NEW YORK TRAVEL DIARY – PART 1

January 25, 2016 10 Comments

It seems like an age ago since we were in New York. I have to say I’m pretty glad we’re not there now as the weather is very snowy and I’m sure we wouldn’t have managed to walk to half the places we went to. I took so many photos I’ve decided to split my posts into NYC Travel Diary Parts 1 and 2.

So here’s Part 1, hope you enjoy.

NYC TRAVEL DIARYNYC TRAVEL DIARYNYC TAXIEVENTI NYC HOTELEVENTI NYC HOTELNEW YORK HOTEL EVENTIEVENTI NYC HOTELEVENTI NYC HOTEL

We had a really good flight out, it went really fast and was really quiet (no screaming kids!!!) and I love airplane food and movies so for me it was great. We opted for a taxi to our hotel even though our hotel was near Penn Station but with four suitcases we thought it would be much simpler and it was! Plus it meant I got to see the skyline of NYC as we approached. Our hotel The Eventi was all I hoped it would be. I’d spend hours choosing our NYC hotel and had got a really good deal booking direct.  The Eventi was in the Chelsea area and was a  stones throw from the Empire State. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a room with an AMAZING view and treated to a little glass of fizz. I have a full review post of the Eventi coming but for now I’ll say I loved the place and I was so happy with my choice.

The location of the hotel was great with most things including Times Square a 10/15 minute walk away. For our first full day we caught the subway though down to the Staten Island Ferry. We’d been told that this was a great and free way to see the Statue of Liberty. Of course you can pay for a boat that takes you closer or even go up the statue itself but for us we just wanted to see it and so this was perfect if not a little chilly in the january temperatures (hence the artic wear!)

NYC STATEN ISLAND FERRYNYC STATEN ISLAND FERRYNYC STATUE OF LIBERTYNYC STATUE OF LIBERTYNYC STATEN ISLAND FERRYNYC STATEN ISLAND FERRY

After that we walked along the water to the start of the Brooklyn Bridge. We’d been told a great pizza place was on the other side so we planned to walk across the  bridge, eat and then stroll back and into the city. The bridge was so impressive and so photogenic, I took about 100 photos just of this. The weather was gorgeous, crisp but lovely and sunny and it often felt warm in the sunshine. When we arrived after our flight on the Monday we had gone for a quick walk around and were shocked by the cold as it had just dropped that week. The news said it was the windchill that was so cold, but we were scared we would be this cold all holiday but thankfully not.

NYC BROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN BRIDGEBROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN GRIMALDIS PIZZANYC BROOKLYN GRIMALDIS PIZZANYC BROOKLYN GRIMALDIS PIZZABROOKLYN BRIDGEBROOKLYN BRIDGENYC OUTFITBROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN BRIDGENYC BROOKLYN BRIDGE

We ate the biggest pizza at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria it was truly outstanding and definitely worth a visit if you head to NYC. Pizzas were around $15 plus toppings but they are HUGE, we ordered the large which was 4 ginormous slices each.

We strolled back along the bridge and up to the 9/11 Museum. On Tuesdays after 5pm you can visit the museum for free and its open till 8pm. When we arrived we found the queue for free tickets was huge so we decided to purchase tickets instead as we really wanted to visit ($24 each )

The museum is truly moving. I didn’t think I would get emotional there but I really did. Its visually stunning with some well put together visual and audio displays but some of the personal details and stories are really hard to read. Totally worth the money and one of the best things we did in NYC.

Outside of course there are the 9/11 Memorials which are completely free to visit and again so beautifully done and moving too. They especially look impressive at night and the reflections of the buildings above in the water make them all the more poignant.

9 11 MUSEUM9 11 MUSEUM9 11 MEMORIAL9 11 MEMORIAL AT NIGHT9 11 MEMORIAL

One of the things I was so happy to find in NYC was that despite the streets being lined with old Christmas trees which I knew was to be expected given the time of year we went,  lots of Christmas lights and decorations were still up. We found a square full of gorgeous fairy lit trees which I had to take photos in and the most amazing bauble display in a fountain near Rockefeller centre. Of course I visited the Rockefeller tree and ice rink but more of that in Part 2 of my NYC Travel diary.

NYC AT CHRISTMASnyc christmas lightsNYC CHRISTMAS LIGHTSNYC CHRISTMAS LIGHTSNYC AT CHRISTMAS

I’ll be rounding up all my NYC Top Tips in part two of my post but for now here are a few:

  • Ride the Staten Island ferry for free to see the Statue of Liberty. Get off and get straight back on to return back to Manhattan.
  • Walk the Brooklyn bridge for amazing views and a great pizza at the end.
  • Most shops and restaurants have crazy hot heating so be prepared to strip many layers when inside!!
  • Tuesday at 5pm enter the 9/11 Museum for free
  •  Most museums have a pay what you can option so you can pay what you can afford if you are on a budget.
  • Remember to budget money for tips!! Minimum is 15% in restaurants, bars etc

Hope you’ve liked Part 1 of my New York Travel Diary. Stay tuned for Part 2 and my NYC Hotel review.

In the meantime today is the last day you can vote for me in the UK Blog Awards. I’d love it if you could click though on the image and vote, it literally takes 5 secs, there’s no massive form to fill in.

This is the first time I’ve ever been in a blog awards so would love to get shortlisted.

It closes tonight at 9pm GMT xxxx

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All photos were shot on my Olympus Pen with the kit lens or 45mm Lens

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10 Comments

  • steph January 25, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    I love this. So many gorgeous photos, and it looks like you had such a great time. Can’t wait to see more of your trip xx

    • Debs January 27, 2016 at 11:14 pm

      thanks lovely lady xx

  • yuliya January 25, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    I love New your. The food portions are huge though :/
    http://www.yukovablog.co.uk/

  • Samio January 25, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    Looking through your photos has made me want to go to New York and it’s also given me major pizza cravings right now. Can you believe that the one time I went to New York, I didn’t order pizza! I’m so silly, as everyone always raves about the pizzas there. I need to go back just for a pizza fix at least! How great that you got upgraded with your hotel room, talk about ‘room with a view’, it looks amazing!

    p.s. I just voted for you in the UK Blog Awards. Good luck!

    Samio x
    http://www.samio.co.uk

    • Debs January 27, 2016 at 11:13 pm

      Hey lovely, thank you so much for voting xx It was an amazing pizza, but HUGE!!!! I’d love to go back to NYC one day too

      debs x

  • Lucy January 26, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Absolutely gorgeous photos. I’m going to New York in just over a month so I’m looking forward to Part 2. Excellent tips too, always helpful!

    ox Lucy

    • Debs January 27, 2016 at 11:14 pm

      Thank you so much. Hopefully part two will be up next week x

  • Alessia January 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Beautiful pictures, New York is always so nice!
    xo Alessia

    http://www.fleurdhiver.com

  • Alina Ghost January 28, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    I always used to forget the tips in NY – such a different way of thinking! Great pics, looks like you had loads of fun – especially liking the bridge :)

    The Fairytale Pretty Picture

  • Bee January 30, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    Oh wow, your post has just made me even more determined to get there one day. It looks amazing. And I love your coat & sunglasses!
    Bee | QueenBeady.com

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