... Hi Everyone,

Will try and keep this short and sweet.....try

Im normally a very nervous flyer but I was so excited about going to US I loved every min of the flights even the 2 hours with the tailend of the hurricane!

Arrived at Newark and got the Airlink shuttle $15 each to hotel and only took about 40mins at most but we were in awe the whole way to the hotel so we didn't mind one bit.

Arrived at hotel Belvedere and were knackered so hopped up as it was lashing and cold and went to a local bar for food....the biggest burgers I have ever seen then the rain eased so we went for a walk and ended up in Times Square...by accident and it took us a few mins to realise where we were, it was breathtaking (to us!). We headed back to hotel as needed to be up early for Big Apple Greeter the next day.

Got a call from Bonnie, our greeter the next morning with address we had to get taxi to in the upper east side. we went to a lovely deli and Elis Vinegar Factory, amazing place. She walked us around the upper east side down to Central park/museum mile. She was lovely and so glad we got a greeter as apparantly only 1/3 of requests are filled!

We then just done the normal touristy things, bloomingdales, Macys, Central Park inc Horse carriage ride $40, etc. We got a 48hr pass on the NY Sightseeing tour bus $49 (expensive we thought) but worth it. Seen most places and was just in awe of the whole place. Other things, Staten Island Ferry, Empire State Building, the list goes on.

We seen Mamma Mia on Broadway, excellent show and worth the $. We mostly ate on 9th Ave as it was less expensive there, we found the food to be similar or more expensive than back home, but the portions were huge But we walked everywhere so we burned off what we ate Oh and got my picture with firefighters! they let us in to see the station and the engines......I love NY firefighters!!

Then we were off to Vegas......all I can say is strange place....we had a brill time but its just an unreal place, I can't describe it. We stayed in the Luxor, which we were lost in many times :lol:, again we walked lots and lots and seen about 1/2 the hotels, they are so huge you couldn't possibly get round them all......so we done/did, Luxor, Manadaly Bay (Shark Reef). Excalibar, MGM, New York New York (Our FAV!), Paris, Ballys, Bellagio (not impressed inside but the fountains are amazing), Stratasphere, Venetian (Gondala Ride!), theres more but I can't remember

On my birthday we took a helicopter ride with Maverick over the grand canyon and landed at the bottom for a picnic, it was absolutely the best thing ever, I wasn't scared one bit...but my Husband! turned white on take off Maverick were very professional and well worth the $

Seen 'O' Cirque Du Soleil on the last night, Im sorry to all who love it but we thought it was the worst thing we have ever seen and a waste of $200. There were people who walked out throughout the show as well. I have to say though the acrobats etc are very talented but there was no storyline...if there was we didn't get it ....in many others by the looks of it.

So thats the basics, Im sure I have left loads out but didn't want to go on and on

So if you have any Q's about New York and Las Vegas give me a shout and I will try to help. But it was the best honeymoon we could have planned, we loved it, especially New York and are going to save to go back next Nov/Dec to see the Christmas decs!
Jaime C