Our NYC Trip 30 Dec - $ Jan

Must be some meaning to $ in subject above, directly above the keyboard 4, the day we left but $ is so appropriate for NYC. Believe me it was an unintentional slip.

This is day two, 31 Dec New Years Eve and Sunday, seems weird. Hard to get up early but we were doing the tour today. Breakfast in our room (with kitchen) consisted of lots of fruit, coffee and Kashi, Deli next door had all the stuff. Tackling the subway for first time and not a perfect beginning but still fun. With thoughts of knowing what we should do, prior research can help but local knowledge is best. Had problem getting station clerk to explain how seniors apply their discounted prices and making pass go though turnstill, finally someone buzzed us through. Then enroute, learned that station to transfer at was closed for repairs so we quickly departed before ending at who knows where. Simply allowed us to again enjoy a long walk toward our tour bus. It was a long walk up through Times Square 7th Ave area on the morning of prep for the Ball Dropping. Actually very entertaining, but wouldn%26#39;t want to live hereor stay long.

Selected the Party Shuttle, got on about 7th and 51st, at 10AM and tour lasted 5 and 1 half hours. Good to do tour, passed or stopped at many locations we couldn%26#39;t do on our own. Did like Robert, the tour guide, good personality and made us feel comfortable and relaxed. Still, I wanted more info on stuff we were passing. Staten Island ferry (free anyway) was nice. Ground Zero almost meaningless to view, contemplating at home would be just as good. I am retired military and often touched by memorials to fallen comrades and family members. I came here expecting that remembrance to hit me. It did not ! Wall St stop best of stops for us.

We left the Party Shuttle at 3:30PM. Again dropping through the Rock Center (busy as ever) and entered St Patrick%26#39;s for 4 PM Mass. Go through this Cathedral even if not Catholic, like being in Europe once inside. It is surrounded with materialism and like Grand Central dwarfed by those business megoliths.

One reason to be in NYC was to celebrate New Years Eve here. After walking again though many avenues till 7 PM, we realized that Central Park would not be attainable. We approached the hotel, found a bottle of Champagne to ice down, had dinner at the Dog and retired to our room . At nine we were asleep, but to rise and drink and celebrate in our PJs at 11:15 to 1 AM. I think if NYC had been covered in a blanket of snow we would have made it to the park. After all we had brought our long johns with us in anticipation of cool/cold weather. Didn%26#39;t happen John - Next days soon

Our NYC Trip 30 Dec - $ Jan

I%26#39;m enjoying your report. We felt the same way about the Party Shuttle. I think all that warm weather made sitting on a bus seem like kind of a shame. Still, it was an experience and I%26#39;ve got some fancy long johns for sale, never been used.

Jennifer