(New York City Flag)


(Satellite image showing the core of the New York metropolitan area)


All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010:

I had an early morning flight out of the Jacksonville International Airport to New York's La Guardia.
I arrived at my hotel, the New York Hilton a little before 11:00am.
The hotel is conveniently located in midtown Manhattan and a short walk from Times Square.
The New York Hilton Times Square Times Square

The three minute video below is my hotel report on the New York Hilton.

Just across the street from my hotel is Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center

It was fun watching the skaters under the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center

There was no shortage of beautiful Christmas decorations in the Big Apple.
Disney characters on Sixth Avenue Giant red ornamnets across from Radio City Radio City Music Hall

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON DECEMBER 23, 2010
Merry Christmas everyone!

I left the warm weather behind me this morning as I winged my way north to New York City. I'm staying where I always stay when in New York, the Hilton across from Rockefeller Center. I spent my day walking around the city. The streets were jammed with tourists and people doing their last minute Christmas shopping. Times Square (pictured below) is just a few blocks over from my hotel.

Times Square

I stopped to watch people skating at Rockefeller Center. In the picture below you can see the huge Christmas tree.

Rockefeller Center

Below is 6th Avenue, or Avenue of the Americas. You can see Radio City down the street and some Disney Characters collecting for Charity on the street.

Disney characters on Sixth Avenue

I love walking around the city, but it was a bit chilly today. The city is nicely decorated for Christmas. Below you can see some giant Christmas Ornaments in the fountain across from the Time Life Building.

Giant red ornamnets across from Radio City

Tonight I took a holiday lights tour. It was an awful tour. All we did was sit in traffic and saw very little.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve tomorrow.

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010:

I started my Christmas Eve by stopping by the Today Show.
The Today Show Me at Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center

I then walked south down Fifth Avenue. Cartier looked like a giant Christmas package.
Rockefeller Center Cartier decorated for Christmas

At 42nd Street I cut through Bryant Park.
I watched the skaters here for a while.
The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park Bryant Park Bryant Park

Back on Sixth Avenue I walked south to 34th Street and Herald Square.
The Empire State Building Herald Square Macy's, the world's largest department store

I paid a visit to Macy's, the world's largest department store.
The windows were decorated to the theme of Miracle on 34th Street.
Macy's, the world's largest department store Macy's, the world's largest department store Macy's, the world's largest department store

After leaving Macy's I journeyed down to Battery Park in lower Manhattan.
Battery Park Battery Park Lower Manhattan

I decided to take a ride on the Statten Island Ferry.
The Statten Island Ferry Lower Manhattan seen from the Statten Island Ferry Jersey City seen from the Statten Island Ferry

You get a nice view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline from the Statten Island Ferry.
The Statue of Liberty seen from the Statten Island Ferry Brooklyn seen from the Statten Island Ferry The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge seen from the Statten Island Ferry

The seven minute video below is of my ride on the Staten island Ferry.

After getting off the ferry I walked over to the South Street Seaport
where you get a nice view of the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Lower Manhattan seen from Statten Island Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn seen from Statten Island The Brooklyn Bridge

The streets of midtown were jammed with people admiring the Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve night.
Giant Christmas ornaments in New York City Radio City Music Hall Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The video below is 29 minutes long. The video includes ice skaters and the giant Christmas tree
in Rockefeller Center, a walk down Fifth Avenue, more ice skaters in Bryant Park, Macy's and its
store windows, Times Square and a holiday lights tour.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON DECEMBER 24, 2010
Ho Ho Ho!

I did a lot of walking today. I left the hotel after 8:00 this morning. Since it gets dark at 4:30 there's no time to sleep in. You may have seen me on the Today Show this morning if you were watching around 8:30. I was standing right there as they panned the crowd. Being Christmas Eve all the regulars had the day off. I watched for a while as they did their outside segment and then moved on. Do you recognize the lady in the photo below? She was the one subbing for Meredith Vieira.

The Today Show

I walked down Fifth Avenue looking at the store windows decorated for Christmas. Below is Cartier on Fifth Avenue.

Cartier decorated for Christmas

I was going to walk down Fifth Avenue to 34th Street. But I had to take a detour around 40th Street because the police had closed the street because of a suspicious package. It was a nice detour because it took me through Bryant Park where I watched folks ice skating.

Bryant Park

Once at 34th Street I visited Macy's. The windows were decorated to the theme of Miracle on 34th Street. I took some pictures but they didn't come out too well because of the glass and glare. I walked through the store but I didn't buy anything.

Macy's, the world's largest department store

From here I journeyed down to Battery Park. I decided to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. We passed by the Statue of Liberty on the way. I didn't spend any time in Staten Island, I came right back. Can't beat the price, the Staten Island Ferry is free.

The Statue of Liberty seen from the Statten Island Ferry


Before heading back to Midtown I stopped at the South Street Seaport. From here you get a nice view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brooklyn seen from the Statten Island Ferry

By this point I was getting cold and tired so I headed back to the hotel to warm up. I ventured back out after it got dark. There were people everywhere looking at the holiday decorations. I walked over to 30 Rock to see the tree at night. There were so many people there it was like Times Square on New Years Eve.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

I hope Santa can find me tonight since I'm not at home. Tomorrow evening I am going to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and that will pretty much end my vacation. I fly home Sunday afternoon.

Radio City Music Hall

I hope you all have, or had, depending on when you're reading this, a very Merry Christmas.

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2010:

I took it kind of easy on Christmas day.
I went to see a movie in Times Square during the day.
Then that evening I went to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

The show lived up to its name and it was a nice way to end my vacation.
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2010:

My departure from New York City didn't go as planned on Sunday.
My nonstop flight to Indianapolis was cancelled due to an incoming blizzard.
I was able to get on a flight to Detroit with a connecting flight to Indianapolis.
Delta MD-80 leaving New York's La Guardia Airport

I made an earlier visit to New York City in 2008, click HERE to take a look!


Click on the arrow above to continue to my next adventure in Europe!

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