery which consisted of cars being suspended from the ceiling with lots of flashing lights coming out of them so we simply grabbed a seat, did a bit more people watching (I think New York is the best for this – lots of strange folk) and then left and got the subway back towards Midtown.

Went to Bloomingdales, I bought a belt, and then on to some more shops where at last we had success and M got a few things for work too!

Yummy salad lunch at a nearby café and then we wandered back towards the hotel.

Sorted out and packed our bags ready for tomorrow’s final flight and then headed out for dinner.
Went to a great Japanese restaurant that we’d seen the night before and had probably the best meal of the trip so a fitting end to our world tour of restaurants!

Both tired we called it a night and retired to our luxurious bunk-beds!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

D x

Day 98 – New York to Somewhere over the Atlantic
Plans for an early morning swim (6 a.m) were pushed back to 9 as soon as we heard the alarm…. What were we thinking?
20 lengths today and then we checked out, stored our luggage and then had a quick breakfast before walking to the UN Building which was just a couple of blocks away. Went in, through all the security gates only to find that the next available tour wasn’t until 2 (too late for us) so we wandered around the lobby, looked at the exhibitions and then, yet again, did some more people watching, in particular the long line of indigenous people seeking registration. All sorts of people ranging from indigenous American Indians to what looked like Masai warriors – all very interesting.
Final stop off at a Starbucks (we had to really) and then got the subway and Airtrain back to the airport for our flight home - hooray!

Grumpiest woman of all time checked us in and then we had a pub lunch and took advantage of the Duty Free and M had a back and shoulder massage.

Once on board, we settled in for what would be a very, very long night….!

D x

Day 99 – London & Home!
And it was. A very long night. We flew through the night so I was keen to get as much sleep as possible so I was back on UK time. Whilst the flight left the terminal on time, we then sat on the runway behind 22 other planes for about 45 minutes.
Finally we were up in the air and we both sat back to watch a film.

Expecting dinner to be served almost as soon as the seatbelt sign went off, we were disappointed to find that it was almost 3 hours later before we were tucking in to our sweet and sour chicken.
We were the lucky ones though - the couple sat behind us had ordered a kosher meal but their request had not got through to the kitchen. They didn't get any food and to add insult to injury, the air steward bought them a bottle of champagne as compensation - being muslims they don't drink so they weren't best pleased!

I tried to shut my eyes to sleep but it wasn't happening. Our trays were finally cleared away, then tea & coffee was served. The lights were switched off so I thought I could get some sleep at last. But I was wrong! The duty free trolley was then wheeled out so the noise of everyone ordering their goodies kept me awake until the lights were turned back on.

I gave up. I did drift off for about 20 minutes just before we landed but I did not get the 7 hours undisturbed sleep I was hoping for. But we were home and as the plane touched down on the tarmac, we were both looking forward to seeing everyone and getting back to a 'normal' life.

We had arranged with Ben to pick us up from the airport and take us back to JC's so as we came through the final gate, we soon spotted him in the crowd. Then we noticed JC was there too! A lovely surprise.
As we were almost with them, a little head popped out from behind a group of people and I realised that it was Em! I was so excited and ran over to give her a big hug. Lots of hugs and smiles and a few tears and we were soon in the car to be taken back to JC's for cups of English tea and bacon butties. Bliss!

M x

Day 112 - Looking Back
We've been home for nearly 2 weeks now and tomorrow it's back to work!
We've sorted through all our photographs - over 1500 to start with but we've got it down to about 500 to show people!
We've decided that Uluru was the most 'incredible' place that we went to and we've recounted many tales of our adventures.

It was strange in the first few days being home. Whilst we were away I often thought about friends and family and it seemed strange not being with them for so long. Once we were back, it was as if we'd never been away. It felt the same as if we'd been gone for a week!

Now the travel seems a long time ago but we are still re-living moments of it every day as we recall funny incidents or amazing sights that we've seen.
We are both really pleased that we decided to do this trip. We have had the most amazing 99 days of our lives and have enjoyed every minute of it - well the majority anyway!
The memories will stay with us for ever and we will soon have our photographs printed off to look back on.

Tomorrow it's back to reality with work starting again. We are both looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store for us.

Watch this space...

M & D xx