New York , is more to us than a city

This visit marks visit number 4 to the big apple ! New York City holds a special place in my heart, it was the place 102 stories upon top of the Empire State building , 14 years ago Craig took a knee and proposed ! we have special friends there that open their home to us time and time again ! Staying with Kath and Skip makes it possible for us to actually stay for extended periods in this cosmopolitan, very expensive city ! 

this trip was extra special as we got to share the New York experience with our dear friends Donna and Chris !  New york in May was surprising warm , day one was 31°, it cooled down and remained fine and sunny for our 4 day visit ! if you considering a trip to the big a few places i recommend you add to your itinerary include , the 911 memorial site ,time square , central park , have lunch at the boathouse cafe , it's the chance to have lunch nyc at this famous restaurant on a cheeky budget !!! visit the high line( google it)  , the greyline bus night tour over to Brooklyn ( sit up stairs in the bus and get ready for a city scape mind blowing experience, negotiate $25 is good value, take warm cloths if travelling in winter or autumn! visit top of the Rock and  The empire state building ( be aware there is a new construction that is blocking the view of the Empire State Building ) ride the Statton Island free ferry and get free fabulous views of the Statue if Liberty and Manhattan, check out the bull sculpture on a wall St and rub his horns for luck ! use the subways as they are quick , cheap , run regularly and a trip most places in the city will set you back $2.75US , you can purchase a metro card at any station for $1 and load me net onto it there and then and top it up at any station at any time ! this card is also used on the bus system ! For us plentiful however is a little on the expensive side , particularly if you are from aiz as our dollar doesn't stack up ! a coffee in most places will set you back $4.50 US and an average main meal in a local italian resturant will cost between $18-$27 !

cabs are certainly on every corner and will cost $15US from one end of the city to the other ! Uber is available  and run out at a few dollars cheaper than cabs , however travelling to JFK airport from manhattan you can negotiate a $55 charge plus $15% tip , where an uber for the same trip will set you back $90US plus ! a public bus is cheap but difficult with luggage and takes around 2 1/2 hrs to get to  from the airport to manhattan! there are three major airports that service new york , JFK or Kennedy , Le Guadia , or a newark in jersey ! i love ve new york it's safe if your smart stay alert and don't go where your face distant fit , ie don't go through the streets of harlem at 3am !! this trip Creig and i took the public bus from Le Gardia to the uppper east side o manhattan and while it only cost a$2.75 it wasn't easy , esorcqlly with over 35kgs of luggage, and it goes around the world , we ended up having to get off in harlem and catch a cab to our destination at a cost of $18US !! it was like a chevy chase movie these two children by white middle aged couple with 10,0000 bags piling off a bus onto the street in manhattan Harlem area , we certainly stood out , but had no hassle and no one paid us any mind it's , all part of the adventure!!