Thursday, June 19, 2008
home sweet home
New York City is the most awesome place to visit and it was especially entertaining with the whole Tschetter family. As time goes on, I know the stories of our experiences will just keep getting better and better (in true Tschetter style) and all of the "little episodes" will fade from our memories! I'm certain we will all remember the excitement, sights and sounds, and the views of the city. Deep in our hearts we will feel the sorrow of the tragic events of the World's Trade Center and remember our trip to the Ground Zero Memorial Center. We will remember the majestic and patriotic welcome given to us by the Statue of Liberty just as she did for our World War II vets as they returned to the safety of American soil, and we will give thanks to our ancestors for their journey through Ellis Island to look for a better life in America! And what a journey they have provided for all of us! And last but not least, we can thank Jimmy Buffett for the wonderful concert at Madison Square Garden in true "Buffett" style. His songs take us to the islands, anywhere, anytime, anyplace in the world. Our "islands" can be anyplace we want them to be, where we are relaxed, comfortable and loving live! This trip for our family was about venturing out to another island (Manhattan) to have a little fun and bonding as a family and having a fabulous time. Then, it was time to return to our own little "island of the world" where life may be a little hectic and crazy but it is our island! Our kids, Mike, and Mark make our island complete and we feel blessed we had this fabulous opportunity to be a family just having a great time!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Yankees
Yesterday was the Yankees game, so as a surprise my parents had a limo take us on a three-hour tour and then to the Bronx for the game. The limo ride was fantastic - we went through all the neighborhoods, past ground zero, over the Brooklyn Bridge and past the United Nations building. It's crazy how the entire vibe of NYC changes as you pass through the different neighborhoods. We're looking forward to exploring some of them on foot in the next couple of days.
We saw one cool thing - we stopped along the East River (I think??) to get some pics of the Brooklyn Bridge and there was this giant telescope thing set up that shows us London in real time (it's actually done with fiberoptic cables). So we were waving to people in London and vice versa. I actually just read about it in Time magazine, so it was kind of crazy that we happened upon it.
After the drive, the limo dropped us off at the Yankees game. We went to a bowling alley just outside the gates for a couple of hours and did not drink a single beer. Not even one. Once we made it up to our seats, the girls lasted a couple of innings (it was sweltering!!) and decided to explore more pubs nearby. The boys moved into the shade and enjoyed the rest of the game.
Last night was pretty low-key - me and Kari went shopping at H&M and got some pizza at Sbarro. All the kids stayed up and talked until 1am, which was a lot of what this trip is about, too, besides seeing NYC.
Today it's off to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
We saw one cool thing - we stopped along the East River (I think??) to get some pics of the Brooklyn Bridge and there was this giant telescope thing set up that shows us London in real time (it's actually done with fiberoptic cables). So we were waving to people in London and vice versa. I actually just read about it in Time magazine, so it was kind of crazy that we happened upon it.
After the drive, the limo dropped us off at the Yankees game. We went to a bowling alley just outside the gates for a couple of hours and did not drink a single beer. Not even one. Once we made it up to our seats, the girls lasted a couple of innings (it was sweltering!!) and decided to explore more pubs nearby. The boys moved into the shade and enjoyed the rest of the game.
Last night was pretty low-key - me and Kari went shopping at H&M and got some pizza at Sbarro. All the kids stayed up and talked until 1am, which was a lot of what this trip is about, too, besides seeing NYC.
Today it's off to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
First Day
Well, we made it. It has proven a more difficult than we thought to find times and places to update the blog, so forgive us if we aren't very prolific in our posting.
So we left Rapid City bright and early Sunday morning. Nobody told Kaylee not to pack all of her toiletries in her carry-on (she has only flown one other time) so they threw away everything at the airport. As you can imagine, she handled it very well. The flight to Denver was pretty turbulent, but we survived (Kaylee, barely).
We met up with Mark and Kari in the Denver airport and played a mean round of Jimmy Buffet trivia - we all won equally, of course, and prizes were t-shirts to commemorate the trip - the front is a drawing of us four kids from the Central State Fair a million years ago. They are embarrassing and awesome.
The flight was 3 1/2 hours to Denver, then we arrived. NYC is in the middle of a heat wave (95 and up with a zillion percent humidity) so that was a shock ... both Boise and Spearfish have been pretty mild so far. So we sweated all the way to the Hotel Schmennsyvania, which isn't quite as bad as Dave Barry made it sound, but the lobby is definitely the high point.
After we got settled we went to Jack Dempsey's pub for a beer and then to the top of the Empire State Building. The view was incredible, and really helped us get oriented to the different burrows and neighborhoods. I, for one, was pretty awestruck. The audio tour talked a lot about how New York is a city of immigrants, and it was pretty cool to think of my great-great-grandparents coming through Ellis Island, which you could see in the haze in the distance.
After the Empire State Building we walked up to Times Square and ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp, then back to the hotel to crash.
I really wish I could post picture, but the computer in the hotel lobby won't take my memory card. If we find a computer shop somewhere, I will try then.
So we left Rapid City bright and early Sunday morning. Nobody told Kaylee not to pack all of her toiletries in her carry-on (she has only flown one other time) so they threw away everything at the airport. As you can imagine, she handled it very well. The flight to Denver was pretty turbulent, but we survived (Kaylee, barely).
We met up with Mark and Kari in the Denver airport and played a mean round of Jimmy Buffet trivia - we all won equally, of course, and prizes were t-shirts to commemorate the trip - the front is a drawing of us four kids from the Central State Fair a million years ago. They are embarrassing and awesome.
The flight was 3 1/2 hours to Denver, then we arrived. NYC is in the middle of a heat wave (95 and up with a zillion percent humidity) so that was a shock ... both Boise and Spearfish have been pretty mild so far. So we sweated all the way to the Hotel Schmennsyvania, which isn't quite as bad as Dave Barry made it sound, but the lobby is definitely the high point.
After we got settled we went to Jack Dempsey's pub for a beer and then to the top of the Empire State Building. The view was incredible, and really helped us get oriented to the different burrows and neighborhoods. I, for one, was pretty awestruck. The audio tour talked a lot about how New York is a city of immigrants, and it was pretty cool to think of my great-great-grandparents coming through Ellis Island, which you could see in the haze in the distance.
After the Empire State Building we walked up to Times Square and ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp, then back to the hotel to crash.
I really wish I could post picture, but the computer in the hotel lobby won't take my memory card. If we find a computer shop somewhere, I will try then.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
New York Trip Notes (by Dick)
I (Krista) got this in my mailbox with two Jimmy Buffett CDs ...
1. Check your drivers license and make sure it is not expired. You cannot get on the plane with an expired license. Kaylee, you do have a license, don’t you?
2. Pack one bag and one carry on.
3. Bring walking shoes as we will be walking a lot. Also, bring decent clothes for the day at the Lion King.
4. Bring a Parrot Head outfit for the Jimmy Buffet concert. Hawaiian shirts are OK. There will be a prize for the best outfit.
5. With our motel, we get access to a health club next door. This will be a good way to ease the shower load as we are getting only two rooms.
6. I will be sending everyone a Jimmy Buffet CD to listen to before the trip. Please spend time listening as it will make the concert much better. There will be a trivia contest in the Denver airport during our layover. Prizes will be awarded.
7. Bring a good attitude. No fights. No politics.
8. Mom can only drink beer. No hard liquor. It makes her argue.
9. Kari has volunteered to buy dinner one night. Tavern on the Green? French fries are only $8.00. Check it out on the web.
This trip began as a Jimmy Buffet getaway. Mainly a payback for making you kids listen to Jimmy Buffet growing up. Please keep the Buffet Parrothead theme alive and relax and have fun. Even me.
There are schedules but there will also be free time.
Sunday-Arrive and Empire State Building—Times Square
Monday-Yankee game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The House that Ruth built. 1:00. Leave for the game about 10:00 AM.
Tuesday-Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Ground 0, Ellis Island. On the way back, Chinatown and Little Italy (dinner).
Wednesday-Lion King at 2:00. Grease with Taylor Hicks at 8:00 pm. Walking distance. Dress nice casual. Times Square.
Thursday-Central Park AM. Free time until concert. Jimmy Buffet concert at 8:00 PM. Across the street from the Hotel ShPennsylvania.
Friday-Back to South Dakota and Idaho.
Times Square is approximately a 10 minute walk from Hotel ShPennsylvania.
Let us know in your research of NYC if you want to go anywhere else.
1. Check your drivers license and make sure it is not expired. You cannot get on the plane with an expired license. Kaylee, you do have a license, don’t you?
2. Pack one bag and one carry on.
3. Bring walking shoes as we will be walking a lot. Also, bring decent clothes for the day at the Lion King.
4. Bring a Parrot Head outfit for the Jimmy Buffet concert. Hawaiian shirts are OK. There will be a prize for the best outfit.
5. With our motel, we get access to a health club next door. This will be a good way to ease the shower load as we are getting only two rooms.
6. I will be sending everyone a Jimmy Buffet CD to listen to before the trip. Please spend time listening as it will make the concert much better. There will be a trivia contest in the Denver airport during our layover. Prizes will be awarded.
7. Bring a good attitude. No fights. No politics.
8. Mom can only drink beer. No hard liquor. It makes her argue.
9. Kari has volunteered to buy dinner one night. Tavern on the Green? French fries are only $8.00. Check it out on the web.
This trip began as a Jimmy Buffet getaway. Mainly a payback for making you kids listen to Jimmy Buffet growing up. Please keep the Buffet Parrothead theme alive and relax and have fun. Even me.
There are schedules but there will also be free time.
Sunday-Arrive and Empire State Building—Times Square
Monday-Yankee game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The House that Ruth built. 1:00. Leave for the game about 10:00 AM.
Tuesday-Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, Ground 0, Ellis Island. On the way back, Chinatown and Little Italy (dinner).
Wednesday-Lion King at 2:00. Grease with Taylor Hicks at 8:00 pm. Walking distance. Dress nice casual. Times Square.
Thursday-Central Park AM. Free time until concert. Jimmy Buffet concert at 8:00 PM. Across the street from the Hotel ShPennsylvania.
Friday-Back to South Dakota and Idaho.
Times Square is approximately a 10 minute walk from Hotel ShPennsylvania.
Let us know in your research of NYC if you want to go anywhere else.
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