Day 10 - Woods Hole, Newport

After Flo's, we went for a drive up Bellevue Avenue to look at all the fancy mansions - and there were many:

 This one is for sale (above)

There were so many and the styles were varied, something that these photos didn't capture.  I would have had better luck photographing fences and fancy gates such as this:

Anyhow, this was a worthwhile stop.  Even Steve was impressed (how could you not be?)  He forgot until after we left that Newport was where Australia beat the US (and our mate Dennis Connor) in the Americas Cup.

And then there was more driving - another 1.5hours to Wood Hole.  This wasn't too bad and we found our rental quite easily.  We met the owner and he gave us some recommendations for dinner and then he left us to it.

Tonight Julian had half of what Mr Heinz offered but surprisingly refused the blueberry yoghurt.  So we gave up and headed to Woods Hole, a very small township (10 or so shops and restaurants) about 2miles from our rental.  It is the launching point of the Martha's Vineyard ferry.

This is Woods Hole:

 Looking out towards Martha's Vineyard.

 The view from our restaurant balcony.

On our owners recommendation we went to Phusion.  He warned that it was expensive but the food was worth it.  We couldn't have summed it up better.  Steve and I had the same thing - Kobe beef burger with lobster tails and a Martha's Vineyard brewery Indian Pale Ale.  The burger was magnificent, easily the best thing we have eaten in the US - perfect in every way.  The beer was really good too.  We did need something to go right for us today.

However as we were enjoying the view too much, the market/shop next door closed and we needed milk for Julian.  So we went to Falmouth 5miles up the road to get it - another visit to a Rite Aid and bought a gallon of milk for $3.69.  We will go back as the houses there are perfect little dolls houses!

Tomorrow Katrina and Greg are arriving from Montreal.  I haven't seen them in 5 years and Steve saw them in February when he was over there.  They are staying with us until Sunday.  The weather is good for tomorrow but thunderstorms are predicted for Friday night/Saturday morning so we will play it by ear to see what we do.

Day 10 - Newport

Julian woke at 5:40am... so we were washed, packed and Julian was feed by 7:30am.  We had breakfast in the hotel and mucked around a bit before leaving to go grocery shopping at 9:20am.  (Timing is important).  The hotel directed us to Stop and Shop and this is it (forgot the outside photo).

 Bakery, Fruit and Vege.

 Everything else.
I have always wanted to go to an American supermarket.  This one seemed to be very similar to ours which I found very surprising.  I think the prices were also similar, perhaps a little cheaper.  This was pretty big so it had a good selection and the bakery did very nice donuts ;)  So we bought our beer, cereal, and nappies and headed out back to the I-95.

Unfortunately our Galant had other ideas.  Steve said "There is a strange warning light on the dash, I am going to pull over." Then we both heard the noise - we had a flat tyre.  We were on a slope so we headed around the corner to the Aldi supermarket carpark to change it.

Steve cursing rattle guns and kicking the rim to get it off, Julian in the pram trying to avoid the sun, suitcases on the deck.  I went inside Aldi and headed to the first male I saw to ask where I could get a tyre fixed.  Thankfully I struck it lucky and a nice guy told me the directions to Pep Boys.  Steve thankfully managed to put the spare tyre on (bloody space saver tyres) and we went to get the puncture fixed.

If it was only that easy.  When we got to Pep Boys, we found that the nail had damaged the sidewall and we were up for a new tyre (it just gets better and better).  Eric found us the cheapest tyre but it still set us back $110.

Julian was very unhappy as it was now 10:45am and he needed sleep badly.  So we left the rim with Eric and went for a drive to get Julian to sleep.  Took less than 5mins.

 Julian surrounded by suitcases and nappies!

We needed to kill sometime to allow Eric to get the tyre sorted, so we drove along Boston Post road for 20mins before turning around and heading back.  It looked a lot like the drive into Hoppers Crossing - lots of big shops surrounded by parking lots.  We did find some suburbia (nearly all with flags out the front):

 Pretty little houses.

 Our white Galant.

Steve installing new tyre at Pep Boys - yes they could have done it, but this was faster.
In all the flat cost us $110 (to be claimed on Travel insurance); 2.5hours and because of the lost time, we wouldn't be going on a tour of the Vandebuilt mansion in Newport :(

It was 1.5hours to Newport and it was a very nice drive.  We asked Jane (GPS) to take us to Flo's Clam Shack for some Newport specialities - Clamcakes, Chowda and Lobster rolls.

 At Flo's, waiting for lunch.

 Hot creamy clam Chowda and fried clamcakes.

 Julian pretending that the lobster was a phone (the lobster lights up when your order is ready).

 A very delicious lobster roll - Steve and I shared it.

Flo's Clam shack.

Cont...

Day 9 - New Haven Connecticut

And the final shot of New York - the projects.  Doesn't look like a nice place to live.

And then we were on the Turnpike and there wasn't anything that photographed well.  We were stuck in traffic slowly crawling for miles and miles and for what - an old Mercedes on the shoulder with 2 cop cars behind it with flashing lights.  An extra 30mins with a hungry boy in the car is not much fun!

Unfortunately we didn't think about taking a photo of Premiere suites where we stayed (Check them out here:  http://www.newhavensuites.com/) $112 per night and it was lovely.  Full kitchen in the room, heaps of space, breakfast provided - we were very happy.

We feed Julian something out of a Heinz tin as we left our homecooked food in the freezer in New York (!!).  Surprisingly, he ate it all and then ate the last prune yoghurt quite happily too.  Then it was our turn.  New Haven had a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and Steve said that I HAD to try them (he has had them many times before).

 And here they are (Julian is colouring in, trying for a fry, new drink cup on his right).  Also note the token greenery (celery) that they give you to go with the chicken wings.  The tub of white stuff on the right is blue cheese sauce and that is on top of the 2 spicy sauces that your wings are dripping in.  Not low calorie!

 The only photo of New Haven - looks like Adelaide, lots of churches.

I know that I said that we had finished shopping but that was in New York.  There is an outlet mall out this way so we headed there after dinner (This really does sound like I am a shop-a-holic - I am not usually, maybe just in the US?!)

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets - and open air mall and I had about an hour to cherry pick what I wanted - Eek!
Gap - same old but 40% off, so bought more.  Julian is sorted for jeans until he is 5!
J. Crew - Kind of like Country Road, bought shirts, cardigans, jumpers for me and polos for Steve;
Sunglass hut - for Steve (he will be sporting his new glasses tomorrow), only took 10mins and we could have done it in less (Do all kids like eating sunglasses?  Really what is the fascination?)
Gymboree - kids clothes store similar to Pumpkin Patch (Ali's recommendation), all summer stock but managed to get Julian a hoodie;
Brooks Brothers - Mens outfitter (Ali's recommendation again), Steve was measured and walked away with 5 business shirts, all non-iron so everyone was happy.

Today was always going to be the longest day of the trip (and was without the 5am start and traffic jam), so we headed home and we all went to bed happily.

Tomorrow is Newport and Woods Hole, Cape Cod.

Day 9 - Leaving New York

Julian kindly woke us up at 5am again, so we had plenty of time to get our stuff sorted.  Unfortunately New York runs to a different time and the 2 remaining shops that I wanted to visit opened at 11am and 12pm!  So we packed everything up and caught the subway to SOHO at 10:30am.

We arrived at the Frye Company Flagship store just as the doors were opened.  This store is boot heaven:

 This is inside the store.  Yes, I did buy a pair :)
As it was only 11:30am, we had 1/2 hour to kill so we went to Starbucks for a hot chocolate and to buy a straw cup for Julian.  Then it was off to PurlSoho - a fabric and yarn store which I have been buying stuff from for years.

 From the outside - it is just the 2 doors on the right and the adjacent window.

 Then inside.

And the other wall.
Yes I did buy some stuff.  And my lovely husband let me buy 2 pieces of Liberty fabric as I couldn't decide! And then we were done with shopping in New York.  I think Julian was more sick of it than Steve and that is saying something!

We caught our last subway train uptown on Broadway to 8th St and walked to Avis.  We were given the keys to a Mitsubishi Galant - I was hoping for an upgrade to a Lincoln Towncar but nevermind.  Steve then carefully drove to our apartment to pick up our 3 suitcases etc.  It was an easy drive as the streets were all one-way.

We said goodbye to our apartment and we definitely wont miss it.  The location was awesome but it was ancient, circa 1860s, and everything creaked and groaned.  Not good when we were trying to sneak into the bedroom we were sharing with Julian.  Anyway here it is:

 Dining/lounge looking through double doors to the bedroom.

 Tiny kitchen.

 Classic '20s bathroom (with 20's plumbing!!!)

Bedroom looking through to the lounge.

We threw everything in the car and headed out with the help of Jane Garmin (our GPS and new best friend)

 Steve driving on the "right" side of the road - hand on the horn, Manhattan style.

 One Penn Plaza and Madison Square Garden

 Empire State Building - looking up 34th street from 8th Ave

Julian pointing out the sights.

 Driving up the Hudson, on left, Trump Plaza on the right

Sleeping baby (it was 2pm!).

Cont...

Day 8 - New York Cruise, Intrepid Museum

Julian slept through the night - yay - and woke us at 6:50am.  We did the usual routine and were out of the apartment at 9am.  We decided to get Subway for our take-on lunch for the cruise which is on the corner of our block and then we caught a cab to Circle line cruises on the corner of 12ave and 42nd st.  The temperatures was already in the mid-twenties and climbing fast - it was 31degC by lunchtime!

We had decided on the 3hour around Manhattan cruise and grabbed a seat in the airconditioned section. Julian was a bit fidgity but it was better than the plane!

 This is the best family shot of us and the Stature!

Notice the lack of thunderstorms - we are still waiting for the rain and it is 8:30pm.

 Claire, Julian and downtown Manhattan

The Brooklyn bridge and the Freedom Tower under construction (One World Trade Centre).

The boat trip was quite good and we got to see a lot of the top end of Manhattan and there is a lot of greenery up that end.  I wish there was some of it around here!

After the cruise, we walked to the next pier which is the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum all located on a decommissioned Aircraft Carrier.

 The Flight Deck

The original Space Shuttle is coming here but the exhibition hadn't opened yet :(  Julian sat this experience out and managed to sleep despite the searing heat on the flight deck.  This was a really good museum except for the gift shop which was extremely overpriced - $16 for a coffee mug!

Because of the heat and the lack of public transport over this side of the island, we caught a cab to B&H - the world's largest camera and video superstore on 9ave and 34th st.  And it was HUGE.  And surprising for me was that all of the attendants were orthodox Jews - I wonder who runs the place on Fridays?

Steve bought a flash (part of his birthday present) to go with his new camera (also a birthday present). 

This is the product pickup area.  You may be able to see the conveyor system above left and the glass elevator box on the right.  The items purchased are whisked from points of sale all over the shop using this system to this location for pickup.  You pay for them at the checkout on the left, outside of this photo.  Very efficient and very cool!

(LIVE update - the rain has arrived!)

We then walked down 34th st and caught the subway home.  It was too hot to do much so we bummed around playing with Julian and Steves new flash:

Using new flash - Julian pretending to talk to someone on my phone! (He is hot, hence the red cheeks).

After Julians dinner we walked once again to Union Square.  We had given up the idea of going to Miss Lily's, a creole restaurant in Soho, so we headed to Taco Bell instead! I had no idea that Taco Bell was so low market - $2.19 for a chicken burrito, the drinks were nearly as expensive!.  I didn't take a photo as the clientelle didn't look that friendly.  It definitely was an experience!!!!

Then I tried to do some shopping:
Nordstrom Rack - sales outlet of Nordstrom department store, lots of crappy clothes for woman and awesome suits for men - Ted Baker suits for $190!, no kiddies stuff, didn't buy anything;
The Strand Bookstore - 18 miles of books apparently, "very overwhelming" says Steve, didn't buy books bought little things like an iphone case and some cards (Thank you Ilana for the recommendation).

That was all.  It is our last night in NY and truthfully we have no idea how people live here, well not with toddlers anyway!  We are very sick of lugging the stroller up and down the stairs to our Brownstone and the subway steps.  Most shops have steps in them, a lot do have lifts but you can't rely on it.  Also the parks I checked out on Google maps before we arrived looked good but in reality, all the grassed areas are out of bounds.  Julian is rightly sick of the stroller!

Tomorrow morning we are going to Soho to check out the Frye boots Flagship store (Sam - we shall see about only one pair!) and purlsoho (fabric shop) and then that is it for New York.  We have organised a rental car from Avis a couple of blocks away for 1pm and then we are off to New Haven, Connecticut (home of Yale University).

Wish Steve luck for the drive...