Guess where I've been!

I've been off air for a while, partly due to the fact we all went off to visit my second eldest daughter in the States. She's based in New Jersey, but we also spent three days and two nights in New York. I'm generally not a fan of cities, finding London almost unbearable at times, but I have to say I loved New York. We visited Times Square, the Rockefelle Centre, Central Park, the 9/11 memorial site, Soho, Greenwich Village, Manhatten, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Staten Island ferry, the Stock exchange and Wall Street, rode the wooden escalators in Macy's and took in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. We must have walked miles, but it was such a great way to drink in the various flavours of New York.

 

A great view from 'top of the rock'

The lake in Central Park, setting for many a TV programme and film

The World Trade Centre - such a positive and vibrant building.

We ate some amazing vegan food too. If you are visiting New York, I can recommend Beyond Sushi between the Rockefelle Centre and Central Park; Peacefood Café on the Upper West Side; the Butchers Daughter in Greenwich Village; Candle 79 on the Upper East Side (posher, but really good food) and By Chloe on Bleecker Street. All served fantastic vegan food with excellent gluten free options too. You certainly wouldn't miss your meat if you weren't vegan!

My sweet potato and avocado wrap in Beyond Sushi - delicious! 

This is an American robin in Central Park. They are everywhere and, as you might suspect bigger than our little robin red breast. The first wildlife I saw in the park was actually a large rat! 

We had some excellent service in America, but I'm afraid I was also struck with some examples of very poor customer service. Some of these people really shouldn't be working in the service industry! I guess many cities suffer from that, but it's a shame for their tourism.

All in all we crammed so much in that it felt as if we had been there for two weeks. Our daughter is amazingly at home there, knowing her way around both geographically and culturally. She's so confident and relaxed which is great to see. Her host family (she's an au pair) are lovely and she's made great friends too. Such an adventure! It was hard to leave her again, but I take great comfort in the fact that she is doing something she has always wanted to do. I suspect it's just the start of the travelling adventure for her.

We got back this morning and are off again on Monday to Shropshire to start some house viewings. I'll let you know if we are bowled over by any!