Up, up & away! Total tourists again! Day 5 NYC

This was our final full day and we were both a little sad about this; hubs had already started deal-hunting for the next one!

We had breakfast in a nearby restaurant Madison & Vine which was yummy!

 

    

After, we walked over to Rockefeller Plaza. We had tokens to turn into tickets for Top Of The Rock. Once we got to the front of the queue, despite it being 11:15am, we were told the next available slot was 1:35pm (right over lunchtime!) so we stayed local to Rockefeller Plaza and strolled around. We stumbled on an NBC store doing an experience of Zero Gravity VR for the new film The Mummy. We each sat in little individual pods and had headphones and a VR headset on. This was so much fun! We were virtually involved in the plane crash scene from the movie!

We came across the Rock Centre Café which is outside, right in front of the fountain. We had some lush cocktails and a salad each for an early lunch before going up to the Top Of The Rock.

 

   

After going up Top Of The Rock, we went back to our hotel to pick up our passports (photographic ID)...

 

    

 

  

We then got a cab. There had been an accident or something as there were major traffic jams and we needed to cross the water, to Jersey... A 40 minute journey took almost 90 minutes!

It was touch and go whether we were going to get there on time and my husband, who never worries, looked worried. This next adventure was one he'd dreamed of and was so keen to do.

WE MADE IT!!

WE WENT ON A HELICOPTER RIDE!!

Absolutely amazing.

Once back in New York Manhattan (within 30 minutes this time!) we freshened up at the hotel and I roughly packed my case (booo!!) We then headed for dinner at a restaurant that my husband had been wanting to try back in England; Smith & Wollensky.

This restaurant did not disappoint! Gorgeous steak and sides. As it was our last night in the Big Apple we strolled down to Times Square and took in all the lights. We visited the Hershey's store and the M&M store, then strolled back. A perfect end to a perfect final night.

 

   
 

  

 

  

Some of the views from the doors-off helicopter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total tourists. Empire State of mind. Day 4 NYC

We started the day by walking a couple of streets from our hotel to Benjamins Steakhouse. It's quite upmarket here, they do breakfast and they do it well!

Hubs chose steak, eggs & potatoes whilst I had a tea and blueberry pancakes!

 

 

Once we were full from our first meal of the day, we walked over to catch the Hop On, Hop Off bus from Times Square. It was already a gorgeous day - not cloudy like it had forecast. We decided to drop our jackets off at the hotel first - it was already too warm for them!

 

On our first tour of the day, we decided to stop at the Empire State Building.

 

I have previously seen the view from the 86th floor in 2008 but at night. I felt the clear, bright daytime was preferential and that I saw a lot more today. I was able to identify the buildings I could see better than last time.

Once we had taken lots of photos between us and walked all around, we got back on the bus.

 

    

 

   

It was so hot sitting up top with the sun beating down. We listened to more information from the tour guide on the bus and stayed on until the stop we got off yesterday came up. 

We got off the bus at stop 9, which is for 9/11 World Trade but also Brooklyn Bridge. I then posed in front of the fountain in the park!

I queued for about 25 minutes to use a toilet here before crossing the bridge (then another 25 mins on the way back before the last bus).

Hubs wanted to take some photos of the bridge and the city from the bridge. As you can see, I got lots of shots too!

 

   
 

 

 

Brooklyn 

  

All photos taken on my iPhone 

Once we'd walked over Brooklyn Bridge, and grabbed a Starbucks in Brooklyn, we headed back over. The Hop On, Hop Off bus last leaves for the Downtown loop from Times Square at 6pm so we knew we had to get back. We had to run to get the last bus! We sat on the tour bus all the way round from the Brooklyn Bridge stop. 

By the time we were back at Times Square, we were exhausted! We walked back to our hotel and relaxed for a while. We went out for a late dinner and decided to stay local (one street away!)

The steak restaurant we chose for our Wednesday evening meal did not disappoint - wow! Highly recommend Benjamin's; for service and for food.

 

   

Chocolate in bed; the perfect end to the perfect night