Tuesday 2nd September 

Just over three weeks to go before our next jaunt. This one has been a long time in the making, booked over two years ago, we decided it was about time we ventured to the US. I've been lucky enough to go before but Viv has never been to New York. 

My previous trip was pre 9/11 and I was lucky enough to take the lift in the WTC to the 104th floor. All gone now of course, and in a curious way I need to revisit the site - one of those many travel moments, a bit like Hiroshima, where there is a compelling urge to visit, but you know it will be a moving experience. Like many people, I can remember exactly where I was when 9/11 happened... I had landed in Brussels airport heading for a business meeting ( yes it may surprise you but I did used to work for a living) and saw the coverage on the big news screens - it looked like a movie - unreal but magnetically attracting.

 

We leave for New York on the 25th, staying in the city for two nights before boarding the Viking Mars for a twelve day voyage of discovery along the eastern seaboard of the US (New England in the fall), before heading north west into Canada and onto Quebec and Montreal, where we have a two night stay before flying home.

ESTA all booked, luggage tags all arranged and counting the days....