Al and Jules take on New York

  • Home
  • Al and Jules take on New York

Al and Jules take on New York Join us as we embark on our dream holiday

Part 14 - So how does one learn what it's like in the heart of New York City ?Easy.... you plonk yourself down, 4ft from...
24/06/2024

Part 14 -
So how does one learn what it's like in the heart of New York City ?
Easy.... you plonk yourself down, 4ft from the front of the big screen tv and watch walking tour videos. Who said we weren't dedicated lol

Part 13 - Julie hijacks the page for a day ......Heres a word or 2 to prove that there is two people going on this holid...
12/06/2024

Part 13 - Julie hijacks the page for a day ......

Heres a word or 2 to prove that there is two people going on this holiday.
So, when I got interrupted by the hubby at work a month or so back and got asked "what's the one thing I want to do before I die", to be honest, I had no bloody idea lol. Once I established that we were discussing an ELO concert, I just said "book it"
At that stage we hadn't even discussed where the venue was, but it actually didn't matter. New York was confirmed a couple of days later, and our once-in-a-lifetime holiday was a happening thing. 10 days in Manhattan, woohoo!!!
Once we get settled in I'll be soooooo looking forward to getting out and about and getting some serious retail therapy happening. Will take a wander down 5th Avenue and maybe see if there's something there we don't need to sell a kidney for. Pretty high-end stuff there.
We'll be walking most places, which is what we did when we went to Scotland a few years ago, so that will give us an opportunity to take in all the sights and sounds of Manhattan. Will also use the subway from time to time, but won't be getting a rental. There's way to many cars on the roads, and there's nowhere to park them anyway.
After some advice from friends and colleagues we're going to be going to a show on Broadway and a baseball game at Yankees Stadium, if for nothing else, then just to say we've done it, but I'm sure they'll be a great experience.
Still 88 days to go, can't wait.

Part 12-Well we are now well into double figures, just 94 long days to go....Not a lot to share this week except the gre...
06/06/2024

Part 12-
Well we are now well into double figures, just 94 long days to go....
Not a lot to share this week except the great news that ELO will be joined on tour this year with Amy and Rosie Langley, 2 fantastic cellists. The sisters were the backbone of the string section on the cancelled Covid tour of 2020 so will know the music set inside out.

Part 11 - Well planning still continues on the attraction side of things, but today has been one of making sure all of ...
26/05/2024

Part 11 -
Well planning still continues on the attraction side of things, but today has been one of making sure all of the paperwork is in order well in advance.
Passports are good for a few more years yet so no issues there.
Getting out of the country is easy enough, but being allowed to land is important, so we both have our visas sorted already. They're good for 2 years so just got it done now to save any hassle later. Also going to try using the MPC app, (mobile passport control). It can save a heap of time at the other end, but may depend on which staff is on at the time. May end up doing a packing list, but it's more likely stuff will just get thrown in the suitcase the night before. This is going to be a long 105 days.

Part 10 - newsflash!!!We have secured some tickets to watch a baseball game in New York, so we are off to see the Yankee...
17/05/2024

Part 10 - newsflash!!!
We have secured some tickets to watch a baseball game in New York, so we are off to see the Yankees play the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. With a seating capacity of just over 46,000 will be an awesome way to fill in a Sunday afternoon.
The last photo is taken from the actual seats we will be in.

Part 9- planning continues.Version 4. So we've stuck with the concept of less is more. Couple of free days to have som...
15/05/2024

Part 9- planning continues.
Version 4.
So we've stuck with the concept of less is more. Couple of free days to have some flexibility with weather etc, plus we're expecting plenty of advice on other attractions we've probably missed.
Dropped a couple of observation decks, don't see the point in doing them all. Plenty of free time for shopping added (*groan*) and generally just following our nose. Will head to the 9/11 area on the anniversary day to absorb the atmosphere but will leave visiting the museum for a couple of days until the crowd dies down a bit.
Expecting there to be more changes as we get closer to D-day.

Part 8 -So time for planning is on our side, but no harm in starting.Below was the first draft/list of things to see/do ...
09/05/2024

Part 8 -
So time for planning is on our side, but no harm in starting.
Below was the first draft/list of things to see/do while we're there. Some are locked in already, and some will be on the " if we get time" list. Some we will no doubt add as we go. To save you trying to read my chicken scratching here is the first list that we will use as a guide.

American Museum of Natural History
Empire State Building
ELO Concert- Madison Square Gardens
Central Park Zoo
Times Square
One World Trade Center
Intrepid Museum
Statue of Liberty
Roosevelt Island Tramway
Brooklyn Bridge
Rockefeller Centre
Summit One Vanderbilt observatory
Fire Station 10-House
9/11 Memorial
9/11 Museum
O'Haras Pub -(Google it, you'll understand)
Madame Tussauds
Manhattan Bridge
NY Fire Museum
Grand Central Station
The Edge- observatory
Yankee Stadium
Luna Park-Coney Island.
Highline walkway
Fifth Avenue
Top of the Rock- observatory
Lego shop NY
M & M Shop
MJ, Broadway Show
Pandora NY

Whew!!! I got tired just writing it.

Part 7-While we're in New York they've asked me if I'll change the light bulb on top of the spire at the World Trade Cen...
01/05/2024

Part 7-
While we're in New York they've asked me if I'll change the light bulb on top of the spire at the World Trade Center, so I'll try and remember to pack my helmet.....
All jokes aside, there are 4 or 5 observation decks in NY, and I can't see the point of doing all of them ,although I'm sure they're all great in their own way.
Empire State Building and One World Trade building ( Freedom Tower) are likely to be on the list.
Getting to see NY from 102 floors up could be.....interesting.

Part 6 -So the planning is progressing nicely. Trying not to fill the days in with too much, basicly will just plan 1 or...
24/04/2024

Part 6 -

So the planning is progressing nicely. Trying not to fill the days in with too much, basicly will just plan 1 or 2 attractions a day and then take in whatever we see on the way.
Figuring that we may be a little tired near the end of the trip so we've booked to see a play on Broadway the day before we come home.
I'm guessing it will just be like the school plays we used to go watch with the kids 😉

Part-5So with a little bit of time to pass before we depart, some of the planning has started with our itinerary. Ther...
18/04/2024

Part-5
So with a little bit of time to pass before we depart, some of the planning has started with our itinerary. There are only 2 things that aren't negotiable. 1- the ELO concert and 2- the 9/11 memorial and museum.
We're compiling a list of other attractions, but we'll just fit those in as and when we can. Some may have to be prebooked so will have a look closer to departure about those.
It wasn't planned but we will arrive in New York 2 days before the 9/11 anniversary, and there is likely to be a fair bit going on so we've decided we'll probably head down and just soak up the moment of the services etc and visit the museum later in the trip, hopefully when there's a few less people around.

16/04/2024

Part 4 -
So with concert tickets sorted, we set about securing travel and accommodation. Knowing absolutely nothing about organising this stuff we decided to leave it up to a travel agent to sort for us.
So the day we got the tickets (Thursday) I approached a travel agent with our needs, and gave them the destination and date.
Didn't really seem interested to be honest, and earliest they could book a time to see me was the following week. So, not one to muck around I sought a second agent, and by lunchtime the next day, airline tickets and accommodation was sorted. What a difference a bit of service makes.
So the dates are confirmed. 9th of September we're on our way and will return on the 21st. 10 nights in central Manhattan doing whatever we like. The main event is on the 16th, then home 3 days later

Part 3-So the task of securing tickets started with deciding which venue of the 27 we wanted to go to, and we had 1 day ...
10/04/2024

Part 3-
So the task of securing tickets started with deciding which venue of the 27 we wanted to go to, and we had 1 day to decide.
27 was soon whittled down to 4, mainly so that we had a backup plan if we couldn't get tickets for the venue we wanted. Vancouver, Houston and San Francisco made the list, but in the end we landed on New York as the preferred option.
What swayed it was the 9/11 memorial and museum. I'll get to tick off 2 items off the bucket list.
But for anyone that hasn't used Ticketmaster, trust me, they don't make things easy, especially at 3.30am when you're half asleep.
By 3.45am, after a few stressful moments the tickets were secured....we were now committed, no backing out now

09/04/2024

Part 2-
So, now that I had the email, I had the task of convincing the boss that attending an ELO concert was necessary. Long story short, by the next day it was decided, and the planning began. First thing- needed to secure some tickets, and then decide which of the 27 available venues would be our destination. I had 1 day to decide, advanced ticket sales would begin on Thursday....at 3.30am....and only via Ticketmaster. This was going to be a challenge.

Part 1-So, why the trip to the USA? Those that know me well, will know I have an unhealthy fe**sh for the music of the ...
08/04/2024

Part 1-
So, why the trip to the USA? Those that know me well, will know I have an unhealthy fe**sh for the music of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Being on their mailing list I received an email on the 19th of March announcing a last ever tour. When covid hit 4 years ago, ELO stopped touring and I basically accepted that I would never get to ever see them live. Then came that email.....

08/04/2024

Hi everyone. Something a bit different. We're heading on our adventure to New York later this year, so here's a page you can follow to keep up to date with our trip. We'll give a bit of history behind how it all came about,.as well as the planning before we go.
Obviously we will be adding photos and a mini diary while we're there as well. Come join us on our trip.

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Al and Jules take on New York posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Travel Agency?

Share