It's Christmas Day...

... and New York is getting colder but not so cold as to snow... bummer...

Started the day late(ish), around 1030 and went uptown again to the Rockefeller Center. Spent some time just sipping coffee watching the passersby (?) and the skaters on the ice rink.

There aren't too many retail stores open today but there is still a lot of thing open to cater to the New Yorkers and tourists - many eateries, usual tourist attractions, etc.

After about an hour or so it was time to move on (that and get away from the family with the screaming kids at the next table! Where to go?

South Street Seaport - down at Pier 17 near the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a an historical area (17th-Century) still with cobblestone streets. Many of the buildings have been restored to their 18th and 19th century glory... the area has also been reveloped as a tourist type spot with shopping precinct. There is also a museum of the seafaring nature of the district. Follow this link to a Google Map of this location.

A further wandering towards the tip of Manhatten brings you to Wall Street and the Financial District. All very quiet on a Christmas Day.

Time to head back uptown on the subway to the diner for an early evening meal - heading to the Silver Spurs diner on the corner of Broadway and 8th - recommended by Helen (my sister). Nice food, clean environment and good value.

It stasrted raining while having dinner, so it was a quick dash back to the hotel for an early night before some proper touristy stuff tomorrow. This link will show you where the Seafarers & International House is on New York.

Christmas Eve in NYC

nothing much of great significance today...

Wandered uptown to Rockefeller Center and around to Times Square, just watching and window shopping... lots of people frantically getting the last minute gifts.

Spent much of the evening in Greenwich Village culminating in a coffee at Café Angelique (cnr Bleeker & Grove) prior to the calls to Aus.

Unfortunately the wifi signals weren't that strong so the Skype phone was a bit flakey... The Treo performed well though so most of the calling came through that.

Woo hooo - chocks away...

.. after a quick de-icing we get away from the departure gate about 5 minutes later than schedule.

We're well over the Atlantic now (about 3 hours in) - New York is just another 4 hours over thatta way...

I'll be contactable in NYC...

... by various forms of phone and email.

I'll have my Skype phone with me so you can get me though that - it'll be on most of the time connecting in via wifi along the way. To get that you can:
1 - connect via computer - my skype ID is beezahgee (or just click the skype link the side of this blog.)
2 - use either of my Skype-in numbers:
London = 020 7558 8293
Adelaide = 08 8121 8318

Just remember, until January 2nd, I'll be in New York so check that time zone!!

Email is also an option - graham@walter-family.org or graham.walter@gmail.com

That wasn't too bad...

.. got through security OK and without too much delay and queuing.

The bus trip was uneventful and we got into the terminus at about 0540. Had to wait for about 10 minutes at the bagdrop point - I'd already checked in via the internet last night, so it was only a matter of dropping off the bag and collecting the boarding pass...

Although the line for security was quite long I was through the scanners by just after 0630.

I've remembered this time to get some extra US currency so as to have enough for taxi and tip at the other end. There is a flat fee for cabs from JFK to Manhatten (US$50 in 2000) and last time I only had enough for that and a $4 tip - the cab driver was not best pleased (bloody tourists!!)

The exchange rate is quite favourable at the moment - almost two-for-one, so I have US$150 in the clip ready for NYC.

About time for the first coffee of the day... mmm coffee - with any luck I might wake up soon...

only another two and a half hours to go for wheels up... hopefully...

Heathrow has been fog-bound for the last 3 days with all internal UK flights cancelled and many short-haul flights delayed. The long haul flights don't seem to have been affected as badly - my flight (VS003) has left on time each day, so I'm hopeful that today's flight will follow the same pattern...