From NYC Landmarks to Journey Tribute: Intrepid, Tea Around Town

Hello this is Renee and Tom and I are on the Ultimate World Cruise. We just docked in New York, New York. We are back in the good old USA. But before we docked the captain let us know the night before that we were going to be pulling into New York around four o'clock in the morning and going under the bridge and passing by the Statue of Liberty. We set our alarm to catch the Statue of Liberty in the early morning hours and sailed under the bridge beautifully lit against the night sky. New York in the early morning hours is just beautiful. Tom and I spent an unforgettable two days exploring the Big Apple. We walked nearly 13 miles through the famous landmarks like Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwartz and Radio City Music Hall. Once we were docked and cleared to leave the ship all of the luggage that was in the hallways the night before is coming off the ship. So this is a two-day stop in New York and Tom and I spent the first day walking 13 miles around town. But the first thing Tom did was donate blood. The last time he donated blood was in LA. New York, the Big Apple, home to 8 million people. It was founded in 1624 as the New Amsterdam. The city grew from a small Dutch trading post into a bustling metropolis it is today. Fun fact New Yorkers actually walk an average of 10,000 steps a day. I think we did that by lunchtime though. In 1664 the English seized control and renamed it New York after the Duke of York. We passed Paramount Plaza, Radio City Music Hall and FAO Schwartz. Well we didn't pass that we walked in. By the 19th century waves of immigrants from all over the world arrived at Ellis Island seeking new opportunities. The Statue of Liberty was gifted by France in 1886 and became an iconic symbol of freedom and hope for those arriving in the U.S. In the 20th century New York became a global leader in finance, entertainment and the arts. With landmarks like the Empire State Building, Times Square and Broadway cementing its reputation as a cultural and economic powerhouse. This giant piano is famous in the movie Big and Tom and I got to reenact the famous giant piano scene. After walking all morning we finally met up with a friend I've only seen over Zoom. You know that moment when you realize someone has legs? Yep that was us. Nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. We continued our walk and this is Rockefeller Center. It was built during the Great Depression and nothing says hope like an ice skating rink that opens in the winter. You would think by the end of the day our neck would hurt from looking up at all these tall buildings all day long. New York City has five boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. We stumbled across some really quirky art, paparazzi dog and rabbit girl. These two have become local favorites and they're scattered around different parts of the world. And then we found an M&M store which is M&M's World Store in New York. It is multi-level wonderland located in the heart of Times Square. It opened in 2006 and is spread over 25,000 square feet and three floors. We continued walking and then at dinner we had some local cuisine, Chick-fil-a. We haven't had this in over nine months. From there we walked to Central Park. It spans over 843 acres. Central Park is one of the most famous and visited urban parks in the world. Its history dates back to the mid-19th century when New York City's population was booming. In 1857 the city held a design competition for what would become the first landscape public park in the United States. Central Park remains a green oasis in the midst of the concrete jungle. We had a great first day in New York. Now it's time to get up and start all over again. The next day Tom went to the Intrepid Museum, home to aircraft carriers, submarines, and space shuttles, while I enjoyed a quaint tea around town bus tour soaking up the quieter side of New York. If you're a history or aviation buff the Intrepid Museum is a must visit. It's built on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that served in World War II and the Vietnam War, and later as a recovery vessel for NASA during the space race. What you're looking at is an impressive Lego model that took nine months to build, over 250,000 Lego pieces, and measuring 22 feet in length. Yes this aircraft carrier has serious history. Tom was like a kid in a candy store checking out fighter jets like the A-12 Blackbird, one of the fastest planes ever built, and walking through the USS Growler. The Intrepid is home to over two dozen authentically restored aircraft ranging from World War II planes to modern jets. The F-14 Tomcat which was made famous by the movie Top Gun, the MiG-17 which is a Soviet air fighter jet, the Avenger torpedo bomber which was used during World War II, there's the A-12 Blackbird, and Israeli Kfir. The helicopter collection highlights the evolution of the rotary craft technology and critical roles helicopters played in military history. From the iconic Vietnam Air Hueys to the anti-submarine workhorses like the SH-2 Sea Sprite, these helicopters represent decades of innovation and service. The bridge on the USS Intrepid is where all the critical operations took place, located on the starboard side or right side of the flight deck, from navigating the ship to controlling flight operations and coordinating combat missions. During key battles in World War II and the Vietnam War, the bridge played a central role in ensuring the success of the Intrepid's missions. Today Tom stepped inside the historic nerve center and experienced firsthand where the ship's most crucial decisions were made. This elevated command center provided a clear view of the flight deck and surrounding sea, allowing the ship's captain and air boss to oversee everything from takeoffs and landings to enemy threats. The flight deck was the heart of the carrier's operations where planes were launched and recovered during critical missions during World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War. The bustling deck featured catapults for launching jets and arresting gear for safe landings and aircraft elevators to quickly move planes between decks. Crews worked in perfect sync to keep operations running smoothly even under enemy fire. As Tom continued to explore the USS Intrepid and its action-packed history, I opted for something a little more relaxing, heading out for a peaceful afternoon of tea around town. And it's exactly what it sounds like, an afternoon tea tour through some of the most charming tucked away spots in New York City. Think of it as a mini vacation within a vacation, sipping a variety of teas and nibbling on scones, or in my case deviled eggs and an egg salad sandwich. Very first traveling tea bus in Manhattan. Now you will nosh on lovely food delights while we traverse the greatest city in the world. That's New York City now, don't get it twisted. And to make it even more magical we were serenaded along the way. As we cruised through the bustling streets, the serene atmosphere inside was a perfect contrast to the city's energy outside. This is easily one of the most extravagant tea services. I would definitely book this next time I'm in New York City. And when you book your garden party pastries from the Lux menu, use the code UWC5 for a 5% discount. The views were spectacular as you sipped on your tea. Tea around town takes us back to the dock and it's time to board. Of course today we are going to back out here into the Hudson River. We are going to pass by the Statue of Liberty. It will be coming up on our starboard side around 25 to 30 minutes after departure. And of course after that we have the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. A little piece of maritime history here from New York. We are at the historical pier 88. And this is the exact pier where the SS Normandy, the flagship of the French line, was moored on February 9, 1942. She was under conversion to become a trip carrier called the USS Lafayette. And the fire started in the main time group and spread around the ship. And at the end she became top heavy for two years water being poured into her. So she actually keeled over and capsized right here in this very location as we are moored. Also a piece of history from Serenade of the Seas. This is the pier where she left from on the 25th of August 2003. And she went down to the Statue of Liberty where she was christened by Bobby Goldberg. We have been speaking to the local pilot and also the Coast Guard and we have been given permission to do a 360 outside of the Statue of Liberty. So provided that the traffic permits we will be stopping the ship and do a 360 swing outside of the statue. The next day it was the final show for the Serenade of the Seas choir. And our evening entertainment was DSB, a Journey Tribute Band. A perfect nod to the Ultimate World Cruise we're on as their iconic hits mirror our own journey around the world. Just like their music takes you on a nostalgic trip we're traveling through the globe collecting unforgettable memories along the way. You might say I'm a huge Journey fan. We watched both of their shows and right after that was the last Gatsby party. Tatiana and Andre are simply fabulous. Make sure to like subscribe and ring that bell for more adventures from every corner of the globe. These are our last three ports. Hey everyone I'm thrilled to announce that my very first children's book is now published. Join Alphanet or Al our adventurous elephant as he sets sails on an exciting journey across the seas. Can't wait for you all to meet Al and join him on his nautical adventures and thank you all for your support. And I hope you and your little ones enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'll leave a link in the description below. Happy reading!