Walked Walked...Till We.. Dropped @ New York

I wish I had all the money in the world to visit wherever I want. I dream of touring the entire India. I also aim to visit Europe and Africa. I am fortunate to have husband who also loves to travel. Together, we explore new places to visit, find information about places to see, click innumerable pictures, and cherish our travel memories.Luckily, now in USA Iam trying to visit the major tourist spots.One such memorable is our visit to New York...What a fantastic vacation it was!

We took this trip on 25 May 2012 and it has been one of our best trips ever.We enjoyed for 5 days but was bit hectic. I clearly remember the day we were planning for this trip and finally booked our flight tickets.Booking for hotels and flights were happening at so very fast rate that within seconds you would find that there is no room avaialbility and flight tickets are sold out.Luckily we got 2 seats in plane which were very last I mean last row...oh la la but got it finally!..And also last room left in Manhattan...a luxurious lodge near Times Square..This booking was done one month before...everyday we used to dream arrival of 25th may...Ya I believe, the dreams do come true...Many times we used to prepare list of attractions in order to visit them.

My husband booked new york pass which would help to get tickets in sooner way...but the situation was entirely different.Everytime Pass line used to be more longer than normal one...he he he...We were so excited about our forthcoming trip that we announced it to anyone who cared to listen. We jinxed it big time. A week before the trip,we checked with hotel for the availability of microwave and refrigerator as we had baby along with us.We were very much dissapointed when they told that nothing was available and we cannot provide anything to you...Listening to harsh language of theirs my husband decided to cancel the booking...We were too much in tension as flight booking cant be cancelled...and also we didnt wanted to cancel our trip.

My husband was thinking for another alternative.After much deliberation and wondering if we could afford or whether we should afford a five-star, we booked our stay in pennesylvinia: a five-star hotel again near Times Square as location was very important for us. It was one of our best decisions ever. The hotel, its location,the food, the weather: everything was just so perfect.We loved it.Also there was availability of milk and hot water at least for my baby...

Finally the day appeared....We got up too early to get ready...Our flight was at 8.30 but decided to leave by 6.30..we were about to leave by our own car and was going to park in parking area for 4 days as cab was bit costly..Nikhil went down for tying knot to stroller..he opened trunck of car tied knot and left keys inside and closed the trunck...now the situation was no alternate keys...and car was locked...I literally started crying...we got tensed and were under tension and tremendous pressure..Nikhil called his friend...like god he arrived and was ready to drop us on airport...meanwhile nikhil called for emergency service to open lock....they told that an individual would be coming soon we waited for long but he didnt arrived...finally left from home with the fear of misisng flight and when we were on the way to airport he came...nikhil told him one of his near friend would be collecting keys but he had no patience to wait and left from there...when nikhil's friend reached destination that man was not there...All our efforts were in vain..stroller which we buyed only for the sake of NY trip was inside the car's trunck badly stucked.. Our journey started with tension and depression...Finally reached airport collected boarding pass..proceeded to security check and boarded plane..

During my flight to NY, I had a lot many questions in my mind...Will my baby sit quietly in flight? Will he have any trouble? Will he get food everywhere during our trip and so on... Finally I crossed my fingers,thought that no nothing has happened,everything will be OK and we will enjoy our trip to NY...Thus had pretty journey as it was short and sweet...As our plane landed at La Gaurdia.. I couldn’t contain my excitement.

We reached our lodge...as soon as we checked in and kept our baggage...we started walking to collect our NY pass.. The view through Times Square was so breathtakingly beautiful that we started taking loads of pictures..and enjoying good food say pizzas,tacos and more...near it...Also got to see Madison Square Garden which was located in front of our lodge.

The very first day got an golden oppourtunity to visit The cathedral..the divine...St.patrick's church..explored one of the NYC's unique attractions-the worlds largest cathedral....started our trips exploration with holy place...Beauty of church was amazingly good!..It is so tall that statue of liberty would fit comfortably under its dome and it was two football fields long! We admired its soaring Gothic and Romanesque architecture,magnificient stained glass windows.. then visited NBC studio historic tour  that took us behind-the-scenes of NBC's NY operations...NBC experience store was fabulous displaying variety of gifts.,keychains of NY.

For first time I saw the skyline, my mouth fell open just seeing all the lights and huge skyscrapers by just visiting Top of the rocks.From the observation deck we experienced breathtaking views of NY city and beyond...The excitement begins on ground floor and mezzanine with a dazzling swarovski crystal chandelier and multimedia exhibit full of rich history,art and architecture of Rockfellar center...After steeping into glass ceiling sky shuttle for a thrilling ride to the top ,where we found 3 stories of spectacular views,including a stunning,open air, 360 degress view from 70th floor outdoor deck was indeed amazing!

During evening we decided to visit Empire state.It was trill of a lifetime, We waited in the queue almost for 3 hrs...again got through strict security check : the journey aloft to its fabled observatory nearly a quarter of mile above fifth avenue.and finally was so very enchanted to view skyline during night..My eyes were stuck seeing those huge buildings from 86th and 102th floor...All huge buildings were lightened up... My God, I had never seen so many lights in my life.We totally forgot the trouble that we had in queue.. I admired New York for its grandeur, glamour, and shine.Here we were treated to breathtaking panoramas across the rooftops,avenues and byways of the NY Metropolitan areas,to as far away as 4 neighbouring states.

The way hardness and softness, past and present, sameness and difference, rest and motion, vertical and horizontal come together in New York is what makes this city great. For example, the city consists of about 300 neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs making for its rich diversity—each of which is like the others, yet is also different.

Most happiest moment was...we got to meet my sis's fiancee for the first time over here in new york at Madam Tussads.on very second day of trip..this is one of the very special moment that I will cherish forever..he is too good by nature..seeing his too good educational background of higher level..I was bit worrying about his freeness but no.. he is sweet guy with good heart..after all everything matters in being good.Seconds ticked to minutes and minutes to hours as we spoke, and spoke some more. He stayed with us that particular day..and we enjoyed a lot..That night we just took some lovely pictures near Times square..Night life is beautiful and amazing at Times Square. We together had jolly good time late at night till 1am...at times square..

Madam Tussads was so very beautiful that statues were resembling true personality.really we played with wax! We sang,danced and laughed at this amazing world! Where we were the star of the show..oh la la Conveniently located right in the heart of Times Square with over 200 celebrities from the worlds of flim ,
TV,history,politics,music and sports all lined up to provide us with the experience of life time.They were looking so very real that it was unbeliveable that they were made of wax and they are statues...they were resembling exact humans..There was so much crowd over there that I was unable to differentiate between statue and real individual.All were busy clicking pictures with famous bollywood personalities our dear shahrukh and Amitabh Ji.

After this we visited best place...one among 7 wonders of world..Yes,none other than Statue of liberty National monument...The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World;) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue, a gift to the United States from the people of France, is of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue has become an icon of freedom of the United States...we were really amazed to see it..Its worth visiting...From there the Ferry rided from battery park and took us to Elis Island...There we got to see historical meusem...Ellis Island Immigration museum..where historic halls and galleries showed us how more than 12 million immigrants first entered America..

Thereafter had Wall street walk(stock market history)tour-got to look behind-the-scenes look at largest most watched financial exchange in whole world.Also visited most celebrated landmarks including trinity church,Wall street bull ,federal reserve and ground zero.

Thereafter visited tribute WTC vistor center,a project of sep 11th families association which offers a place where members of 9/11 community can connect with thousands of daily visitors who come to this site,through its walking tours,audio tours,exhibits and programs The tribute center offers person to person history linking those who have come to understand these historic events with those who experienced them personally...Also gift shop offers authorized commemorative WTC items, books and apparels which were very interesting.Same case was with 9/11 memorial.

Had Brooklyn bridge walk...The Brooklyn Bridge-home to everyone from everywhere.. is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, and the first steel-wire suspension bridge.Originally referred to as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge and as the East River Bridge, it was dubbed the Brooklyn Bridge. It has become an icon of New York City, and was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark of USA.Immediately seeing the sight of brooklyn bridge we remembered Kal ho na ho..movie featured by shahrukh...I was very much excited for brooklyn walk...which again was hectic...We learnt amazing dramatic story of this world famous NY city landmark while enjoying gorgeous views of Manhattan skyline.Across the brooklyn we explored the trendy neighbourhood of DUMBO,known for its high end boutiques,delicious desserts,pizza shops,art galleries and scenic waterfront views.

Brooklyn garden was romantic place to visit during evening...we clicked many lovely snaps over here...

At night we enjoyed our dinner at Indain restaurant UTSAV...Paneer makhanwala,utsav's special tikhi sabzi...roti,paratha,naan along with jeera rice was mouthwatering one...thought that we got to eat indian food after so very  long time and was literally bored eating American food like burgers,fries and foot longs...

I have so many memories associated with NY. The American meusem of natural history,-one of the largest and most innovative natural history muesuem in the world..gave us a chance to journey through the universe in spectacular Rose center for earth and space...we were amazed to see planets besides us...Walk through a re-creation of an african rain forest in the hall of bio-diversity was fabulous...got to experience variety of different cultures cuisines people's lifestyles including indians over here...World's largest collection of dianosaurs and other vertebrate fossils with more than 600 specimens on display was marvellous...

Walking through the re-creation of Beautiful Central park was visited by us on third day.. I would definitely love to visit it again.We enjoyed city's green oasis..it was truly enjoyable experience.Park was so very big that we just couldn't walk through it.

During evening we opted for Sight seeing cruise which again made round trip to statue or two hours and showed skyline of New York.It took to the waterways for outstanding views of NY's legendary skyline.Down the Hudson river,across new york harbor and up the East river we saw variety of buildings from city's historic past right up to the most modern office skyscrapers We climbed abroad the Staten island Ferry for spectacular look at lower Manhattan and statue of liberty,whose raised torch has welcomed visitors for more than a century.Circle line billed as "America's Favourite boat ride" is 2 hour cruise which passes through some of the NY's most memorable landmarks.Circle line's knowledgeable tour guides bring to life the breathtaking sights and fascinating history behind the "City that never sleeps" .Continous commentary while cruising is highly informative and takes you to real destination...round trip to statue.

Also visited Intrepid sea,air and space museum...which was unique journey filled with spectacular interactive exhibits and virtual multi sensory technology.It is dynamic adventure for visitors of all ages...The complex boasts 30 restored aircrafts,former USS growler submarine and British airways  concorde.

Travelling through Metro everytime was too hectic...needs to fold stroller...glide it along entire platform and finally board a train...but still we enjoyed though was troublesome a bit..Life of NY is exactly similar to that of mumbai...running on minutes and seconds..If train is missed then u are gone..Being mumbaikar Iam used to this kind of life as mumbai meri jann..still felt too much hectic dont know why?...but There were lots of Indians in NY,I can say marathi people.. which is why; at times it became difficult to realize that we were in US.We really felt in love with this place.

we walked and walked tll we dropped for 4 days...and one fine day on 4th day left for DC tour with an AC volvo..Volvo dropped us in china town of DC there we were amazed to see indian restaurant....did our lunch in MAHEK and left for our tour...I really felt in love with washington DC...the city of meusems,scluptures and architectures.Was amazed as got to visit United states Capitol on very memorial day...hence got an oppurtunity to watch parade,airshow etc.Seeing the structures of buildings,neatness,plantations of flowers in front of each and every gate of buildings we were amazed. It was really worth admiring...also got golden oppurtunity to watch white house..views of supreme court,national archives ,FBI building were tremendously good..There also walking in scorching heat of sun was too tuff,heat was unbearable and we were feeling too much thirsty...we were drinking bottles of lemonade at fastest rate ever.We paid our visit to Washington memorial-huge pillar clicked innumerable pictures,lincoln memorial,....the very first building admired by us was FBI and then capitol...Also we got to see Air and space museum-smithsonian museum-collection of 14 meuseums,Navy memorial etc.

There also we walked till we dropped.Our legs were broken to pieces...Also viewed national aquarium,botanical garden and garden of sculpures and arts...were really amazied to see decorative scluptures...finally on very Same day with luxurious eastern bus we reached our lodge at new york.

We were too much tired but still were exited as one more day was remaining to enjoy...Located in times square,Ripleys Believe it or not! additorium brings people of all ages face to face with the worlds most unbelivable curiosities.We didnt got oppurtunity to visit that due to time constraint..but yes....With18,000 sq.feet of astonishing facts,exclusive oddities,exciting interactive exhibits and heart stopping sideshow performers this one of kind attraction welcomed us to experience unusual and unexpected wonder around every corner...This day was shopping day.We purchased New York T-shirts for all of us including my baby...on this very day paid our visit to Toys R Us biggest toys mall in USA..there we enjoyed merry go round quickly took snaps watched all 4 floors and left for Macy's-not only fashion institution but an american icon...one of the unavoidable place of USA..visted famed macy's herald square the world's largest store over 2 million square feet of retail space...also visited disney shop,clicked snaps with mickey and minnie famous cartoons loved by Arnold...We are foodies and thoroughly enjoyed
the food over here...

We had food on the foot tour...see and taste NY like New Yorker!...NY is melting pot of the world with its vast array of cuisine which lies in its shared culture.We really travelled the way new yorkers do live and eat..by subway and foot...

Cold stone creamery-neither soft serve nor hard packed.. for both of us..ice-cream lovers was an added advantage..we enjoyed sisilian pizza also..For the first time in life we got to eat so very nice cheese and Veg pizza though was costlier...Finally when we were done with shopping ordered for taxi and left for La Gaurdia airport...

we reached 3 hours early pretty before boarding of plane starts as had heared from many friends that due to traffic they missed their flight..our whole body was paining and wanted to reach as early as possible to Louisville also were fed up of people,rush,hectic life of NY...so very similar to mumbai.Finished with our security check and was waiting for flight....arnu had his food...And saddest part was that nikhil said I will go and check for the status of flight...As soon as he left for checking I heard announcement that flight to louisville was cancelled due to bad weather conditions prevailing in NY..I was totally dissapointed as was waiting to reach Louisville...Airport staff was searching for lodging but were unable to find suitable one...Finally they gave us vouchers of some clarion hotel and told us to stay there as there was no flight available sooner...When we reached hotel manager didnt bother to look towards us as he was not even having single room vacant...We returned to airport with tears in our eyes...Airport staff told us we cannot wait inside here as once last plane leaves nobody is allowed to wait even after security check...but we were already out in ground transportation area and cwn enter inside only once agin security check in done..we were literally on road that day...

Our journey was extended to 6 days

One good officer instructed us to go to terminal c where there was resting area...they provided steel foldable beds with pillows and bedsheets...Beds were so verydangerous that once you lie down you are bound to fall...Arnu was crying as he had to manage his sleep in stroller only...ohhhupppps we were too much in bad condition.They arranged for flight that was again too hectic...first we were taken to DC in international flight there I suffered badly with ear pain..Arnav was crying badly...and then there was halt for 1 and 1/2 hrs and after that we need to catch connecting flight to louisville...Our first flight was at 6.00 am.We took arnav and
left to terminal B walking as shuttle service was about to begun at 6.00 and we had to reach on time...Finally arrived at desired terminal and tried to collect manually the boarding pass..unable to fetch it had to wait for assistance..she printed it wrongly and gave twice the same pass to DC only...after correcting it left for security check...They tested baby food and bag like CID people only and finally allowed us to board a plane...

Within 1 hour we reached DC and left for gate 35-A for our second flight.Never in my life have I been so bored.We had again very last seat in front of the toilet, which meant that everytime anyone went to answer nature's call, they would collide with my arm.Urggggggggggghhhhhhhhh..I wanted to scream in frustration.
Finally landed  louisville airport and heaved a sigh of relief...catched a taxi and reached home sweet home...

Really Flight's journey was hectic,boring..we discussed that even thought of going to india is dangerous and needs to be avoided.

Now, when I see any movie filmed in NY, I smile and feel happy that I got to visit New York. Those are our best memories ever. Now I wish I could turn back the clock and relive all those golden moments.Thanks to my dear hubby...because of him only i got to visit this biggest,craziest city NY in USA.