Day 15 - North Conway, White Mountains

We are in a townhouse which has a common wall with a neighbour.  Our bedroom is next to their main bedroom and they have a baby.  Steve was woken at 3:45am and then we both woke for the day (with the baby) at 5:47am.  Julian slept until 7:15am.  I am not going to make any further comment.

As we didn't have water (and therefore no showers), we were all up very quickly and had a good laze around before leaving the house at 9am.  There is another LL Bean outlet store here (even though this is really a small town) so we went there to find some waterproof overpants for Julian. There was so much stuff in this store but nothing we needed/wanted.

Our plan was to drive 30mins to a short walk at Crawford Notch which is in the White Moutain Forest Park.  Julian decided to take a napjust before we arrived so we changed our plans.

We drove further into the Park around to Franconia which was about when Julian woke.  They had an old iron smelter there so we looked at that and then had a short explore along the river.

We had lunch here in a small cafe which was excellent - no photo as we were too hungry.  We then took the scenic route back to another walk that I had found which was to Ripley Falls.  It was only a 2mile return trip (3.2km) so we thought Julian could handle a large part of it.  We hadn't figured the terrain into our calculations, but Julian was determined and walked a large chunk of the way there.  He didn't mind (too much) being carried most of the return journey.

 Nice part of the track.  Julian is sporting his new jacket.

Not so nice!

And this was what we were walking to.  It was pretty spectacular with LOTS of water!

We had to cross an operational railway line with minimal warning  (It reminded me of the movie Stand By Me.).  This shot is of the boys looking back up the river and it shows that it was sunny and not raining!!!

We then drove home (and it started to rain as forecast).  This waterfall was on the side of the road - and no I have not increased the green saturation.  It really was that green.  I can imagine how awesome this would look in Autumn when the leaves are changing.

Julian was trying hard not to fall asleep in the car and Steve managed to put him down when we got home.  As I type, we are enjoying a couple of the local brews, both Pale Ales, whilst Julian sleeps.  I really wish Australia would relax the tax laws to allow micro breweries to be viable!


Later:
Julian had a good rest and was ready for dinner when he woke.  After he ate we headed back to the Moat Mountain brewery for dinner.  It has a long walk up the side of a verandah and before we reached the door one of the waitresses had already come out to meet us.  Julian had charmed their socks off the night before and the woman was thrilled to see him again.  For dinner, Steve had the Hickory crusted pork (with mashed potato and pumpkin) and I had the Texas Brisket (on white toast bread with mashed potato and coleslaw).  No idea what happened to the photo of it!  Once again the meals were massive and very tasty.

We went home and bathed Julian (he was happy about this too) and then put him to bed.  I now braved driving on the right side of the road for the first time.  There was another outlet mall here, called Settlers Village, so I went there for some quality shopping BY MYSELF.  It is way too hurried with Steve and Julian in Tow.

The plan was to go for me only, but the first shop I saw was Osh Kosh.
Osh Kosh - Kids gear, bought a reversible jacket and shoes for Julian - 70% off the jacket!
Banana Republic - nearly the same stock as I saw at Clinton Crossing, so didn't buy anything;
Coach - handbags, wallets - excellent prices but didn't have a wallet that I liked and I definitely don't need another handbag;
Carters (recommended by Ali) - Childrens clothes, 40% store wide minimum, bought longsleeve tops for Julian for $4each!
Gap - bought a hoodie for Julian, Long and lean jeans for me - in AU$130, in US stores $70, at US Gap outlets $45 but on sale so got them for $31!
Old Navy - 3 long sleeve shirts for $17.50 each - can't make them for that!

I am so sick of shopping!  This was definitely the last shop especially since the bags are full!  The outlet prices are so much better than anything in Australia and the fit (for me) is perfect.  Also it will be many years before I am back (not like Steve) so I have definitely made the most of it.

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...
 

Day 7 - New York MOMA

And more photos

 Vincent

 No idea who painted this but Julian pointed to the head and said "Baby" :)

 Mondigliani

 Monet of course

 Two screaming baby heads and one smiling baby head - minutes later when he wanted out of the pram, it would have been Three screaming baby heads!

 Dali

Calder, again

 The Two Steves

 Outside in the sculpture park.

We thoroughly enjoyed MOMA and in some ways we were happy that it was left until last.  From MOMA we hit the shops along 5th Ave (Steve rolling his eyes yet again).
Banana Republic - upmarket, business version of GAP, bought work trousers, shirts and sunglasses, 40% off thank you very much;
Ann Taylor - older sister of LOFT, bought more work trousers, also 40% off  :)
And that was it. 

Julian was cracking it big time and really needed a nap.  Yet another subway ride and this calmed Julian right down.  We were hungry and time was limited so we hit Rotten Ronnies (Mcdonalds) for lunch!  Burgers for us, a nibble of a "Chicken"nugget, a couple of french fries, apple slices and water for Julian.  He had already eaten half a bagel, so this was a top up.  So Julians first McD's was in New York and mine was in Frankfurt.  I wonder if it will be 10 years before Julian has it again?

We managed to get home and get Julian to sleep.  He slept for 2 whole hours in the cot - hoorah!  When he woke, he grumpily ate the main of his dinner and loved his prune yoghurt for dessert!  We then walked down a couple of blocks to Sammy's, an asian restaurant, for our dinner.  It came out so fast we only managed a photo at the end showing the left overs.

Look at that plate of fried rice and that was after we had eaten!

We came home and for the first time Julian put himself to sleep in the cot.  We could all use a good night of uninterrupted sleep but I am not holding my breath.

Tomorrow will be a full day as we are going a 3hour cruise around Manhattan at 10am and then hopefully a look at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum (on an aircraft carrier) in the afternoon.  Forecast is for thunderstorms...

Day 6 - New York Central Park and Guggenheim

So after the Natural History Museum we transversed Central Park - not the easiest as nothing is sign posted.  We ended up 10 blocks south of where we started but on the other side of the park.

 We came across this lovely lake and fountain in the park.

And then we walked up the side of Central Park again, this time past the MET and finally to the Guggenheim. Unfortunately they were in between exhibits and they were repairing the walkway, so there was reduced admission.

Inside the Guggenheim showing the ramps around the outside of the dome.

 Happy family.

 Unfortunately this museum was also VERY disappointing :(  There was only a very small gallery of impressionist painting and the rest was really crap modern art.  So, so sad about this.  I saw an exhibition in Dunedin from this museum and it was brilliant.  Maybe you can only see the good paintings when they are on tour?!

We left the Upper East Side and walked to Lexington ave subway and headed homeward to Union Square. 

 This is the view looking up 5th avenue from 16th st, just by Union square.  Note the Empire State building in the centre.

I finally got the opportunity to go to Anthropologie clothing store but I didn't buy a thing.  It was good to just have a look and it really is expensive - $80 for a print singlet with a crochet neckline!

It was 4:30pm so we headed to Rite Aid again for milk and beer and this is where Julian finally fell asleep!  He slept until 6pm in the pram, so we feed him and went out for our dinner.  We had been searching on Yelp (nyc city guide) and found a place called Corner Bistro which sold burgers, so we went there.  I wouldn't call it a bistro, more a pub.

We had burgers, fries and Brooklyn Lager for dinner.  Then we took the long way home as it is a lovely evening here.  It is now 10:15pm and Julian still doesn't want to sleep.  Maybe he will be sorted with this timezone change in a couple of weeks!!

So once again didn't get to MOMA but it is second on the list for tomorrow after the Top of the Rock (viewing platform in the Rockefeller centre).