am I really related to these kids???

You know, the ones on the double decker buses with the backpack, digital camera, and video camera trying to capture EVERY joyful moment of our vacation just so when we get back home and have an extra 13 hours with nothing to do we can pop in our NYC video and enjoy the sights and sounds… please SOMEONE out there think Joey in London (Friends reference, sorry!)

Dad and Carter on the bus

So, Day 2 began with us meeting our double-decker hop-on/hop-off tour bus and guide at the first stop (Times Square) We decided to do the downtown loop the first day. Its going to be a lot easier to just show pictures. You know what they say, pictures are worth a thousand words, and by the looks of it I have about 235,000 words to say – but i’ll spare you and just put up some of the best shots! 

This is Day 1 – Downtown Loop

My mecca - a 7 story macy's with 6 - thats right 6!- Starbucks!

The most photographed building in the world (according to New Yorkers)... the Flat Iron building.

Tiles kids decorated to commemorate loved ones they lost on 9-11

Where the WTC towers stood...

I already warned you we were THOSE tourists...

Once we hopped back on the bus, we saw…

Trump Tower! Jeff and I were stoked about this b/c it is where the filmed The Apprentice... which is a show that maybe sparked our relationship - Trump is into more than just real estate

After we took the Downtown loop (and missed our chance to catch the brooklyn tour) we decided that we would hop on the City lights tour. It was more of a guided tour, allowing us to view the buildings/streets from a nighttime perspective. We did, however, get to hop off after crossing over the bridge to get some great pictures of the Manhattan skyline! Most of the route was the same, but it is amazing how different things can look at night…

Manhattan at Night

Us in NYC!

 Day 3 – Can’t get enough of the Double Decker bus!

We began Day 3 with a Cruise out to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the skyline from the water - we decided not to go on either island or up in the statue due to looooooong lines. The cruise was relaxing, and we got to rest our legs! woo-hoo!

Statue of Liberty

I was surprised at how big she seemed. I’ve heard people say they thought she was smaller in person, but I actually thought she was bigger. It was really neat to see! (excuse the tall guys hair – he’s in almost every picture from the cruise… boo)

About the only picture that does justice to the gigantuousness of Empire State

After our cruise, we hopped back on a double decker for most of the afternoon!

 

Those doors weigh 2 tons each. This is the largest gothic cathedral - still unfinished...

And what would a trip to NYC be without pigeons?

... don't stand under there too long...

We hopped off the bus at Central Park and roamed the area awhile…

We went into FAO Schwartz and spent an hour (or two) playing with toys and I was being amazed by the masses of stuffed steiffs they had! If you don’t know what steiffs are – they are a german made stuffed animal with joints that allow your stuffed animals to be more realistic. My grandma bought all of us a steiff teddy bear when we were born, and they are so cool! After FAO, and a hotdog from a street vendor, we wandered into the park.

 

Central Park Zoo

 

Hanging out in the park... In a tree

 At this point my brother was pretty much done being a tourist, so he and dad went back to the hotel while Jeffrey and I decided to hangout and do some more walking, talking, and eating!

Sun setting in battery park

If this is what you get every NYC evening while sitting on a park bench, I think I could live there!

After resting on the bench for awhile, Jeffrey and I headed back up to Times Square via the subway and got some of the best cheesecake at The Bread Company (not Atl B.C.) and headed back to the hotel to catch some shuteye before our BIG Yankee filled day…