Holiday Inn Midtown, NYC:  Started out walking this morning.  Had a late breakfast at the Flame Diner on 58^th and 9^th and then walked down to 5^th Avenue and up to Rockefeller Plaza.  Purchased tickets for “Top of the Rock” and then waited in line for the elevator up to the top.  Great views from up there.  It was hot, but a refreshing breeze blowing.  Back down to the Plaza and had some refreshing drinks in the shade.  Headed back to our hotel and some R&R.  After a two-hour R&R we decided to have something to eat here in the hotel and then catch a cab down to the 911 Memorial.  I didn’t think I could walk one more step in this heat.  But, the restaurant was closed and wouldn’t open until 5:00, so we headed out walking and stopped at another of the little cafes near our hotel.  Had a light dinner and then started walking to the Columbus Circle subway station.  Turned out it was the absolute best way to go.  Fast and cool.  Got down there in about 10 minutes and then walked a couple of blocks to the 911 Memorial entrance.  The new complex will be beautiful when it is finished, and the Memorial is very sobering.  Took the subway back uptown and then stopped at the Trump International Hotel and Tower for a couple of drinks.  Back to our hotel—the sweat running off us.  All in all, a great day.

The Plaza at Rockefeller Center

Empire State Building from Top of the Rock

Central Park in the haze

Ta Da!!!

30 Rock

The Plaza at Rockefeller Center

Freedom Tower rising--it will be 1776 feet tall when finished.

The nearly 3000 names of the victims of the 9/11 and 1993 attacks are inscribed in bronze around the perimeters of the two pools.

South Tower Reflecting Pool and Fountain--in the footprint of the South Tower

North Tower Reflecting Pool and Fountain--in the footprint of the North Tower

The pear tree that survived and was replanted at the site--known as the Survivor Tree.

KOA, West Chester, PA, to Holiday Inn, NYC:  Left West Chester shortly after 10:00 this morning.  Wanted to allow plenty of time in case we had a hard time finding the station in Trenton, NJ, and getting a place to park.  As it turned out, it was really easy.  Right after we crossed the river into Trenton, NJ, the train station was right there.  And really modern, clean, with a parking garage across the street.  Got our luggage unloaded and Mike went and parked the truck.  Had something to eat at the station and then waited for our train.  It was right on time.  We pulled out of the station at 1:28 and were in Penn Station around 50 minutes later.  One stop only at Newark. Caught a cab and were in our hotel and unpacked by 3:00.  Relaxed in our room for a while and cooled off and then headed out walking.  Walked over to Columbus Circle and had a drink at the Trump International Hotel at their outside bar right across from Central Park West.  According to the CNN building in the Time Warner complex, it was 92 degrees.  Felt nice though with a nice breeze.  Walked back and stopped at a really nice market and bought a couple of sandwiches, some drinks and cookies and walked back to our hotel. 

Some cute apartments across the street from our hotel on 57th.  We stopped at another apartment complex and checked out the prices.  A studio goes for $1,950/month.  A nice building though with 24 hour security.

Trump International Hotel and Tower--Tower Heist was filmed here.

Enjoying our drinks and people watching--Trump International Hotel and Tower.

Our drinks await...

KOA, West Chester, PA:  Another cloudy day, but a lot warmer.  Got our stuff together and packed for our trip to NYC tomorrow.  Jeeze, what a pain.  It’s so much easier in our RV.  My suitcase weighs a ton.  Thankfully, it has wheels.  Hope Penn Station has an elevator.  Our train leaves at 1:27 (from Trenton), so we should be at our hotel by 3:30 or so.

KOA, West Chester, PA:  Got going early this morning and went over and took care of the laundry.  A cool, cloudy day with a misty rain.  After getting the laundry done we watched movies for most of the day.  Getting ready to pack up and go to NYC for a few days.  Low 70s today.

Large four-masted square rigger moored on the Philadelphia waterfront.

KOA, West Chester, PA:  Off to Valley Forge today.  Missed the turnoff and ended up way north.  We didn’t see any signage heading west but was very visible heading back—after we turned around.  I learned a lot about Valley Forge and Gen. Washington’s winter camp.  There were 12,000 people in this camp at one time—including women and children.  The women were enlisted to do the laundry for the camp.  Each woman did laundry for as many as 60 men—each day.  A lot of the recruits were immigrants, and several languages were spoken in camp.  The recruits were promised land—100 acres I think.  What they failed to tell them was that the land was way west and considered Indian land.  Gen. Washington rented a house—a nice house—in Valley Forge.  And Martha wintered with him.  Came back and stopped for dinner at the historic Marshalton Inn—Est. in 1814.  Back home and watched golf.

The recruits of the Continental Army built their own cabins.  Non-officers were 12 per cabin.  Officers maybe 6 to a cabin.  Trees were cleared up to two miles in every direction.  So the recruits had to walk several miles to get logs for their cabins and wood for their fires.  And there would have been nothing but mud (and other things) in camp.  Certainly no grass.

Gen. George Washington's winter quarters.

Check out this old stone barn.

The historic Marshalton Inn where we dined alfresco on the front porch.

The Continental Army summer uniforms.

KOA, West Chester, PA:  Drove into Philadelphia this morning.  Parked and walked around the historic district all day.  I was going to wear sandals.  Thankfully, I was smart and wore sensible shoes.  Had lunch at a little restaurant in the historic district.  I had a Philly cheese steak sandwich.  Mike had a Reuben.  Walked around some more, then back to our parking spot and walked around the riverfront for a while.  Back to our site.  Actually, some of the buildings around us here in the Brandywine Valley are older than the ones we saw today. 85 today and beautiful.

Independence Hall--where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell--the wood it's mounted on is over 300 years old!

Holiday Inn, Exton, PA, to KOA West Chester, PA:  Tossed and turned all night.  Wish we were in the fifth-wheel with our comfy Tempurpedic mattress.  Mike had no trouble sleeping.  Partook of their breakfast downstairs.  Now it’s a waiting game.  Mike went over to check on the truck and came back around 10:30.  All fixed and we’re ready to go.  Turns out it was the exhaust brake—a solenoid or something.  Hooked up and were on our way.  There are some really historic homes and other buildings around here—I’m talking Revolutionary War historic.  We finally made it to the KOA after meandering all over.  We’re out in the country again.  It’s a beautiful park.  Our site is like being in a National Forest campground, but with amenities.  We have full hook-ups for our 15 day stay.  But 8 of those days we’ll be in NYC and will leave the fifth-wheel here.  Low 80s today and sunny.

My side of the room.

Mike's side of the room.

Tucked into the woods--KOA West Chester, PA

Fallingwater grounds

The barns in this area all have little louvered shutters which give them a very distinctive look.