Well the deed is done - I have booked my USA 2008 travels!!

I'm having four days in New Orleans with a friend from Pennsylvania, then a tour of the Charleston, Savannah and the Georgia coast (not TT) followed by a couple of days with a friend from Florida (met on Greek trip last year) to show me St Augustine, and then I am off on TTs "East Coast US and Canada" for 14 days. At the end of that I have a few days more in New York and then home after a bit over 4 weeks away.

If the folk on the East Coast are anywhere as nice as those on the West Coast that I encountered this year, I will have a great time.
At least I won't have to worry about lakes thawing in the Rockies this time around.

WOW Congrats CA2 I think it is lovely to have a trip to look forward to.

Colleen ~ Well done! with the amount of research you have done I know you will have a great time.

Colleen: Sounds like an amazing trip, you couldn't have picked a better itinerary for this part of the continent. I'll be in your back pocket.

Brenda

Good job CA2. When you are able to supply your New York dates, perhaps we can hook up in Manhattan for a drink, lunch, dinner, whatever (even an inside visit if none of us has done it before ); other tri state BBers are welcome to join the meet (NY/LI, CT, NJ jump in and voice a yes any time). We'll move along with further details the closer we get. Just think of the gossip you can bring back to Oz!

Just to note, I live in CT and work full time, so for me it would have to be on a Saturday or Sunday - too far to travel on a work night.

Roxy ~ I hope you can organise to meet up with CA. It is such fun to meet fellow BBers in person.

quote:

Originally posted by Roxy:
Good job CA2. When you are able to supply your New York dates, perhaps we can hook up in Manhattan for a drink, lunch, dinner, whatever (even an inside visit if none of us has done it before ); other tri state BBers are welcome to join the meet (NY/LI, CT, NJ jump in and voice a yes any time). We'll move along with further details the closer we get. Just think of the gossip you can bring back to Oz!

Just to note, I live in CT and work full time, so for me it would have to be on a Saturday or Sunday - too far to travel on a work night.

Great idea Roxy, as Dimpz has said it's wonderful to met other BBers. Everyone has the same interest & get on like a house on fire.

Cheers
Spooky

Oh Roxy, how kind - I would LOVE to do that !!

However not many of my NY days suit you. I fly in from Charleston at 9am on Thu 22 May (drop my bag and race off to the Met and maybe the Frick), Fri 23rd I am planning a city tour but the evening is free (tour starts 6pm but I can skip that if necessary). I'm then back in NY on the afternoon of Thu 5th June (tour end) and the evening is free. On Fri 6th I have a friend/colleque (who has recently moved back to Miami) flying up to spend the day and evening with me and I fly home at 7.10pm on the Saturday evening.

That gives us either Friday evening 5/23rd, Thurs evening 6/5th (which certainly won't suit you) or Saturday morning 6/7th.

I originally planned more days in NY but the tours didn't match up as well as hoped once
the dates were released.

I have since taken your advice and booked a hotel in/near Times Square.

I'm even more excited now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CA2 you will sleep for 2 weeks straight once you get back to Oz! Fabulous! Let's see what happens the closer we get. Sometimes plans and circumstances change.

At this point, Fri eve 5/23 for dinner (unless dinner starts your tour-it is so dead on a Fri night in the Financial District) will work if you like (if I don't have any late Friday meetings to interefere with train schedules being reasonable); or Sat. a.m. June 7th (your departure day-you may wish to chill by then) we'll keep as the possibilities. By that time, we'll be able to to see "what's happening" in town, or what fits your interest - even tho the city never sleeps!

Too bad it wasn't next week Nov 9th - 11th the Chocolate Show is in town and it is a spectacle even if you don't like chocolate which there are heaps of samples provided.

http://chocolateshow.com/home.php?titre=2&id_code=2

Oh WOW Roxy the chocolate show looks spectacular! Wonder if they will ever come down under?

I see on the website the chocolate show is looking for volunteers, this is one job I would come of of retirement for.

quote:

Originally posted by Colleen Anne2:

If the folk on the East Coast are anywhere as nice as those on the West Coast that I encountered this year, I will have a great time.
At least I won't have to worry about lakes thawing in the Rockies this time around.

Colleen Anne2,

I can't speak for the entire "East Coast," but I, and this link, can speak for New York.

Reards,

Bob

http://www.rd.com/content/good-manners/2/

Bob, why not consider the possibility of an LIRR ride for you and the mrs. to journey from LI into town as the time grows near. . .

Dimpz/Missie - the fashions at the Chocolate Show's fashion show, are made of chocolate! The next days, some are on display in the lobby entrance displayed on manequins. It's amazing. They have chocolate liquers too! By the time you leave the show, you are truly plastered on the ceiling! (combination sugar rush and alcohol).

SO MUCH FOR RESEARCH - HOW DID A CHOCOHOLIC LIKE ME MISS THE CHOCOLATE SHOW!!!!!! (I'll never be able to hold my head high again).
What a fabulous idea !! I see they have an Advisory Board - that sounds like just the job for me.

Roxy agree with dates. Obviously the Friday night dinner would suit me best - as you rightly point out, by the Saturday I will probably be in need of a serious chill-out before the 20+ hours trip home, but I can manage if needs be. I'm not fussed about whether the tour starts with dinner (the brochure doesn't indicate that it does) - I will just drop my bag and let them know I will be there for departure in the morning.

I am SO looking forward to this trip - roll on May !!!!!

Bob,

Many thanks for this. I will be sure to bring my best manners to the most polite city in the world - I would not want to drag down the percentages.

Cheers,