East Coast USA & Canada ~ Sept 2011 ~ NZ Nurse

29 August 2011 Happy Birthday to our grandson who turns 3 today NY time but of course it was yesterday NZ time. Wake up call at 6am. Everything sorted and ready to go. Left the hotel at 6.40am and arrived at SFO at 7am. The taxi was very fast. No traffic around. $35.00 plus tip. Damn, could have had at least another half an hours sleep. We checked in at the curbside....easy, peasy.....no queue. Went into the terminal to see hundreds and hundreds of people lining up for security. It snaked up one side and back down the other. One thing I have found here in the first 24 hours in the US is that you always seem to be in a long queue for something. The line moved very quickly though which was a surprise. ID and boarding pass ready, we were through the first official in about 15 minutes. It was then our turn to gather the bins to put our belongings through the x-ray scanner. This included our shoes. No problems there either. 20 minutes all up from the time we entered the terminal was such a surprise. Now we had to wait 2 and a half hours until we could board. See, I could have had another hour in bed but knowing my luck we would have struck a very slow lineup or something else could have happened. Alan looked around for some cereal for breakfast but alas it all had yoghurt on it so he settled on sharing my large container of fresh fruit. We wandered the shops in the terminal before taking a seat by Gate 80. We boarded at 10.20am and pulled out at 10.55am. We taxied a long way and then we sat at the end of a vacant piece of tarmac because the plane had a problem with one of its indicators. We sat there ¾ of an hour. Finally got into the sky at 11.45am. United flight 760, Boeing 757, seats 22 E&F. What an old plane and it didn't look as though it was airworthy. It was quite cramped inside so I needed to juggle myself quite a few times. After about 1 hour they were bringing out a lunch. No included meals on this flight and bugger all to choose from either. By the time they got to us there was nothing for me so I just settled for a glass of orange juice. I must take this up with my TA as she had not told us we would have to pay for the refreshments in-flight. They crew do not take cash either. It is credit or debit card only so Alan's turkey roll will cost a lot when we get back and receive the bill from VISA. Our juice was free of charge. We did not see the cabin crew again until about an hours out from JFK when they came around and asked if anyone would like a drink. I was dying for a cup of tea and enjoyed it very much. It was a good flight with only a few bumps here and there. I thought it would have been a lot rougher seeing hurricane Irene had just gone through a day earlier. We touched down at 7.55pm NY time. We taxied for some distance before pulling up at Gate 8 at 8.05pm. By the time we walked through to baggage claim our cases were coming around on the carousal. We gathered them and headed out to get a yellow taxi to the hotel. Very orderly here. Quickly got a taxi and went for the hair raising ride through to our Novatel Hotel Times Square arriving at 9.15pm. Check in was smooth. We are up on the 28th floor. Lovely views out but alas not of Times Square itself. We dropped our bags, took a couple of night photos and headed out to Times Square. This place is crazy. Thousands of people everywhere. And the buildings all lit up. It was quite amazing. We headed back to the hotel at 11.30pm. Had a cuppa down in the bar before heading up to our room to do some washing. The tour washing routine starts again......wash it in the bath, wring it out by hand, roll it in a towel and then jump on it to get as much water out as possible.......wallah done. It's just past midnight so night night...

31 August 2011. Up at 6.40am, well before Alan. Decided to take a wander across to Starbuck's and get a cup of tea and have a wee walk. Back to the hotel at 7.30am. Checked e-mails and bank accounts. Alan's still asleep and it's 8.00am!!! Why can't I sleep like him. Weather nice and warm already. Temps supposed to be high 20s. We left the hotel at 8.45 am and headed to the Empire State Building. No queues today although we had purchased express tickets so it didn't matter. Went up the first 80 floors in one lift then caught the second to the 86th floor. Outlook was a bit hazy today but we managed to get some good photos. Following this we descended and walked back across town. We headed to the aircraft carrier Intrepid moored on the Hudson River. $23.00 per person to go in and onto the carrier. It was very hot. 30 degrees so it was nice to find some shade on the ship. Wandered round all the decks and then Alan went onto the submarine Growler (included in the entry price) that is also moored at the marina. I didn't go because I do not like enclosed spaces so instead sat and wrote some postcards in the shade under the Concord airplane which they also have there on the dock. After a little while there we walked back across town and had lunch. We then decided to visit some of the exhibits and the National History Museum. To get there we used our hop on/off ticket to take us to the Upper Side of the city where the museum is. The museum has free entry but if you like you can give a small donation of $1.00 per person. We walked back through part of Central park exiting at Columbus Circle. We went to an Irish pub and had some dinner. We have walked miles today. It was still very warm, 27 degrees at 7.30pm when we headed back to the hotel.

? 5 September 2011. Alarm went off at 6.00am. Bags out and down to breakfast at 6.45am. Left the hotel at 7.30am. Weather showery. Drove along the highway for a little while before getting stuck in a little traffic due to a truck accident. Arrived in Lewisburg for morning tea at the Country Cupboard at 9.50am. After half an hour there we left at 10.20. Everyone is so good at getting to the coach on or before our arranged time. The showers stopped but it remained cloudy. After travelling a few more miles it started to drizzle again, but this did not last long, We stopped at Corning for our lunch. There it was a large supermarket called Wegmans where you could buy anything and everything including pharmaceuticals. They had a large cafe where we could choose from hot and cold food. I grabbed a salad and DH had a ham roll made. They put ssooo much filling in that he could not eat it all. This is normal for most things we have bought to eat in the US. We left there and travelled on towards Niagara stopping for a comfort stop and for Rod to get gas for the coach as it is cheaper in the US than in Canada. We crossed the Niagara River at 4.15pm and onto the Grand Island, then off again. From these bridges we caught our first glimpse of the mist rising from the falls. We arrived at the US/Canada boarder at 4.30pm. We had to get off the coach and go inside to present our passports. No problems for anyone and we got our passports stamped. It didn't take long and we were over the boarder and into Niagara. We arrived at our hot, The Hilton, at 5.10pm. 15th floor. We got our room keys an had enough time for a quick freshen up before we left at 5.50pm for our 'Be My Guest' dinner at a Vinelands vineyard. When we arrived we had a tasting of 3 wines and a wine/vodka combination called ice wine before going into the dining room. We had a delicious meal of soup, steak and chocolate dessert, tea and coffee. We left there at 8.50pm for our half hour trip back to town. Enroute back Rod drove us past the falls to see them lit up with different colours. We arrived back at the hotel at about 10.00pm. Some of us walked across the road to the casino to get some Canadian currency from their ATM. We walked back and went to the 34th floor of the hotel to take night shots of the falls as our room did not look out over them. Back to our room at 11.00pm and readied our cases for departure tomorrow although we do not have to have the bags out until 8.45am. We wanted to get everything done tonight so we could get up, have breakfast and take a walk across to the falls before we board the Maid of the Mist at 10.00am. Lights out just before midnight.

7 September 2011. Down for breakfast at 7am. After this we walked down to the falls. Not many people around at this time so we got some nice photos. Boy the mist from the Canadian falls goes for miles. We walked back in time to put out cases out at 8.45am. At 9 we left to go down through town to see a flower garden but it was closed to Linda took nearly all our tour mates for a walk to where we were earlier to take photos. Because we had already done it and it was very dark and wet we stayed on the coach with another couple of people. When the others returned we went down to the Maid of the Mist. We boarded out boat at 10.15am. Blue ponchos on, we set of towards the American and Bridal Veil Falls before turning towards the Canadian Falls. The boat got very close to the bottom of these falls and we all got very wet. The trip took half an hour. After we disembarked at 10.45am we had 2 hours to look around Niagara and get some lunch. DH and I walked around the area before taking a ride on the large wheel that gave us great views down to the falls and the surrounding area. $10.00 each for 4 revolutions. We left Niagara at 12.45pm 2.45pm stopping to take photos of the whirlpool and the sky ride across them. We then drove to Niagara on the Lake where we walked through the pretty town which had beautiful flowers lining the street. I bought a leather jacket which was less than half price in a sale. I also got a couple of cow items to take home. We left there at 2..45pm enroute to Toronto. We crossed the bridge into Burlington at 3.40pm and arrived at our hotel, The Sheraton Toronto at 4.30pm. 6th floor. While waiting for our cases we looked around a few of the shops beneath the hotel. Went up to our room to freshen up before dinner within the hotel at 6.30pm. Salmon for me tonight. At 8pm we went for a walk down to the CN Tower. This took about 10 minutes. It was lit up mauve and blue. Got back to the hotel at 9pm.

9 September 2011. Up at 6.45am. Bags ready for collection and down to breakfast at 7.30am. We left the hotel in Toronto at 8.30am. Weather nice and sunny. Quite a bit of traffic heading in both directions. We headed out along Interstate 401. After a couple of hours we stopped for a comfort stop and a drink at Trenton on Route, a roadside establishment. After about half an hour we set off again. We arrived in Kingston at 12.45. This was our lunch stop. We found a nice bakery and sat with another couple for lunch. From there we walked around the small town and went down to the waterfront. We left there at 1.50pm and crossed the St Lawrence river end along by Fort Henry which is a military area. We had to turn around and go back to town as one of our tour companions had left their camera in the park. As the coach was pulling up a man had just bent down to pick the camera up which was very lucky. Back we went along the scenic St Lawrence river drive. This river has over 1800 islands on it ranging from 10ft x 6 ft to very large ones. We passed through the township of Gananoque at 1000 Island. Following this we passed Mallory Town which is where we caught a short glimpse of Heart Island with its castle house. We arrived at the outskirts of Ottawa at 4.15pm. We then turned onto Rochester St and travelled to our hotel, the Sheraton, arriving at 4.40pm. We put our day bags into our room and headed off on our own for a walk around the city as the others were not leaving for another hour. This is a pretty city. We walked up to the Parliament,and then down across a bridge which overlooked the canal and it's locks. We continued down to the art gallery and saw a sculpture of a large spider. From there we walked back along until we reached the Byward market. Many of the places were closing for the evening so we just strolled around and went back to the hotel where we had dinner at 7.00pm. After dinner we again went for a short walk around the hotel are before heading back to pack up our belongings for tomorrow.

11 September 2011. Left the hotel in Montreal at 9.00am and had an orientation tour with Maria, our local guide. We observed a minutes silence in honour of those affected by 9/11 ten years earlier. We first stopped at Notre Dame Citadel Montreal where she gave the history of the city. We then drove around the city before crossing the bridge to St Helene Island. From there we drove onto Notre Dame Island which was man made to extend the area for the expo in 1967. Part of our orientation up Mont Royal (Royal Mountain) had to be cancelled because the roads were closed for a large bike ride. There is the a formula 1 trace there where they hold the grande prix. We drove around the track. After this we drove back and saw many of the buildings used for the Montreal Olympics in 1976. We then made our way back to the hotel to drop our guide off and use the facilities and get a cuppa. We left at 11.40am. Stopped at Drummendville at 1.00pm for lunch at a mall with a food court. At 2.00pm we left. We stopped in Levis in Quebec at a place called Parc de Chutes at 3.30pm. This was a hidden treasure stop by beautiful waterfalls. There was a suspension swing bridge over the river. Had an icecream and went for a walk through lovely trees to the bridge and good views of the falls. We left at 4.10pm,. Crossed Canada's largest suspension bridge and into Quebec City arriving at the Delta Quebec Hotel at 4.45pm. After a rest and freshen up we left at 6.10pm for our optional dinner in the revolving restaurant. Lovely views and a very nice meal. At 8.30pm we left and took the coach down around the city which was pretty with the lovely lights of the buildings and fountains. We went for a short stroll around a few of the cobblestoned streets past some very quaint shops and restaurants. We then reboarded the coach and some of us went back to the hotel with the driver arriving 9.30pm. The TD took the others for a longer walk that would finally see them arrive back at the hotel.

13 September 2011. Up at 6.30am and bags out at 7.00am. We left the hotel at 7.50am. We watched a video onboard the coach for about ¾ of an hour. Arrived at our first quick comfort stop at 9.15an. Left there at 9.30am. We travelled through lovely countryside lined with beautiful trees which were just starting to show signs of changing colour for the Autumn. We played a shoe race down the coach which was fun. The shoe we bet on came in third. We arrived at duty free next to the Canada/US boarder at 11.30am. After a bit of shopping and a comfort stop we boarded the coach to cross back into the US at 12.10pm. We were stuck on the coach for a little while because the coach in front of us was full of tourists that needed to be processed as they had not been in the US before. Derby Line is where the boarder is. We all checked out ok so we were on our way at1.00pm. We stopped for lunch just up the road at 1.10pm at New port. Left there at 2.15pm. We crossed the Connecticut River into New Hampshire at 3.05pm. Just along the road we stopped at The Flume for half an hour. Got an icecream and had a comfort stop. Left there at 3.45pm. A little way down the road our coach came to a stop. It had a technical problem that Rod tried so hard to rectify. After talking with the coach company we set off again after half an hour down the highway. The coach company was overriding the onboard computer but we had to stop briefly again on the side of the road. It only took a moment and we were on our way again. We are attempting to reach another coach sent to meet us. We made it to Concord, the capital of New Hampshire at 5.40pm. We then stopped at 5.45pm in the town of Bow at a truck stop where we were to meet the other coach. It wasn't there when we arrived so we unpacked our personal belongings from inside the coach and had a comfort stop at the petrol station. When the other coach arrived Rod and the other driver unloaded our suitcases and we were on our way at 6.35pm. This coach is a bit older and gee it badly needs a wheel alignment and tyre balance. It was quite an uncomfortable trip from then on until we reached our hotel in Boston at 7.45pm. We got our room keys, on the 7th floor, and had a quick freshen up before heading out to the Legal Seafood restaurant for our dinner optional arriving at 8.30pm. After dinner we went for a walk with Linda and saw some of the area around the hotel. $62.00 each for this. We arrived back at 11.30pm. After such an eventfully long day it was time for bed.

15 September 2011. Left our Boston hotel at 7.45am for NYC. A good day for travelling as there was some cloud cover. We crossed onto Rhode Island at 9.00am stopping at Newport at 9.50am. We had half an hour for a comfort stop and to get a drink. I walked across the road from the information centre to take some photos of the oldest buildings which were built in the 1700s. We then drove around many streets seeing beautiful big homes. These building are very exclusive and truly were huge with lovely manicured grounds. Our next stop was at 11.55am which was our lunch stop in Richmond, Rhode Island. We left at 12.40pmm. We watched an onboard movie called RV which starred Robin Williams. It was very funny with most of the coach laughing loudly throughout. We then passed through New Haven at 1.50pm before stopping for a comfort stop at 2.30pm. We left there are 2.45pm. We arrived into the Bronx area at 3.15pm before crossing the Bronx Whitestone Bridge at 3.30pm. The coach was heading to JFK to drop some people off who were either flying straight out or staying overnight for early flights the next morning. We arrived at JFK at 4.00pm to drop off 10 people. Left there at 4.10pm and arrived at the Sheraton Hotel on 52nd street at 5.30pm. We all then said our goodbyes before going in separate directions. After collecting our cases we went around the corner and got a taxi to take us down to the Comfort Inn Hotel on 25th Street, arriving at 6.30pm. $10.00 for this. This hotel is not nearly as nice as the ones we have been staying in since we left home. We were feeling a bit tired so quickly got a few things out of the case I wanted and then we went for short walk around the area. We grabbed a quick dinner before having an early night.

What a great tour made all the better by our fantastic TD Linda and faultless driver Rod. They both made the 2 week trip one heck of a memory. They were such experts in their field. Very professional and Rod's driving was exceptional even when he had to continually deal with the ever expanding cases. Linda's hidden treasures were very good. 

The optionals we chose were also, in my opinion, value for money. 

The hotels were very comfortable and all had irons and hairdryers. Many had free internet either in the lobby using the hotel's computers or had free wireless available if you take your own notebook or laptop. 

Linda's enthusiasm for her job and country are an asset and a credit to her. The lovely fine weather, with one or two exceptions, helped us get the most out of the tour. 

I would thoroughly recommend this tour to others, but be warned, it is a lively tour. 

Another thing that made the tour was our tour mates. We all seemed to get on well and I for one enjoyed their company. There were a few times where comments were made about the times for rising in the mornings and the walking involved but these usually came only from a very few who had obviousy not done a lot of research on this particular tour. We were however always back at a designated place or the coach on or before the alotted time which made for smooth running of the coach tour.

NZ Nurse