NY/Madrid/San Sebastian

We spent most of Tuesday travelling – actual travel time wasn’t that long, but we lost 6 hours by flying in the wrong direction over the North Atlantic Ocean. We left New York around 10pm Monday night, and after only six and a half hours in the air found ourselves in Madrid at 10.30am next morning. Which brought on an excellent case of jet lag later in the day.

Leaving New York

Over Spain

Got through customs and departures at Madrid, then our 40min flight to San Sebastian was delayed by an hour and a half. Reached our apartment around 5pm – it’s huge!! Family we have leased it from are lovely, it used to be their father/grandfather’s and is right in the centre of the city. 

Hills around San Sebastian

Heading in to the centre of town

View from our apartment

Apartment lounge/dining

A quick look around the immediate neighbourhood and a small bite to eat, then we finally got to rest.

New York :: last day

Up early again to beat the lines at another attraction – the weather wasn’t too good for the views, but we went to the top of the Rockefeller Center anyway.

Kids loved the elevator ride.

And the light room.

We dropped in to Magnolia Bakery to pick up some cupcakes afterwards before heading back to Times Square for the last time to visit M&M’s World.

Then it was cupcakes in Central Park before a quick walk through the south-western section.

Then it was time to leave. Right now we're sitting in Newark Airport waiting for our flight to Madrid. After that we fly to San Sebastian. Might be a while before I get to post again.

New York :: getting adventurous...

Today we got up early to get to Battery Park in time to catch a ferry and see the Statue of Liberty without having to wait in line for up to one and a half hours (which was why we ditched the idea yesterday).

Decided to catch a cab to save time - four in the back seat? No problem, this is New York.

Stopped at Ellis Island on the way back (where millions of immigrants entered the US in the late 1800's to early 1900's). 

Then we stopped in central Greenwich Village for coffee on this street...

Went back to visit the Empire State Building, where we decided over $180 US was a bit rich for an elevator ride to the 86th floor (although we did visit the gift shop on the second floor, which included a free escalator ride and our second security check for the day - the first was to get on the ferry to the islands). But since we were there and the street vendors were busy cooking fresh kebabs and Sash was feeling a bit hungry...

Several cab rides later, we came back to watch the Australia-v-Germany game - kids and I in our room, Sash from a bar down the street. Seems New York weather decided to commiserate with our bad luck, it started raining while the game was on. Which also meant no more sight-seeing for the afternoon.

If the weather is better tomorrow, we'll go to the other place where you get to see the city from up high - the Rockefeller Center. Not quite as tall, but half the price and glass balustrades so you can see everything. Then maybe lunch in Central Park.

New York :: on a bus

We spent almost the entire day on open-top double-decker buses. No fear of standing out, the city is crawling with the things. Got a good look around most of Manhattan, stopped for a snack at Battery Park and had lunch at Times Square, right after dropping in to the Toys R Us. Got heaps of photos and video of beautiful buildings and sculptures and all the people stuff happening in between.

Times Square

Battery Park - street vendors, performers, squirrels and World Trade Center monument 

(remains of sculpture that used to be in WTC plaza) with eternal flame

Central Park - statue at South Entrance

Aiming to take the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty tomorrow, as well as wander through SoHo and Greenwich Village before visiting the Empire State Building.

New York :: first impressions

This place is crazy. All the stuff you've heard is true: it's huge, it's loud, it's busy, traffic is mad, there really are sirens all day/night and the hotels really don't have 13th floors...

We're staying on the 14th (13th) floor of our hotel, which is between Central Park and Times Square.

We figured dinner should be at an all-American diner, so we ended up here:

The view from our booth:

Some people who had eaten at our table before:

Tomorrow, bus tour of the city. And hopefully a stop at Toys R Us before Sam drives us crazy.

Columbus :: we came, we saw...

 ... we ate, we shopped, we slept. 

The best parts: Spending time with our exceptional and very generous family. Turning up at the Ritrovo every day for brunch/lunch/dinner/drinks/coffee/dessert/whatever we felt like and meeting all the great people there. Moshi Sushi Bar. Amazing flavours at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Jeffersonville Outlet Mall. Shopping at Easton. Cinnabon rolls. Silly bandz. Magic Mountain.

Luggage count has officially risen - had to buy a new suitcase at the last minute before leaving for all our new clothes.

Hanging out at the Ritrovo

Next stop, New York.

Columbus :: Giuseppe's Ritrovo

We finally got to eat in the restaurant we've heard so much about. 

Giuseppe made sure I tried the tiramisu - last time he made it for us was in my mother's kitchen with bad coffee. We are so full right now, feels like we could go without food for a month.

Oh, and look who gets a mention on the menu this week...