A Very Busy Day 6 November 2014

Well we had had a hood nights rest and took it easy this morning, had got up to date with e mail as well as checking Chicos Facebook account with him, also other websites that I visit, then off on the hotel shuttle to the subway.
By mistake we ended up on Broadway, where all the shows are, even McDonald's was lit up in fancy lights, it seemed to have little effect  on Paul but I was quite excited by it all.
As usual we made one or two deliberate mistakes before finally got to the Intrepid sea air and space museum, a lot of the exhibits were on the former aircraft carrier including planes helicopter's and spacecraft, outside there was a former submarine which we also looked round, photos hopefully to appear soon, Chico and Paul were both in their element checking everything out in the museum and time passed quickly.

Next Paul mentioned that he would like to visit St Patricks cathedral so we went looking for this, it seems it has featured in a range of films. Unfortunately when we eventually found it, the building was almost covered in scaffolding and sheeting outside and inside much the same, although obviously will look spectacular when finished.
Just for a change we got lost on the way to Grand Central Station another place on Pauls list, I had not realised how big and very busy it would be. We looked round but I was getting tired so had a rest whilst Paul went exploring. It was a good chance for me to rest as we had been out a long time,  before travelling back to the hotel for the evening.  I then tried to catch up with my adventures on here for you readers.

New York Here we come 4th November 2014

Well we managed to wake on time sort ourselves out and be ready for the bus to the airport for 5 30, the member of staff was very helpful in the process, by the way if you are reading this and ever are staying overnight at one of the hotels close to Heathrow, its worth knowing there are buses run by National Express throughout the day to many of the bigger hotel chains that are near to the airport at a cost of only £5 each throughout the day.
Paul had managed to sort out our boarding cards with the hotel, thanks again Premier Inn, so it did not take long to check in, I asked for assistance to get to the plane and at New York and this was quickly arranged, I explained we were going to No 1 Lounge so she sorted out for us to be collected there.
The lounge easy to get to and efficient with paperwork, so soon we were settled with something to eat in very pleasant surroundings, plus we had Wi Fi to catch up with friends, the only problem was when a very noisy man came along, threw his case etc down on the seat then promptly set about making a number of very loud mobile phone calls, eventually he went, the time passed quickly and soon it was time to be taken to the plane, the staff were pleasant particularily the lady who helped on the last part of the trip.
On the plane we were soon settled in our seats and ready for take off, a flight attendant came to ask Paul to speak to somebody from security, I presumed it was something to do with his medical equipment but he was quite a while before he came back. It seemed for some reason there was a problem with his visa and there had been a threat to have him removed from the plane, luckily common sense prevailed, the plane was late taking off and I do wonder if it was down to Paul,  but from then on it was a pleasant flight with frequentl food and drinks, plus we managed to obtain a neckloop so I could listen to music and later watch a film.
On arrival a pleasant man took us through passport control and customs,  which was much quicker than I thought it may of been and told us where to find the Air Train to the city. We again found people very helpful whilst doing all of this, so soon we were in New York city.

I think this is a good time to explain to you readers about my problem in life at present and what I have quickly realised on this trip, in that wearing hearing aids is affecting what messages I pick up and how hard it is to hear people and announcements particularily innoisy environments, Paul has been very good and patient with me regarding this, but I do wonder as the trip progresses how I will manage when on my own.
Well we got to the subway and this was where everything started to go wrong, firstly the staff at the ticket counter were unhelpful, then I got the cases stuck in the barrier,  again good old Paul quickly helped sort it out, the subway was busy but soon ours came, it seemed a long way to our stop, eventually Paul noticed that we had got on the wrong line so we started to retrace our steps.
Then next the train stopped and it seemed someone had become ill, it took quite some time and the driver suggested that people find alternative, Paul was reluctant but agreed, and soon as we got off the train started, ooops,but he had found another way for us to get to our destination, finally we arrived but then needed advice about how to find the hotel, luckily it was only a short walk and we were quickly booked in, the room is pleasant, but by now we were both tired out, I realised we had been travelling for over 20  hours.
The time here was about 8pm, so we went out and had a  burger,no surprise to some readers but not at one of the well known chains, then back to the hotel for a relaxing bath and a chat about what we were doing the following day, well no Paul nodded off in the bath for a few minutes and I wad quite tired so we decided to leave and sleep instead.  I am typing this in the dark, outside there is a view of New York lit up, I am in the dark so as not to disturb Paul and local time is 3am, so will finish now and tell you more of our adventures later.

You will of noticed no mention of Chico, this is because with all of the time spent getting here with the suitcases etc, the last thing I needed was to be sorting photos out for him but I am sure today we will get back to normal.

Our first day in London 3rd November 2014

Hello readers, as promised this is the first real blog of the trip and we start off with London for the day. We arrived early for the train and the trip went well apart from the fact it was raining hard when we got to Euston, we went to leave our luggage, what a rip off £40 for 2 large and two small cases,  the woman in front seemed to have something in her case that they were not happy with but soon we were done and off to buy our travelcards to travel on the tube.
We noticed it was still raining hard so decided to forget trafalgar square and head instead for the Tower and poppy display. Despite the weather there were lots of people queuing for a closer look.  Chico seemed very impressed with all the poppies, next we went down the river to the O2 but it was practically deserted,  so we continued on to the cable car over the Thames, which we all enjoyed, then on to the light railway, unfortunately it was busy and with reflections in the carriage the view was spoilt.w
We then made our way back to St Pancras so I could show Paul what a station could really look like, the place has been renovated beautifully, then to Burger King for A double Whopper then Euston to pick up the cases. (By the way at present I am struggling to enter photos on here but you can see some on Gulliver Chico Glasser profile on Facebook.) On to the tube to Heathrow,  by now it was getting late.
Sady when we got there, we just missed the bus to the hotel so it was another half hour and a tour of all the terminals first.It was a Pemier Inn so check in was fast, but still getting on for 10pm before we were sorting ourselves out, never was I so glad for a shower,  the room was up to their usual high standards it was 12ish by the time we finally settled for the night so with the need to get up again at 4 30am I tried to get to sleep for a few hours.

It had been a very enjoyable adventure I felt, shame we did not have time to do more and that initially the wrather was poor, we were very impessed at how helpful people were on the many occasions that we got lost, I really must thank Maggie for the time and effort she took to arrange our trip round London