We were in dread of the US Customs to get of the boat, what with the finger printing and photos for everyone we thought we may be stretching our luck to get checked in on the plane in the time we had. What a joke. We we walked off the boat, found our luggage straight away and got through customs in about 2 minutes, and most of that was walking off the boat. We actually managed to get off the boat at about 8.30 and we caught a cab to the airport – not knowing just how busy the airort would be. The cab ocst us $45US plus $5 for a bridge toll. One cabbie talked to me as we crossed the road from the boat terminal and said that he could get us there for $90 and the extra charge was because of heavy traffic. We declined his invitation as well as another from another driver for a $60 ride.
Anyway,we had checked in and were rid of our bags in record time and had some lunch with some friends we usually had our dinner with. They arrived just after we had managed to check-in.
The plane was delayed arriving from Rome so initially it was delayed 35 minutes.
After boarding, they had a problem with the fuel gauge, then another delay because Obama was flying in for the UN meeting, then the weather in central US was foul and we had to wait on the taxiway for another hour.
We finally departed, 3 hours late and by the time Colleen and Kevin picked us up we were very tired.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday 21st September
As we had cleared Immigration in Boston it was a quick escape for a day in New York.
We walked up to Times Square and looked around the place then caught a hop-on-hop-off bus for a tour of up town and down town.
The tour guide was a typical New Yorker and was obviously very proud of the town, as everything was the biggest, largest, most expensive etc.
The second guy was just as good but his jokes were very dry and almost Australian sence of humour even though he came from “Joisey”.We ended up getting back to the ship at 6pm. It was a great day.
We had a couple of thought about our expectations of NewYork.
Firstly, there wasn't as many people walking around the streets as we thought there would be. Secondly, the same could be said of the traffic as it wasn't as bad as we had expected, but then we weren't driving in it either, except for the bus and that was fine.
Lastly the city is not wall to wall skyscrapers as I expected. There were plenty of 5 and 6 storey buildings all over the place and somw even smaller than that.
We walked up to Times Square and looked around the place then caught a hop-on-hop-off bus for a tour of up town and down town.
The tour guide was a typical New Yorker and was obviously very proud of the town, as everything was the biggest, largest, most expensive etc.
The second guy was just as good but his jokes were very dry and almost Australian sence of humour even though he came from “Joisey”.We ended up getting back to the ship at 6pm. It was a great day.
We had a couple of thought about our expectations of NewYork.
Firstly, there wasn't as many people walking around the streets as we thought there would be. Secondly, the same could be said of the traffic as it wasn't as bad as we had expected, but then we weren't driving in it either, except for the bus and that was fine.
Lastly the city is not wall to wall skyscrapers as I expected. There were plenty of 5 and 6 storey buildings all over the place and somw even smaller than that.
Sunday 19th September
We escaped the ship at about 9.15 and declined the cruise ships offer of a shuttle bus (too expensive) and shared a “limo” (a 19 seater “Ozmeister” bus) to Harvard for $7US each. A pretty drive along the water and once again many different styles of building.
Harvard is a beautiful place. The driver tried to drop us on the wrong side of the river which would have meant a very long walk. I [Fay] requested nicely that he drop us at the square! No tip for him. Wonderful buildings and grounds which also had mini religious services taking place on the lawns around one of the squares. One fellow was playing a saxophone which we could have stopped and listened to for hours. The buildings are all quite different in their architecture and very imposing. It is much smaller that what we expected but very lovely. Once again we had fantastic weather. We caught the public bus back to town - $2.50 for two.
We could have caught the subway but we thought we would see more this way. We had a lovely time wandering around. We had lunch in a sports bar at the second attempt. We tried one but they didn’t serve lunch till 2 o’clock, 12.30 at the time. The successful one was quite nice so we had Boston Clam chowder in a bowl with some crackers and some soda (coke and lemonade).
Harvard is a beautiful place. The driver tried to drop us on the wrong side of the river which would have meant a very long walk. I [Fay] requested nicely that he drop us at the square! No tip for him. Wonderful buildings and grounds which also had mini religious services taking place on the lawns around one of the squares. One fellow was playing a saxophone which we could have stopped and listened to for hours. The buildings are all quite different in their architecture and very imposing. It is much smaller that what we expected but very lovely. Once again we had fantastic weather. We caught the public bus back to town - $2.50 for two.
We could have caught the subway but we thought we would see more this way. We had a lovely time wandering around. We had lunch in a sports bar at the second attempt. We tried one but they didn’t serve lunch till 2 o’clock, 12.30 at the time. The successful one was quite nice so we had Boston Clam chowder in a bowl with some crackers and some soda (coke and lemonade).
Monday 20th September
We sailed at 7am and made our way to New York. The last leg was a little rough. We ended up playing cards morning and afternoon and had the last of the gala dinners that night.
Saturday 18th September
We had to clear US customs before we could go ashore in Boston. Strangely it seemed to work well. Our floor was one of the first to be called. No photos or finger prints were taken, which amazed us. We were ashore by 1pm and shared a cab with another couple to Quincy Markets in the old part of Boston town. There were lots of people and activity, stalls and entertainment. Lots of fun to be amongst. I could have bought $ 5 t-shirts. They went up to $10 on Sunday night. We just wandered all through the markets (bought nothing) and eventually found or way to Little Italy.
We discovered Catholic churches in the space of 100 metres, one being the church where JFK’s mother was baptised and was buried from. We also saw the school she attended. The church had had 3 different Christian denominations practicing in it over last couple of hundred years. A “Bulfinch” church, named after the designer, it was VERY plain but beautiful just the same, photos to prove. We eventually went back to the church at 4.30 for vigil mass. After Mass we caught a cab back to the ship. We saw a graveyard in our travels. All the headstones were much the same height and they took on a misty look in certain lights - quite eerie. We saw Paul Revere’s church and followed part of the Freedom Trail which is mostly marked by a red line.
On Boston Common today we missed the pot festival! Apparently thousands of people crowded into the common and puffed away happily. The Common was ringed by police and if you stepped off the common you could be fined. Plenty of ambulances on standby. Apparently pot is decriminalised but you can still be find. We had afternoon tea with Boston Cream pie. Basically sponge cake with cream and Chocolate icing. I don’t think we had the best example as it was a little disappointing.
We discovered Catholic churches in the space of 100 metres, one being the church where JFK’s mother was baptised and was buried from. We also saw the school she attended. The church had had 3 different Christian denominations practicing in it over last couple of hundred years. A “Bulfinch” church, named after the designer, it was VERY plain but beautiful just the same, photos to prove. We eventually went back to the church at 4.30 for vigil mass. After Mass we caught a cab back to the ship. We saw a graveyard in our travels. All the headstones were much the same height and they took on a misty look in certain lights - quite eerie. We saw Paul Revere’s church and followed part of the Freedom Trail which is mostly marked by a red line.
On Boston Common today we missed the pot festival! Apparently thousands of people crowded into the common and puffed away happily. The Common was ringed by police and if you stepped off the common you could be fined. Plenty of ambulances on standby. Apparently pot is decriminalised but you can still be find. We had afternoon tea with Boston Cream pie. Basically sponge cake with cream and Chocolate icing. I don’t think we had the best example as it was a little disappointing.
Friday 17th September
At sea – and it was pretty rough but the stabilizers were working a treat. We have had rougher weather in the South Pacific. We played cards yet again. Not much sunbathing
Looks a like it was a good decision to avoid Bermuda.
Looks a like it was a good decision to avoid Bermuda.
Thursday 16th September
Another day at see and Boston is getting closer. The forecast for Bermuda for Sunday was winds in excess of 100 knots with another hurricane close behind Igor.
The decision appears to have been a prudent one – but who are we to question the captain.
Another day of eating playing cards, sun baking, dress up night for dinner and another late night movie on the deck. I wonder why they can’t show the movie in the theatre so everyone doesn’t have to brave the winds and the mist that rolls in occasionally – yet another little question to ask the cruise director. Adrian has such a limited sense of adventure! A
The cruise people are advertising a shuttle to New York airport for when we get there. They will charge € 35 per person which would be $105 Australian. The cab will charge about $55 Australian. All the cabs have written on the side a flat rate of $45 to JFK airport
Someone said yesterday that the Oz dollar is about 94 cents to the American – a good time as shopping approaches.
We are unsure what we will do in Boston but Harvard is about 15minutes from town and the hop-on- hop-off buses may be running for us. We will wait and see.
The decision appears to have been a prudent one – but who are we to question the captain.
Another day of eating playing cards, sun baking, dress up night for dinner and another late night movie on the deck. I wonder why they can’t show the movie in the theatre so everyone doesn’t have to brave the winds and the mist that rolls in occasionally – yet another little question to ask the cruise director. Adrian has such a limited sense of adventure! A
The cruise people are advertising a shuttle to New York airport for when we get there. They will charge € 35 per person which would be $105 Australian. The cab will charge about $55 Australian. All the cabs have written on the side a flat rate of $45 to JFK airport
Someone said yesterday that the Oz dollar is about 94 cents to the American – a good time as shopping approaches.
We are unsure what we will do in Boston but Harvard is about 15minutes from town and the hop-on- hop-off buses may be running for us. We will wait and see.
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