We saw them growing in Ecuador. The farmers earn about 10c each stem. Here they are in the Waldorf

The reflection pools sited where the twin towers once stood

Oz coffee >> Ecuadorian coffee >>>>>>>>>>> US coffee

A once on a generation moment for emergency personnel.

If you're going to be patriotic, be patriotic. Good on 'em.

Back at the Waldorf... This is the studio in the gym

Water bottles are available at the entrance

But just in case the 5m to the fridge was too far, each workout machine has it's own towel and water

A little more space between apparatus than at the west pymble Y

Headphones, in case you left yours in your room

It's hard to capture the opulence. It isn't just a flash lobby .. It's everywhere!

Sounds crass but it's pretty classy. Trump should've checked this place out before renovating the WH

Peacock Alley bar. Appropriately named. People come here to... well, to peacock

A tenement apartment on display complete with the story of its occupants. Far from the Waldorf

A tasting tour to reflect the times. Should've done the roaring 20s tour?

The food was better at Via Carota, the first of our planned NY meals.

We ate in the cloak section with some Singaporeans to avoid a 1hr wait. Verdict: Leichhardt better.

These Vagabonds

November 10 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

Ok, so the Waldorf is amazing but the staff are next level. They are all model types who are dressed in glam, but super classy outfits based on their section and their role. The *welcome" boys and girls at the Peacock Alley bar, for example wear peacock blue safari suits for boys and goldfinger sequined bodysuits for girls... Unless, of course, it is daytime in which case the girls wear Barbarellaesque silver space jumpsuits. They are all well trained to be super friendly, playful and not at all snooty despite the $5000 flower displays, 10m high frescoed ceilings and decor that is clearly the inspiration for Hollywood Brown Derby. Yeah we went to the 9/11 memorial and to a cafe but let's focus on the hotel and it's history... Wowsers! At the other end of the spectrum we did go to the tenement museum which features the original buildings of immigrants that came to the US.. their homes, their stories and their struggles. What a contrast!Read more