FINALLY!! The details of my trip. :) :) :) :)

[devlina2u]

The details of my north east trip.

1st day - Sep 1st - Saturday - DH and I left on Sep 1st to Newark airport. We had planned for this trip for a long time. I have always wanted to see NYC and ever since I came to US, I have been wanting to go and finally, the time had come. In the morning we faced a lot of problem with the parking. Nothing was empty and there was no parking space at all. So, then we had to park our car in daily parking @ $12 a day and go. That was so upsetting. We reached Newark by afternoon and picked up our rental car and wow!! What a car!! Chevy Impala......it was soooo spacious and so luxurious and so comfortable and eveything was automatic!! Our car is everything manual (even windows) so, that was awesome. I loved teh features like different temperature control for driver and passenger and then if you slow down, it would automatically turn down the volume of the player. I dunno about others but this was something new for me. It was a great car and we had got a great deal too!! We were going to stay with one of DH's friend who lives in CT. So, from Newark we decided we meet them and then go sight seeing. We had just travelled a few miles and then the traffic came to a halt!! There was a traffic jam at George Washington bridge and we went at the speed of 25 miles in 3 hours!!! Imagine that!! We were tired and hungry and getting so irritated! We were thinking if the traffic is like this everyday then at that pace, we won;t be able to do any sight seeing at all. Finally after 5 hours, we reached CT. After an hour or so, DH, his friend and wife and me went to Foxwoods. Dh gambled there for some time and lost $150. So, that was the beginning if my trip and I was already upset. We had no plans of going to a casino in CT and this was upsetting. Anyway, my trip had started and had started on a bad note. First with the parking in the morning, then the traffic in the afternoon and losing money in the evening. I tried not to spoil the jolly mood.

2nd day - Sep 2nd - Sunday - DH, his friend and I went to Ellis Island. From the distance we could see the NY skyline. It was in one word - MAGNIFICENT!! I have never seen anything like that. It was awesome. We first went to Ellis Island and walked around the place for a while and then went to Statue of Liberty. Now, I can cut one of the reasons for me to be unhappy!! LOL!! For those wondering what I am talking about refer to -

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I was in absolute awe of the Statue. It signifies the power of USA. I was thinking about Godfather when they show the Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty. It looked magnificent and so beautiful. We reached there but there was so much rush of people to go to the top, that there was a 3 hour waiting period. We decided to skip that. I, thought in my mind, I will be back!! From a distance, the NY skyline was much more than what I had heard or imagined. It was awesome. It was picture perfect. Looked like it was a cut out from a postcard. From there, we went shopping at NJ. Went shopping for some time and bought 2 DVDs and had dinner and went home and watched the DVDs that we bought. The day was awesome. I had FINALLY seen the Statue of Liberty!! I was in a great mood.

3rd day - Sep 3rd - Monday - DH, his friend and myself went to Boston. One of DH's friend lives in Boston. We were hoping we could meet her. We reached Boston Common and walked all around the freedom trail. At one spot there was a group of 6 people performing some songs. I was telling DH that we would take some pics now and when they become famous, we can send the pic to VH1 or MTV!! LOL! I waded bare foot in the wading pool at Boston Common! It was so much fun!! The city is so maginificent!! Such beautiful old buildings. So much art work and such beauty!! There was a lot of construction on the roads while we were driving around in the city, which made it a little difficult with all the detours but it was fine. We stopped at one of the oldest pubs and DH and his friend drank a few beers and tequila shots. And no, we did not go to the Cheers pub! Missed that!! After that, we went to Harvard and met DH's friend but she had to leave soon. Anyway, we walked around the campus at Harvard and it was so nice. There was so much calm and everything was pretty quiet. It was serene and very nice. We spent some time there and went to Cambridge (MIT). Walked around the campus and the view of Boston was so beautiful from there. We were standing there and enjoying the view when suddenly right behind us, 2 cars crashed!! DH saw how it happened all though I did not. I was busy watching the boats. Anyway, the driver of one car was hurt and paramedics rushed to the site and took him away. We were there for a while and then went back to Boston. Went to China Town and had dinner and then went home. On the whole, the day was great. I loved Boston.

4th day - Sep 4th - Tuesday - DH and I wanted to go to NYC but did not want to drive our car there. So, we drove to New haven, CT and parked our car there and took the train from there to Grand Central Station. When I landed there, I was stunned by the beauty of the place!! My goodness.....its AWESOME!! The ceilings and the whole place....it's awesome!! Anyway, from there, we took the metropass for unlimited rides during the day and then too the subway to Brooklyn Bridge. We got off at City Hall and I WAS FINALLY IN NYC!! Goodness......I was so excited!! It was amazing. As soon as I stepped on the roads, I noticed the tall sky scrapers. Right in front of me was the Brooklyn Bridge. DH and I walked all along the bridge and there it was.......standing tall in all its power...the twin towers! It was beyond being the tallest building. It was maginificent. All though there was no special design or anything, just the simplicity of the whole building was mind blowing. I was in awe of the building and stood there from a distance just admiring it. Then DH and I walked through the streets and reached the base of the WTC. There was a structure, which I have no idea what it meant or what it was, in the centre. And there was benches all around. DH and I had a hotdog there. DH always said that he wanted to have a hotdog in NY......why? I dunno! LOL! As we were going up, I noticed the number of people working there and I was thinking to myself.....how lucky these people are who work in this maginificent building!! Anyway, then we went to the 107th floor of the building and just walking around on the floor, gave u a feeling like u r walking in air!! U r so high up and above other buildings that U felt like that. All the other sky scrapers looked so small and tiny as compared to this building. Then we went to the top most floor. But unfortunately the view was not very clear since it was a cloudy day. The Empire State Building was not clear from the distance. DH was very disappointed......I don't know what I missed.....but DH was there earlier and he said that the view is breathtaking. There was not much that I could see though. He did say that we will come again just for the view. We spent some time there and then took the subway to Times Square. My goodness.....I see this place everyday on TV (MTV TRL SHOW - 3.30 pm) but it looked even more awesome as I saw it in person. It was almost 3 pm and I wanted to catch the shooting of MTV TRL show at 3.30 pm. And guess what!?!?!? DH and I were in the audience!! Yeah......You could have seen me on TV!! But I was not able to post that! LOL!! I was sooo excited. Saw Carson Daly and a new singer Craig david was the special guest that day. It was awesome!! I was jumping with glee. Then we walked all around the Times Square and then went to Rockefellar Centre. As I was walking around Manhattan, I was realising that this is the most powerful financial capital of the world and it so deserved it!! Spent some time around the NBC Studios and then from there caught the subway to Empire State Building. Reached Penn Station and walked from there and reached the Empire State Building. I was remembering Sleepless In Seattle. I know so many movies have been shot there but I haven't seen them. We went to the top floor. It was just becomng dark and the lights were coming on. But once again, we did not get a nice view since it was so cloudy but even then the city looked awesome from there. And it was sooo romantic too! LOL! We stayed there for some time and then went back to Penn Station and took the subway to Grand Central and then to New Haven and back to DH's friend's home.

5th day - Sep 5th - Wednesday - DH and I wanted to go back to Manhattan. There was so much to be seen still but we were too tired and our legs were aching. So, we decided to just drive somewhere and what better place than Vermont! We drove to Vermont that day and visited the marble factory and an old palace and Ben and Jerry's factory too. The view was breathtaking!! It is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen. It would give Switzerland a run for their money! We were driving around the whole day and it was like you see in the postcards with a mountain and greenery and a small lake and lots of flowers and all that......lol.....I suck at describing nature! LOL! It was very very beautiful. It was not so cold all though I thought it would be.


contd........(when did this new regulation of 10,000 words kick in??.......I knew I was not away from DOD for so long!! )

[devlina2u]

6th day - Sep 6th - Thursday - DH and I left early morning for Niagra Falls. We were hoping we would be there by afternoon. We reached there by 3 pm and went to Niagra Falls. It was cold there! We walked around and saw the falls. It did not look extraordinary or according to what I had heard. It was strong and powerful but not so spectacular. Then, we took the Maid of the Mist boat ride and went on that. As we approached the Horseshoe falls.......I was shocked!! I have never seen anything with that magnitude and power. It was MIND BLOWING!! So, THESE are the Niagra Falls......the world famous Niagra Falls. You could not see much....its like it was raining so hard!! It was amazing. The water was so clear and bluish-greenish. It was very nice. I wish I could go to the Canadian side and take a look though. Anyway, we hung out there till night 'cos we wanted to see the lights. I must admit that I was disappointed about the lights. From the american side, we cant get a good view.......I think. From where DH and I were standing, we did not get a good view. We stayed in Niagra for the night. The next day we were planning to go to Washington DC!

7th day - Sep 7th - Friday - We started early morning again so that we could make a stop at Pittsburg and reach Washington DC by night. On the way, we went to Oil City to meet Jeff but he was no where to be seen! And then went to Pittsburg. There is a big Hindu temple there which we wanted to visit. Recently, we came to know that DH's aunt's leg was amputed 'cos of excessive sugar content in the blood and we wanted to say a prayer for her. We reached the temple by afternoon and then went to the temple and said a prayer and then continued on the way to DC. We reached DC by 7 pm. DH did not want to rest and wanted to go to The Capitol then. So, we tried going there but kept getting lost since we did not have a city map and almost every road is a one way and it was so confusing!!! We kept looking and finally reached Pennsylvania Avenue and reached the Capitol. We could see the Washington Monument from a distance. It looked awesome. The sun was setting and the view was amazing. We spent some time walking over there and then went to book a hotel for the night and my goodness.....the way we got lost!! This was far worse than when we entered DC. We were almost going round in circles!! We were trying to reach Connecticut Avenue and go on that but we just could not find that road!! It was upsetting then. Finally reached CT Avenue after a long time and by that time, we were so tired that the first hotel we found, we booked the room and slept.

8th day - Sep 8th - Saturday - We reached the Capitol in the morning and then took a tour bus all around the sight seeing spots. But our bad luck that most of the places were closed for some reason. We stopped first at the library of Congress but there was a bok festival going on and so the whole area was cordoned (sp?) off since The First Lady was going to come. Then, from there we walked to the Supreme Court and then took the bus to the art museum. It was an aweful museum with all big big names but none that I could comprehend! LOL! For people who are a lover of art and especially classic work, that museum would be awesome. We spent some time there and then went to the air and space museum. It was very enlightening. Then, we went to the museum of natural history and gems. It was awesome to see the dinasaur bones and the world's largest diamond!! Then we walked near the Washington Monument and took the bus to The White House. Goodness, it was amazing to see the White House. I, never in my wildest dreams, imagined that I would be standing there. LOL! The rest of that area was closed by police. And most of the buildings like FBI and the Treasury (Printing Press) were closed. So, then we took the bus to Lincoln Memorial and reached there by late afternoon. The temple is magnificent! And we could see the Washington Monument from there too! When we were standing outside the Caiptol and we saw the Washington Monument......we could not see the Lincoln Memorial. So, that;s why I was surprised. The memorial was awesome and we spent some time there and then thought that we would go to China Town and guess what?? WE LOST OUR WAY!!! LOL! Finally, tired and hungry, we left DC for Atlantic City. We reached Atlantic City at midnight...but hey, the night was still alive! DH started gambling and he kept winning for a while. He made about $200. Of course, I was happy Then, we walked around the moonwalk for a while and went into another casino and played for some time.......and lost the $200!! And by then, we did not have any money at all. So, DH withdrew more money and went to play again. And yipppeeee, he won $300. So, making it a no loss no gain. It was 5 am by then. We had to catch a flight by afternoon back home. So, we decided that we would rest in the car in some rest area and around 9 am, leave for the airport. So, off we went........

9th day - Sep 9th - Sunday - Woke up and drove to the airport and returned the rental car and decided to try our luck for an earlier flight. Our flight was at 3 pm and wanted to try if we could get on an earlier flight. As luck had it, we got reservations at an earlier flight and could come home sooner. That's it........we were back to home sweet home and I rushed to the computer to check new messages and emails and Guess what I see first..........that I have been *promoted* (as hannahsmom would put it as ) to SUSHI's SUGARMOMMA. LOL!! That was like a welcome back present!! THANK YOU SUSHI!! And I received this lovely welcome back home card from Mouse.....THANK YOU SOOO MUCH MOUSE!! It was very very sweet!! Well, thats it........I hit the sack then and woke up Monday morning! LOL! Had a wonderful trip and great memories. But all though as I think about Manhattan I feel so wierd now. I cannot imagine that it is no more. I can't believe that now if I go to Manhattan, it won't be there!! That was the pride and joy of NY! Well....I do hope that the Govt. plan to rebuild the WTC. I can't believe Manhattan being the same without that.

Every place that I have been on the trip was awesome. They all have their own charm and own beauty and something special about the place. It was lovely just driving around in the hilly region and so many trees and so much greenery. We don't get to see that many trees in FL. Got to see WWF Headquarters in Stamford, CT while we were driving through. So, after driving 2,900 miles, the whole trip was a huge success!

[tasker109]

oh dev it sounds great.....im glad you had such a good time...there is just something about being there that pictures just cant produce. the ambience and the sights....you just have to experience those. the only time i saw new york was from a plane flying into newark but the sight was awesome and i can see it in my mind as if i went this morning. glad to have you back here though! toodles!!

[devlina2u]

Thanks tasker. Yes, it was an awesome trip and am happy to be back home.

I never realised how much I wrote till I posted! LOL!

[LocaChica]

OMG, someone give me a prize, I can't believe I read it all! LOL

It was almost 3 pm and I wanted to catch the shooting of MTV TRL show at 3.30 pm. And guess what!?!?!? DH and I were in the audience!! Yeah

OMG you brat! That must have been fun! I used to love to watch TRL when I had cable. yes, I know, we're trying to maintain our youth. LOL



Dev, I'm sooooooooooo jealous! (in a good way) I'm glad you had fun there and go to see so many places. One of these days I'll do the same. I just have to put on my anti-lazy suit. oh and I'll try not to get lost in DC.

[sushiosushi]

sounds like you had lots of fun. but you didn't mention how YOU won the money back for you and dh.

[devlina2u]

Originally posted by sushiosushi
but you didn't mention how YOU won the money back for you and dh.

LMAO Sushi!! U r very very nauti!!

For those who are wondering what he's talking about......DH generally plays roulette and I am there by his side. He always asks me what number to put the bet on......when we had lost almost all money, I had said 4 and he put $2 on that.......and 4 was the number!! So, he won $70 and the same thing happened 2 more times 'cos of which we won some money. LOL! Now, don;t tell me I am psychic or anything.......I bet it was just pure luck and co-incidence.

[Pipanella]

Wow, Dev, what a GREAT trip!! I've been to Washington, DC, and I thought it was the most beautiful city I've ever been in. I'd really like to go to New York someday. I've been in JFK, but that doesn't count.

Thanks for the story of your trip!! I enjoyed reading about it!

[Mouse7088]

OMG Dev..it sounds like you had a BLAST, but I have to admit..I had to take a break from reading because I was getting tired just reading all the running you and DH did. WOW..I can't believe you aren't still sleeping..LOL! It sounds absolutely wonderful babe! I so loved the postcard you sent! I'm glad you enjoyed your card as well Glad you had such a great time, but also glad you're back