Australian Rat Pack Tour

May - June 2017

A 34-day adventure by Teresa Read more

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Teresa Swinbourne Australian Rat Pack Tour
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- May 25, 2017
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- United States Florida Orange County Buena Vista Epcot Center Ultralight Airport 28.35799, -81.53528°21’29” N 81°32’6” W
Day 11
Day 10 - Orlando - Last Day
May 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Today our last day in Orlando.

We lay around the pool this morning and then packed up to go on an Air Boat at Boggy Creek.

The Air Boat was a lot of fun. It was just like CSI Miami.😁
Gail saw an alligator but we had to take her word for it as she was not quick enough to take a picture and when we circled back to find it we had no luck.

Gail swears it was an alligator (not a stick floating in the swamp) and that its big eyes were glaring at her as it lurked in the water. Don't worry we are all safe and no one got taken. We survived alligator country without being eaten.

Back to our Resort to have a rest, swim in pool and spa, drinks and nibbles on our balcony (seeing as we had the best view) and bbq down by the water.

Our bbq was great and we sat beside a group of ladies from Washington DC. Katrina from DC came and talked to us she was very friendly and gave us some tips on visiting DC.

Tomorrow we head for Washington DC. Really enjoyed Orlando and the adventures we had.Read more
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Teresa Swinbourne Australian Rat Pack Tour
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- May 26, 2017
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- United States Washington, D.C.Dupont Circle Daniel Webster Statue 38.90719, -77.0368738°54’26” N 77°2’13” W
Day 12
Day 11 - Washington DC
May 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
We arrived in Washington DC about 1.30pm and our room was ready. Great view again we can see the Pentagon, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Building.

Dumped our bags and off we go on the Metro, First stop Lincoln Memorial. Wow this is pretty amazing. You could look straight up to the Washington Monument.

Next stop the White House. I wanted to know where the helicopters landed as the area did not look very big. It wasn't till the next day that we realized we were actually at the back of the White House. The front is what you see in the movies it was much more impressive.

We had hot dogs in the park and tried to capture photos of the squirrels without much success.

We looked in the White House souvenir shop and thought really hard about whether to buy a Donald Trump boxed Christmas Decoration for someone at home but couldn't decide who to give it to so didn't buy it.

Off back to hotel armed with goats brie cheese and french stick (tasted just like we were back in Paris again).

Dinner then bed as tomorrow there is a lot more to see in this very beautiful city.Read more
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Teresa Swinbourne Australian Rat Pack Tour
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- May 27, 2017
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- United States Washington, D.C.Dupont Circle Daniel Webster Statue 38.90719, -77.0368738°54’26” N 77°2’13” W
Day 13
Washington DC
May 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
TERESA'S BIRTHDAY

Early start and off to Smithsonian Museums.

The lines were very long today as Monday 28th May is Memorial Day. There is a lot of security.

American History Museum - Great Museum with lots of info on everything. Spent about three hours here and didn't even get to see everything.

Next the Holocaust Museum - very solemn and makes me realize what atrocities have and still are happening in this world. We as humans need to love more and hate less.

The lines to the other museums by this time were approx 1hr wait because of the high security checks.

Headed for the Capitol. Got as close as we could as there was a lot of security around due to the Memorial Day Celebrations. Right next door was the Botanical Gardens. Not very big but in a green house and lots of tropical orchids and other tropical flowers. It was very pretty.

G&T decided to head off in another direction and Stephen and I walked up the hill to the Washington Monument (it was a long way). Finally when we made it we released that from this Monument you can see the Lincoln Memorial, The White House and Capitol Hill.
A very impressive view.

We kept going and finally found the front of the White House.

Then off to get ready for dinner tonight for my birthday.

Had a great birthday wishes lots of messages from home. 💕💕❣Read more
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- May 28, 2017
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 43 m
- United States New York New York County Gramercy Park 40.73905, -73.9836540°44’21” N 73°59’1” W
Day 14
Day 13 - Washington DC to New York
May 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Today we caught the train to New York City. A very easy trip approximately 3hrs on the train.

After arriving at the station catching a yellow cab, getting lost we finally found our apartment for the next 7 days on the corner of 23rd and 3rd.

The subway is very confusing and not sure how anyone who lives here understands it. Caught the subway to close to Times Square but first passed Empire State Building and decided to cross it off our bucket list.

It was very very windy at the top. The view was amazing.Read more
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- May 29, 2017
- 🌧 13 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States New York New York County Murray Hill Sniffen Court Historic District 40.7449, -73.978240°44’42” N 73°58’42” W
Day 15
Day 14 - New York City Day 1
May 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Today we went to the NYC Museum of Natural History.

Dinosaurs all over the place an amazing museum.

Sections included different cultures eg. African, Mayan, Aztec, even Australian Aboriginals.

We spent over 3.5hrs at this museum it was fabulous.

P.S. Kimberley was everywhere.

We went to a play 'The Perfect Crime' the longest running play off Broadway (been running 30years) and we caught it on its last week.

Strange play but lead to interesting discussions afterwards on how to commit the perfect murder.

After this we went to the Rainbow Room on 65th level of Rockefella Centre.

A drink and an amazing view of the Empire State and the whole of New York City.Read more
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- May 30, 2017
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States New York New York County Murray Hill Sniffen Court Historic District 40.7449, -73.978240°44’42” N 73°58’42” W
Day 16
Day 15 - New York City Day 2
May 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
This morning we walked the High Line over the city through the Meatpackers District and finished at Chelsea Markets. The High Line is an old abandon railway line which has been turned into a walkway and has beautiful gardens which are maintained by volunteers. It was very lovely to walk above the city and see it from a different perspective.

Chelsea Markets was mainly a food market with lots of places to eat especially seafood.

We ventured back to Times Square and then headed for home to get ready for the baseball.

We went to see the Mets play Brewers, had hot dogs and Tony even tried deep fried dough with icing sugar (a heart attach on a plate).

The Mets won 5-4 but we left after the 5th inning as it started to rain.

Thanks to Stephen and Tony we arrived home safety from Queens where the game was.Read more
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- May 31, 2017
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 42 m
- United States New York New York County Gramercy Park 40.73922, -73.9831940°44’21” N 73°58’59” W
Day 17
Day 16 - New York City Day 3
May 31, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
As Gail and I headed off to Macys for a morning of shopping the boys headed off on their own.

Tony headed off to Greenwich Village and then Spanish Harlem to find White Castle (a burger chain) to get one of their famous sliders.

Stephen headed off to Central Park on his adventure
Stephen Central Park. He walked around the park got lost but found many sites on his way like the famous Boathouse cafe/restaurant which appears in several movies. He said it was the best morning in NYC. Wonder if that was because he was women free.

Meanwhile Gail and I were shopping up a storm in Macys shoe department. Our HVG mascot Kimberley got lost in the shoe department but 2 hrs later she was still waiting for us. It was Gail's fault.

We all met up for lunch at a Celtic Pub near Time's Square. I had beef sliders - the best I've ever had.

Tonight we went to see Kinky Boots at AL Hirschfield Theatre. AMAZING ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.👢👢👠👠Read more
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- Jun 1, 2017
- ⛅ 24 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States New York New York County Murray Hill Sniffen Court Historic District 40.7449, -73.978240°44’42” N 73°58’42” W
Day 18
Day 17 - New York City Day 4
June 1, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Statue of Liberty Day - hurray

Wow it was fantastic. G&T went to the pedestal level but Stephen and I climbed to the crown (thanks Janice for telling us to buy our Crown tickets on line months ago as Crown tickets were sold out on the day).

Never knew the Statue of Liberty was made out of copper and hollow inside. It is green because of the chemical reaction which happens when the air hits it. The Crown was a spiral staircase very narrow with 383 stairs (no lift). Well worth the climb.🤗

Ellis Island was not very interesting for us but if your family immigrated to America you would be able to read and research lots of interesting facts.

Next 9/11 memorial. Very busy around this area paid our respects. We chose not to go to the museum no sure I wanted to see what we all saw and heard on TV again.

Wall Street next.

On to Bloomingdales - very expensive and a look around Tiffanys. Unfortunately I didn't have enough money to even buy 1 earing in sterling silver let alone anything else.

Chinese for dinner in those little boxes you see on TV.

Tonight Stephen, Tony and I went on a long walk by the river. Gail was resting her poor feet.

The walk was on the river and as we discovered later went almost the whole of Manhattan Island. Of course we did not walk the whole island only a short part.Read more
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- Jun 2, 2017
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States New York New York County Murray Hill Sniffen Court Historic District 40.7449, -73.978240°44’42” N 73°58’42” W
Day 19
Day 18 - New York City Day 5
June 2, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Off we set to try and see the Cherry Blossoms at Riverside Park but unfortunately did not see any as they bloomed early this year and we missed them.

Stephen and I continued on through the park and then through this beautiful suburb. It was a very pretty part of the city. We found hot dog croissants in a french bakery. We did not try these but I reckon you could only find them in NYC.

We met Gail & Tony and Marie at the entrance to Central Park. Marie was a great tour guide and took as a bit around the park. First we went to the Merry-go-round and Gail and I had a ride. Then as we walked through the park saw lots of play areas filled with children who were on school holidays. We had lunch at a lovely cafe in the park and then continued on to see the John Lennon Memorial, the sidewalk outside the hotel he was shot and then on to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. The park was amazing with lots of other features.

Stephen and I found the Alice in Wonderland statue and garden it was fabulous.

At dusk Stephen and I caught the subway and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. It was dusk and the view of the City of Manhattan and Statue of Liberty could not be fully captured in a photo.

Tony and Gail went to see Miss Saigon and to meet Marie for a drink after her performance in Phantom of the Opera.

The end of another amazing day in this wonderful city.Read more
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Teresa Swinbourne Australian Rat Pack Tour
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- Jun 3, 2017, 9:33pm
- 🌙 19 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States New York New York County Murray Hill Sniffen Court Historic District 40.7449, -73.978240°44’42” N 73°58’42” W
Day 20
Day 19 - New York City Day 6
June 3, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Today we headed straight for Union Square about a 20 minute walk from where we were staying.
We found a cute little park with lots of squirrels running around and some flower markets.

We walked further towards Soho to find some more markets of fresh fruit and vegetables and other market Knick Knacks.

Soho was a very nice upmarket area with lots of boutique shops.

Here we stopped at Pandora and Stephen bought me a lovely charm for my pandora travel bracelet that you can only buy in store in NYC - you cannot get it anywhere else but NYC not even on line.

We found Little Italy wow wow wow. Everything I thought it would be lots of Italian Restaurants and little touristy shops we had a wonderful time. Wish we had found it earlier in the week would have definitely gone back here for dinner one night. We did not miss out we had a lovely lunch of lobster ravioli, pasta and pizza with a bottle of Pinot Grigo to drink.

After lunch we walked through Chinatown - much like any Chinatown in the world including Sydney.

After this as it was such beautiful weather we decided to travel to Staten Island on the Ferry. It has magnificent view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. We have never seen a Ferry so big it was three times as big as the Ferries in Sydney. A lovely trip to Staten Island and back on the ferry.

Back to our apartment after a stop off to get nibbles for dinner and then to pack as tomorrow we start another adventure to Las Vegas to meet the 4 Foxes.Read more
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