NEW YORK 2018

March 2018 - May 2024
An open-ended adventure by LinaRogersTravels Read more
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  • Day 33

    Back home

    April 22, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    So at the moment I am sitting in Brisbane airport and Fortunately even though we were quite delayed leaving LA we have rushed through missing duty-free and made it here in time for our domestic flight home. At this stage I would rate Qantas as just okay but I actually prefer Qatar airlines and emirates😉.
    This has been an excellent holiday at times it was rather cold And Craig’s back could certainly have been better. Overall however it has been wonderful with the following highlights:
    Travelling with my siblings ❤️
    My aunt’s birthday party was amazing 😉
    Staying with various friends was truly wonderful
    I think our favourite place was Chicago
    My favourite joyous moment was seeing the cherry 🍒 blossom in Washington
    And best of all was being with my Craig. ❤️❤️❤️
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  • Day 31

    Last day USA

    April 20, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C

    Last night we got a little more dressed up and went to see the musical Hamilton. It was really good with great singing and storytelling and clearly the audience loved it very much.
    This morning we packed and then had breakfast at Meli cafe restaurant which was just okay. We had a walk and eventually checked out of the hotel and then went to the Chicago Art Institute. This was totally amazing, it was huge and had so many pieces of art work Including modern Art and impressionist and American and much more. I think we need a couple of more visits to see it all. I also went to see the miniature exhibition that we saw in 1980 👍😮. Back to the Hotel and we are going to leave shortly for the airport.

    At the huge OHare airport we checked in very early and then had a relaxed and yummy meal at a proper italian restaurant. At least our last American meal is a good one. Now waiting, waiting, waiting😉
    Finally our American Airlines plane has left for LA.
    At LA it’s a great airport but I think we are delayed😮
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  • Day 30

    Bean, Driehaus Museum & Hamilton!

    April 19, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    This morning we had breakfast at Panera and it was reasonably good. It was a lovely, sunny day and we walked up Michigan Avenue without hats on! We got to the Millenium Park area and the Bean was great. It's a giant sculpture that is in the shape of a bean and it reflects like a mirror. Great photos of Chicago's skyscrapers and people are possible and it's fun. The nearby Pavillion is also creative and looks like a potential Guggenheim structure! Then we walked uptown to the Driehaus Museum which is a gorgeous building - owned by various very wealthy people. Richard Driehaus (a banker) bought it last and has renovated it to its original glory and it is beautiful and full of fine arts. Beautiful rooms with ornate marbles, woodwork, tiles and wallpaper and floors - simply gorgeous. We loved the tour and met some nice women from Oak Park who have been to Australia.
    After this, we had a wonderful lunch at Eataly. It is like a department store full of Italian food goods with several eating areas. Loved the salad and mozzarella with artichokes, roasted tomatoes, and pistachio pesto! Yum - Craig's pasta was good too although a little undercooked. We also enjoyed a ricotta/pistachio canolli and both want to go back to Italy again! Next, we went to a Nordstrom store to check it out. It seems to be an upmarket, trendy department store with the big labels and more affordable stuff.
    On the way home, we tried to check out the underground to see how easy it would be - not very user easy access with bags it seems.
    Tonight we are going to Hamilton, the musical - so needing a rest now. More later.... see tomorrow’s entry.
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  • Day 29

    On our own in Chicago CBD!

    April 18, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    Last morning - said goodbye to Dennis :( and Marcie drove us once more downtown to our hotel the Congress Plaza on Michigan Street. She then drove us up to the top of this street and we walked down. Had a good coffee and almond croissant and then started walking down State Street. Went into the Holy Name Cathedral - beautiful but mass was in progress. We also went into H&M and Macey's one more time. Craig bought some hankies and I bought a pair of black pants and some silver earrings. We also had a look at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel - such a gorgeous lobby area and the famous Peacock doors. Lunch was healthy at freshii and then continued the walk - cold but okay - until we got to our hotel to check in. It does seem like an old, but lovely hotel. Nice to rest in our 'large' room. This evening we walked up in the rain to a nice Italian restaurant called Vivere on Monroe Street. We enjoyed the chicken and especially the Latte di Lecce Cheesecake. Walking home was in the snow/rain!!Read more

  • Day 28

    Chicago Architectural Tour

    April 17, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    Slow morning this morning everyone feeling a bit over food from all the meat we ate yesterday🤪🤪

    After getting ourselves organised we drove into Chicago Central again. At first we had a lovely walk along the Navy Pier. It was very cold but the sun is out and it is very pretty. Lunch was in the food hall near the pier. After this we did the architectural cruise which was excellent. The tour guide was really good, well informed and very interesting. We saw many beautiful buildings and had their history described. That evening we stayed home after taking them to so gong dong Korean restaurant for dinner. We watched Mollys Game which was a good movie. We have really liked being with Marcie and Dennis ❤️❤️Read more

  • Day 27

    Frank Lloyd Wright and much night fun

    April 16, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    We took it easy again this morning and it had snowed quite a bit overnight. We went to Walmart which was not that exciting but we did buy a few necessary things 😉. Then we set off with Marcie and drove to Oak Park. This suburb is full of amazing homes including several Frank Lloyd Wright homes. We did a tour of the Oak Park home which was fascinating - based on nature, space and very Japanese styles. The tour guide was great and we purchased a lovely brooch to remember it. We then drove round to also see the Unity Church. On the way home, we stopped at Rand Red Hots to get another American delicacy hot dogs and a tamale!!
    After a nice rest at home, we went downtown again for another great night's entertainment. We went to 'Howl at the Moon' where live music included two singers/pianists singing requests that we gave tips for. The first two were excellent and very talented and we sang, drank and enjoyed Bruce etc. The next two were just not as good. After that, we continued our Kane Chicago Foodie Tour and went to Al's Italian Beef which was a continuation of junk food heaven. Then we were looking for a toilet and were sent to brand new Found Hotel - like an upmarket hostel. Finally, they drove us to Wrigley Field - the famous baseball field. We had tickets but they had cancelled because of the cold but it was great to see nevertheless. Another great day!
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  • Day 26

    Museums & Blues. Great day.

    April 15, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ -2 °C

    Another great day with the Kanes in Chicago 💕 after sleeping in a bit we eventually sset out and drove to the science and industry museum. It was a beautiful building old and impressive. Craig particularly liked the submarine exhibition which was pretty cool. We also like the trains and I lliked the train set which was massive And based around the city of Chicago. Once again the space stuff was excellent. We had a late lunch at Thai restaurant which was delicious And then drive through central Chicago which was gorgeous. Eventually we got to the Kingston Mines Blues Pub. We had an amazing evening with the main performer being Linsey Alexander. He also allows various musicians to jam together on the night. So cool. I particularly liked the smoochy man😉Read more

  • Day 25

    Chicago arrival

    April 14, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    This morning we had breakfast at Le Pain Quotidean and then walked down to Macy’s. It is another lovely sunny 😎 day. We both managed some retail therapy with tourist extra 10%off. 👍 back to hotel and then we took a taxi 🚕 to the airport. Crazy busy today because of the Cherry Blossom Parade but the airport was fine and I am currently doing this entry with the free wifi on our United Airlines flight. It is going to be cold and windy in Chicago 😮💨
    Marcie and Dennis picked us up at the airport and it is certainly colder and wetter. We had an early lovely meal of salad and the best Pizza in Chicago and then drove for about 45 minutes into the outskirts of Chicago Central.
    We went to a cabaret show called ‘a Jim of a show’ with songs by James Taylor, Jimmy Webb and Jimmy van Heuson. The singers were excellent and the evening was most enjoyable. Afterwards Dennis drove around looking for a White Castle so that we could have sliders 🍔.
    It was certainly a great fun night.
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  • Day 24

    Government day!

    April 13, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    This morning after breakfast of oats with fruit at a local bakery we took another Uber down to the Thomas Jefferson memorial we have been impressed with Uber so far. This memorial is also another very impressive one and we were lucky to be there for the 275th celebration of Thomas Jefferson. We saw a ceremony with officials and military soldiers who looked great in their regalia and they played music 🎵 and laid flower wreaths. Next we went to the Capitol building Which is the government house and it shines brightly. In the sunlight. We waited around for dignitaries to Leave and then went downstairs to the visitor centre. Fortunately, we were able to get into a tour and had a good look around at the dime and saw the many statues representing each of the American states and several of the presidents - but not all of them.
    Then we walk down to the Union Square train station. This is another impressive building for a train station And we had lunch there at Johnny Rockets, finally an American diner👍
    Long walk home and it was actually quite hot we got sweaty😫. We enjoyed a cool drink at the Post Pub next door to our hotel and then a rest.
    This sunny evening we ventured out for our final meal at an excellent restaurant called Centrolina. Yummy pasta with ricotta mint and fava bean was the highlight and it was in a very trendy area near to all the expensive shops. Lovely balmy evening walk home. Off to Chicago tomorrow. 😉❤️
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  • Day 23

    Washington and Sunshine! Day2.

    April 12, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    April 12, 2018
    This morning we had some yoghurt & fruit in our room and then organized an Uber ride down to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. The Uber worked really well and the driver was very friendly. The Museum was a real ‘wow’ for Craig and I was suitably impressed with all the planes, rockets and war displays. They have amazing things on display included space shuttle, Apollos and even the Wright Brothers plane. I particularly love Amelia Earhart’s pretty red plane!! It was free and so we went to the Washington National Art Gallery next. We loved amazing art there including one Leonardo Da Vinci, Monets, Renoirs and other French Impressionists, Cezanne’s – didn’t love the portraits; also loved another Singer Sergeant and some Whistlers and American Art including the bronze Shaw Memorial – commemorating the role of the African American soldiers. The guides were very helpful and friendly! We had sandwich lunches at the Art Gallery Café.
    It was such a lovely sunny day – no coats and we really enjoyed going through the Art Gallery sculpture park with the fellow Washingtonians sunning themselves outside. During his presidency, bloody Trump has converted a beautiful Post Office building into another one of his expensive hotels. What an unethical person he truly is! The walk back to the hotel was very pleasant indeed. Washington has very wide avenues and magnificent buildings.
    This evening we walked out to Tortino's Restaurant - Italian but everyone working there was Mexican! We didn't like the gnocchi much but loved the salad + burrata + especially the SemiFreddo of amaretto flavour. Another good day and so far we really like Washington.
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