CRUISE LIKE A DAVIS : The Manhattan Project- Day 7

New York City- Day 7

Goodbye Subway- Hello I-45

Saturday, April 15, 2023

This city will ALWAYS HAVE MY HEART!
I love NY!

Morning

We woke up a little earlier than previous days just so we could eat breakfast and then get all of our suitcases packed and ready for our trek and flight back to God's Country. After we ate breakfast and got our suitcases all packed up, we meandered the streets of lower Manhattan and the area around the One World Trade Center one more time. This allowed us to get a few last minute souvenirs we were lacking as well. We grabbed a coffee and we were on our way back to the hotel to load up and go to the airport within 90 minutes.

A view from Maiden Street just outside our hotel.
This view NEVER GETS OLD!

Priceless memories!

Once back at the hotel we got a phone call that the car I arranged with Airport Taxi Service was already waiting for us about 30 minutes early. We warmed up our Chinatown Wo-Hop leftovers from a few days prior and had a quick lunch before heading to the airport- We were trying to save money!

We checked out of the hotel around 11AM and loaded up in a Cadillac Escalade to make our 1:15 minute trip to JFK Airport in lower Brooklyn. Our driver was superb and the ride was smooth. It is always sad to leave a city, despite being ready to get home, but New York just hit me different and I was legitimately sad to go! We tipped our driver REALLY well and we were in the airport by 12:15 for our 2:20PM flight back to Houston.

Hello Escalade! We are rolling home in STYLE!

We will probably NEVER see the inside of a decked out Cadillac Escalade ever again... So might as well take a picture! It will last longer!

It's time to ~~drive~~ ride across the Brooklyn Bridge!

Goodbye Manhattan... it's been real!

One final look at Manhattan!

Afternoon

We loaded up on water and snacks in the airport, for almost as much as I paid for the ride cross borough to get to the airport- I seriously cannot believe how expensive airport food is! Our plane arrived on time and we were on the plane before 2PM. However, the airport was experiencing some weather issues and we were delayed in taking off for over an hour. It is so aggravating when you are ON the plane and have to wait just to take off or get into your parking spot! The kids were not bothered by this as they had their iPads but I was getting anxious with the whole ordeal. We were airborne around 3:25PM and had to take a different route than originally planned due to rain all over the central US.

Our ride has arrived... let's go home!

All smiles as we loaded up for take off... (excuse the crazy hair, I was tired)

Evening

The flight was very uneventful, which is always a good thing, and we were back in God's Country before the sun set. As with any trip when you check luggage, it took us nearly an hour to get out of the airport and back on I-45 toward our house in The Woodlands but we were home shortly after 8PM.

This was the TRIP OF A LIFETIME and I am so glad we saved the extra money to do this trip right. We splurged on SO MUCH from the hotel room to the Yankees Tickets to the shopping on 5th Avenue but I think we made some memories that our kids (and us too) will NEVER FORGET! I love New York City and always have... I will be back! And hopefully soon
(Hint, hint Chris... Birthday trip, maybe).

NYC will ALWAYS have my HEART!

Thanks for following along! We do not have a massive family SUMMER TRIP planned since Natalie is SO BUSY with band camp, youth camp, mission trip and now HIGH SCHOOL Marching Band and Volleyball commitments. (I still cannot believe she will be a FRESHMAN in August, where has the time gone?) And Luke has a full summer season of baseball and a World Series again. I am so grateful that New Caney ISD has the bonus Spring Breaks and we are able to take this BASEBALL TRIPS in April each year! As much as we spent on this week, I know it would be SO MUCH more if we had to take it in June or July! I do not know where April 2024 Baseball will take us but I imagine it will be OUT WEST- I only lack Dodgers, Angels and Oakland!

Chris and I will be sailing on Allure of the Seas in July and we are VERY excited to finally sail on a MEGA-SHIP! Stay tuned for details about this voyage! You do not want to miss this!