Day 5 dawned with me up fairly early again at 6am but with the rest of the family sleeping until around 9am so that was good. We also woke up to pouring rain which meant our plans for visiting the Museum were going to fit perfectly.
The kids had some fruit in the room for brekky and we headed out to the subway by around 10.45. We found the subway easy to use again and agree that if we come to NY again, it will be a great way to get around. What a shame we were too nervous to embrace it earlier.
I was so excited about the museum as was my son who loves the Night at the Museum movie. This is where alarm bells should have rung for me though because it was never going to live up to the hype. First sad thing for me was the the facade was covered in tarps, oh dear. It is such a beautiful building and I was really looking forward to seeing it but I do understand that everything needs refurbishment from time to time (why not when I'm not there though haha). First up we ate brunch in the food hall because we were all starving. Nothing marvellous but warm and filling so I guess you have to be happy with that. DS has taken quite a liking to NY pizza, it seems to be the thing he is drawn to on every menu lately. I'm trying to keep salad up to him in between the nuggets, chips and pizza though
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The first thing we did was the Journey to the Stars exhibit which aussietravellers had recommended. We all really enjoyed it, DD said it was similar to the Planetarium in Melbourne but the seats weren't as comfy, we all left with sore necks. It was beautifully done and the commentary by Whoopi Goldberg was great.
Then we headed around the museum. I could have strolled around all day but DH and the kids are easily bored and since there were no interactive exhibits they were getting fidgety. DS was a little disappointed not to see more elements from the movie but seeing the Easter Island Statue "dumb dumb" was his highlight.
I thought the dinosaur exhibit was great as I was blown away by how much my DS8 knew about them, their bones, whether they were from different periods in time, what they ate, which set of bones was which dinosaur etc. So for me, that was the highlight. I had not idea he had learned so much about them and I was astonished with all he knew. Made me very proud.
I loved the animal exhibits because seeing the sheer size of some of these beasts fascinated me.
DD12 was mortified to learn what taxidermy was and that the birds and animals were real, just stuffed. Her enthusiasm definitely waned after that
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We decided to go back to our room at about 2.30 because it was still pouring. We just all vegged out doing our own thing, DS played on the computer, DD read, I pottered about with a little packing but then just laid on the bed for a rest, DH did what he does best, he slept.
The Kelly's "aussie-ing up" the Hilton Hotel
Everyone eventually went off to sleep and we woke with a start at 5.30, got our shoes on and raced out the door for an early dinner. We had discussed going to a great italian pizzeria I had read about that is in an old church but the vote for Bubba Gumps was unanimous again so we did that. Whilst the food was still great, you shouldn't try to do a "do over" because it is never as good for some reason, plus I think we were all quite tired and not very hungry. DH and DS cleaned their plates but the girls left most of there's. We headed to Hershey's to grab some supplies for home and then headed back to the hotel where I began the mammoth task of packing for tomorrow. We had brought a spare case with us (one inside another) as well as a rolling duffel bag which we had to buy at
Disneyland last year when we couldn't fit everything in. I was able to still keep the spare case empty but used the duffel for all of the dirty clothes. I desperately need to get to WDW tonight and do some washing. I still think it's a crappy way to spend our first evening there but alas clean clothes have to come first.
Feet update - since switching to open sandals as much as possible and giving the shoes and socks a rest where I can, along with many lotions and witchcraft hahaha, my feet are holding up well but the real test will be WDW with sooooooo much walking. The good news is my feet aren't aching at all and my sore calves from the first two days have gotten over the shock to their system with all the walking so I'm doing great.
New York Highlights and Observations:-
Smells - my least favourite thing about New York are all of the awful smells. DH said well it's a big city with alot of people, you need to expect it, and whilst I agree, my little nose has not enjoyed the "smell banquet" it's been taken on. Just walking 2 blocks you can smell 20 different unpleasant scents hahaha.
Police - well there is no shortage of police here. They are EVERYWHERE!!!! In Canberra, you rarely see a police officer on foot, in shops, near streets, never directing traffic, and maybe 1 or two police cars a day. Here in New York they are literally everywhere. I don't know what the ratio is but it feels like 1 cop for every 25 people. And where in Australia I get nervous if a police officer passes me by or if a police car pulls up next to me, not so here in New York. Everyone ignores them and continues breaking the rules hahaha. It's been very interesting to see.
Multicultural - I love that there are so many languages in the air. I doubt whether there is anywhere on earth that has so many people from different countries milling about like Times Square. I think it is wonderful and I love hearing all of the diff accents, seeing the different fashions, etc. And what is with all of the Aussies, they are everywhere. I guess the dollar doing so well combined with cheap flights are sending many of us on holiday.
Shopping - I will forever be in love with the cheap clothing and cheap make up. It's amazing to me. I was in a buying frenzy for the kids because some of the stuff was so cheap I just couldn't leave it on the shelves hahaha. And I don't mean inferior brands either, it was the quality brands at cheap prices that "had me at hello". My poor credit card will be limping back to Australia for a well earned rest.
City that never sleeps - I've really enjoyed that no matter what time of the day or night you are out and about, there is still so much going on. I think it would be hard to feel lonely in New York. I have never been in a city that feels like it has it's own heartbeat before. There is definitely something amazing about New York that is hard to describe.
Taxis - pretty much all I have to say is "yuk" and "everywhere".
Times Square - it feels like daytime there even at night because the lights are so bright. I love all the lights, they are amazing.
Sirens - I'm not sure whether it's because we are staying 2 blocks out of Times Square this time and more action happens here, but the amount of sirens that are constantly blaring is unbelievable. Be it police, fire or ambulance, I can hear them all the time. And how any of them would actually get through the traffic to save, arrest or squirt some water is beyond me.
Architecture - the beautiful and detailed architecture would have to be one of my favourite things. So many of the buildings are so old and intricate, they just simply don't make them like that anymore. What a shame I say.
Central Park - aside from the dogs, Central Park still is my fave place in New York. I find it wonderful that there is this enormous oasis right in the middle of this noisy fast paced city. I always get a little jolt when I am wandering along and look up and see all of those tall buildings around, it is amazingly peaceful in there. Bravo to the city planners who thought that out all of those years ago.
Walking - the kids have said that their least favourite thing about New York has been the walking
. There has been alot of it and I guess in our little suburban life we don't have the need to walk so much. It's been good though, hopefully we are walking off all of those calories from all the yummy food.
Once again, we haven't seen and done as much as we would like - the Harbour cruise won't happen now because it is due to rain until we leave, we wanted to do a carriage ride through Central Park again because we loved it so much last time but when we were there the other morning they weren't running yet and now it's too wet (sob sob). We also didn't get out to Hoboken and the Cake Boss as well as look around New Jersey but it will have to wait for another time. We thoroughly enjoyed what we did do and I'm leaving with no regrets at all.
Well that was day 5, a much quieter day than the rest but well earned I would say. We are just packing tomorrow, going out for a nice lunch then a car is picking us up and we are heading to the airport at around 1.30. We fly out at 3.50, land in Orlando at 6.40, collect our luggage then jump on the Magical Express bus to WDW. Wow can't wait. We've decided to collect the luggage because we don't want any of it arriving after the kids go to bed and waking them up.
Wooohooo, Walt Disney World, here we come.
was very nervous, but never felt unsafe once there.
and ready to go! 
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now and may need to lie down. That's a ton of stuff when you write it all down. Packing is going to be interesting 
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