New York

[John Callon]

Have been here for almost thee weeks now. The weather has been fantastic .Temps in the high 70's.
We are now stopping on Long Island in a place called Yaphank with family. For some unknown reason I keep wanting to replace the h in Yaphank with a w. Had to take somebody out to Newark Airport yesterday, the journey took 2 hours because of the traffic. Coming back was even worse. Travelling thru (note the spelling there you guys - only joking) the Bronx and Queens was a total nightmare. I thought the M25 was bad, Christ this was something else!! By the time I got onto the Long Island Expressway I was a total wreck. Arrived back home and needless to say a fair few shots of a certain John Danniels calmed the nerves. Had a great time in Manhatten, went to see a couple of shows on Broadway (The Jersey Boys and Mama Mia) visited Ellis Island, Coney and went down to Atlantic City to the Casinos on the Boardwalk. Also went to the museum dedicated to the victims of 911. Never have I ever in my whole life been in a place so tinged with sadness. Not one person spoke in the entire tour. All I could think of this is what it must be like to visit Auchvitz. Very moving indeed. Planning to to go Washington next week. A friend of ours is based there in Homeland Security and he has arranged access to areas that are not open to the public so looking forward to all of that. Time for bed and will bid you all a goodnight.
Regards
John C

[gray_marian]

Thank you for the updates John, keep them coming, obviously having a great time.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Good thread, It must have been hair raising driving there. I would love to have seen those shows. I had forgotten you had gone over there and thought you had joined Marian and the Nighthawks.
Cheers Des

[Rodney Mills]

John, Great post. I have visited both Auschwitz and Majdanek both in Poland, shocking would be an understatement. At this moment I'm preparing for Hurricane Mathew. It will be up in New York in about a week. I will post my impressions on these camps once Mathew has past.

Glad you are enjoying New York. I worked in New York, 57th and Madison, opposite corner building to St. Patrick's cathedral and across 57th from the Palace Hotel. I think the building (477 Madison Ave.) has been torn down and a new one is in it's place, but it would still have the same number.

I used to commute from Connecticut to Grand Central...Don't miss it. I love the South and South Carolina in particular.

Enjoy the rest of your stay...don't forget to see the leaves changing color, watch the news for the peak weekend and take a drive out to Connecticut or into the Catskills in New York, you will love it.

[John Callon]

Hi Rodney
Many thanks for all the info. We have already planned a trip for the third week in October to travel through New England for the fall and onto Nova Scotia, primarily to go to Peggy's Cove just outside of Halifax. I visited the place many years ago with my ex, but Catherine my wife has always wanted to go there hence our journey north. Having said that I have always wanted to go to Niagra and see the falls so we are working out a route on how we can do that. I see that you live in the Carolinas. Spent a fantastic holiday flying into Charlotte and then driving through North and South Carolina, stopping in Charleston for three days and through pan handle of Florida towards New Orleans. Spent 4 nights there then on to Memphis where all my Chistmas,s came together. Arrived at Graceland and paid homage to the KING. From there we went to Nashville and soaked up the Country Music went to the Grand Old Opry, totally mind blowing. Our last stop was at Pigeon Forge where Dolly Parton has a theme park.
What an experience that was. Out of this world. It showed you what America was really like in the early days.
I just love this country and am getting a bit carried away here. Getting back to the here and now, my Grandson,Kai, is studiying at Montclair Uni in New Jersey and he coming out to Long Island this weekend so I am really looking forward to seeing him again and having some catch up.
Regards
John C