I'm still on my overseas adventure...where I'll end up I'm not sure, but I'm willing to find out! :)

Sunday, April 15, 2007

NEW YORK...NEW YORK

Crazy drivers...lots of yellow taxi's...plenty of beggers...and a McDonalds and Starbucks on every corner! What an adventure New York was!!! We even managed to have a ride in an ambulance!

Our time in NY didn't start off too well... with everyone but Dad and I coming down with the flu! So while everyone slept and recovered on day one, Dad and I walked through the city... along the Hudson River (with great views of the Statue of Liberty) and ended up at Ground Zero.

On one of the street corners there is this memorial of September 11...

Some of the tiles were to remember victims (one girl as young as two)... others were phrases or comments capturing the spirit and courage of rescue personnel.

There was also a memorial at St Pauls Cathedral... Its right next to the site, but not one of its glass panes broke when the towers collapsed!

Ground zero is now a construction site... there are plans for new buildings to go up, including one called the Freedom Tower.

Jack wasn't very well this night... We ended up getting a ride in an ambulance as his temperature peaked and the poor little thing had a convulsion. He's on the mend now... just getting over his cold and cough!

Day two everyone was feeling well enough to head out for some sight-seeing, so we hoped on a cruise and sailed around the island of Manhattan. (the Hudson River)

Manhattan skyline... The WTC towers were twice the size of any building you see in this picture.

The Brooklyn Bridge...

hmm... I think you should all know what this is! The statue is alot smaller then I thought it would be.

After the cruise we headed to the viewing deck of the Rockefeller Centre...

Dad, me, Jack and Mum with the Empire State Building behind us.

A view of Central Park from the "top of the rock".

We stayed opposite Madison Square Garden... and saw the Ringling Bros Circus there on Day three... it was awesome!

The elephants were a fav...

Mum and I then decided to make the most of our last night... so we did what everyone wants to do in NY- and went up the top of the Empire State Building! It was amazing... I've always wanted to do it after seeing Sleepless in Seattle- so romantic! haha...

More of the view... the night was so clear!

On our last morning... Mum, Dad and I walked to Times Square where we saw Good Morning America being filmed! (Its just like sunrise... where you can see in through the window!)

Mum and Dad in Times Square...

With just a few hours left... we had to take a walk through Central Park! This is mum and I eating brekkie (a bagel of course!)

The park was amazing... this is Mum and Dad having a romantic stroll!

I absolutely LOVED New York! Its definately a place I could live. There's so much to do and see in the city that never sleeps. So far, its been my favourite place I've visited in the States!

I had to post this photo... There's alot of clever advertising around- this one was for a storage company!

I said goodbye to the family today... and now a new chapter starts! Beth the stewardess! Yes thats right... I'm heading down to Florida to join Bonnie (my Uni friend!) and my fellow crewmates sailing and working along the east coast for the season!

This is the yacht...how gorgeous! (I've added a link so you can go to the site to have a look at the yacht yourselves. Just click on the title "New York, New York")

I'm off to find my sea legs... xo

Monday, April 9, 2007

Dad's hometown...Toledo, Ohio

To think I have spent 23 years of my life oblivious to the fact that I have a side of my family I've never met... is sad. Its been an emotional, fulfilling part of my trip here in Toledo, Ohio- my Dad's hometown! I feel blessed to have been given this chance to meet family members who I've only ever seen in pictures or spoken to on the phone. I feel I've grown or developed as a person to have seen and now understand where and how my Dad grew up...

Mum, Dad and Grandma!

Four generations of Links...Grandma, Jack, Amy and Dad

Grandma and me

The church where Mum and Dad got married...(its more like a cathedral-massive!)

36 years later... Mum and Dad on the steps of the church!

Mum and Dad's first home....in Butler Street!

The Yahtzee champ showing Mark and I how to play! (Grandma's favourite game!)

Family reunion... My cousin Kenny with his daughter Brittany, Dad with Skyla who is my other cousin Kevin's daughter, and Kevin on the end!

Aunty Donna-Jean, Amy and I

Dad, as Great Uncle Dave to Skyla and Brittany... and Grandson Jack!

Cousins... Amy, Kenny, Kevin and me! (I also have three other cousins who weren't able to make it)

We visited Dad's friend Billy's property... gorgeous country living!

Billy has a pond, fit with jetty and all, in his backyard!

Me after a hard days work ploughing..! haha...just jokes! There are corn fields everywhere!

Well... what a great part of the Link adventure this has been. You never forget where you are here... as most, if not all, houses are decorated with the American flag. Toledo is such a patriotic town!

We now head off to New York City... I'll keep you posted!

Thursday, April 5, 2007

The WINDY city...

One thing about travelling that I'm not keen on is when you have to do it in small planes! Nah the trip from San Fran to Chicago wasn't too bad, but we did hit a bit of turbulence! It was great to see Dad waiting for us at our arrival gate.

We stayed at the Sheraton on this part of the "Link adventure" (as I shall now call it!) and had a great room with views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan!

Our first day in the windy city (its definately windy...see proof in photos below!) was spent at the Navy Pier...
Lake Michigan is beautiful and blue... it felt like we were on an island! (but were really just metres from a block of highrises)

Proof I was in the "WINDY" city!

Mum and I at the Pier. The John Hancock Building is behind us... our next stop! A bit of insight for you... John Hancock is the one signature on the Declaration of Independence that stands out... so its fitting that the building is called the JH Building.
The view from the top of the John Hancock building was amazing... (its the 94th floor)
Mum and I decided to take a risk... and wash the windows!

More of the view....


After our morning at the JH building... we wandered (or walked a few km's) to the Lincoln Park Zoo!

I had my first squirrel experience on the way to the zoo... (they are everywhere! and so cute!)
Dad found some of our long lost relatives...haha!
I was a fan of the sea lions...(they swim upside down- very talented!)

I found my dream home... the architecture throughout the streets of Chicago is astounding!

All in all our adventure in Chicago was great! Mark's experience with a street guy was one of the highlights- he ended up paying 20 dollars to have his shoes cleaned! hehe...

So now we have flown to Detroit (that song "put your hands up for Detroit" was in my head the whole way!) picked up a car... and ended up in Dad's hometown of Toledo, Ohio! (it reminds me of Orange and Bathurst a little) I met my Grandma for the first time EVER today... it was such an amazing moment- one I shall always cherish.

I'll post more about this part of the Link adventure soon! xo