So good they named it twice! Somewhere new for the pair of us. As our last days of our mega adventure approached we decided we would pack them and treat ourselves to the max.
our flight was an early arrival into Newark airport. We had an early arrival to our hotel and given a complimentary breakfast by a wonderful receptionist at the Hilton. We ate up and decided to head off up the Empire State building to beat the crowds as it was on the next street to our hotel. Up at the top by 8 am, it was freezing but no queue in sight and an amazing view.
Our hotel called to tell us our room was ready and a free upgrade actually meant we git the opposite view at night from our window…
We started exploring New York further and made our way in direction of the Barclay stadium for Erichs Christmas present. Ice hockey local derby game, New York Rangers v’s New York Islanders. We decided to go for the Islanders to support, mainly because the marketing manager had given me so much help to get the tickets which took a long time. The seats weren’t bad and the fans soon started piling in and the atmosphere was building, come on Islanders!
Much to our delight the Islanders won and we left with the cheers and chants of the crowd back to the underground and our wonderful room and small nightcap at the bar. The bar keeping unimpressed we were actually cheering for islanders and not Rangers, a city divided!
Next morning we filled up on breakfast and decided to head down to ground zero to see the memorials from the twin tower world trade centre destroyed on 911. There is a very somber but peaceful atmosphere here and I could not help to be moved by the memorial fountains which had been created. What I found more strange was the new Oculus building next to the memorial which of you look at from a certain angle looks like a plane going into the ground?
We left ground zero and headed across the road to a outlet department mall. This time it was Erich that emptied half the shop buying new clothes galore. Bags full we wanted to walk and see some more sights, Brooklin bridge, sample some amazing New York Cheese cake and soak up the atmosphere from the big Apple. Brilliant and the cheesecake was unbelievable!
That night we had another amazing treat booked. This time on Broadway, Phantom of the opera. One of my favourites and Erichs second only musical!
A truely beautiful performance, the night was still young so we went for a walk around Times Square and see the many street performers and sites around.
It was sad, our last night of our mega adventure. All the planning and wondering what would come next and adventures and excitement every day were coming to an end. All the amazing memories and experiences we had were almost set. Little did I know the best was yet to come.
Our last morning and the reality of how little time we had left was hitting. It was a very mild day and a little drizzly so we quickly jumped a yellow taxi to take us up to Central Park. We wanted to take a horse and carriage round Central Park. After a little negotiating we had our ride and set off for a beautiful and relax tour of Central Park.
We had a wonderful guide who told us all about the celebs, places in the park which were in films, Strawberry fields, carousel and many other facts about the park. It’s a beautiful place amongst all the rush and bustle of the city just to escape for a few hours.
We enjoyed our tour immensely and Erich decided he would like to spend our last hour with a little stroll in the park. We headed down to a lake and and whilst admiring the view and the bridge got the most wonderful surprise…
Erich asked me to marry him. In shock my first reaction was “your not on one knee”. Then balancing on one knee careful not to put it direct into the mud, Erich asked me again. Absolutely thrilled to bits I said “YES”! It was beautiful, a man wearing a cap with C on the front was plying a saxophone in the background. So we stood and hugged and then danced in Central Park, in the drizzly rain both buzzing with excitement and happiness. Why a perfect last hour!
Despite Tiffanys being across the road, there was no time for ring shopping and we did our last dash through the city back to our hotel. A quick change and then our taxi was here for the airport, this time JFK. Straight to the business lounge and a celebratory glass or two of champagne.
The sadness of the end of our wonderful adventure was quashed by the excitement and thoughts of getting married. We had something wonderful to look forward to and having spent 24 hours a day for 2.5 months could not imagine anything more wonderful then spending the rest of our lives together. Also not forgetting that with a wedding comes a honeymoon, another opportunity for another wonderful adventure together!!!
britswissmix 