Statue of Liberty and home

We woke up and packed our bags and then had our last breakfast at Bloom's on Thursday before heading to Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty. We had to go through a security check before boarding the ferry to take us to Liberty Island. Once there we had to go through security again - this time the machines blew air onto us to check for explosives. Once we got to the top of the plinth we were treated to magnificent views across to Manhattan and all around the bay. We came back down and had our lunch - the weather was good enough for us to sit outside and eat in the sunshine. Not bad for December!

After that, we got the ferry back to Manhattan and took the subway back to the hotel so that we could put our cases onto the coach and head for the airport. The traffic was horrendous and there was a rather worrying 15 minute period when the bus stalled and wouldn't start up again! We were all rather relieved to arrive at JFK in plenty of time to check in and board the flight. There were some rather tired boys on the journey and the inflight entertainment didn't work to start with, so the only option was to go to sleep.

We arrived at Heathrow on time but there was a delay as there were no gates available for our plane. Eventually we got in, boarded the coach and arrived back at Bickley Park at 10.30am on Friday. All were worn out and pleased to get home and tell everyone all about the trip.

A big "thank-you" to all the staff who came on the trip and particularly to the boys who were great!

NS

PS If anyone has photos or video from the trip, please email them to nstein@bickleyparkschool.co.uk or put them on a CD or DVD and let me have them when we get back.

St Paul's, FAO Schwartz and Planet Hollywood

On Wednesday we woke up quite late - we were woken up by Mr Stein! We went to breakfast at Bloom's at 8.15. We had toast and fruit and orange juice. Then we went back to the hotel and got changed into our school uniform. Before we left, we sang a carol to the hotel manager.

Then we went to Grand Central Station subway and to St Paul's Chapel. It was near where the Twin Towers used to be. We went for a walk around the churchyard and we saw a bell that London sent in 2002 to remember 9/11. Then we had a practice in the chapel. We then had lunch in McDonalds. We went back to the chapel and we sang at the concert. James P played a piece on the piano before and after our concert.

We came back to the hotel, got changed again and went to FAO Schwartz which is a giant toy shop. There were loads of stuffed animals. Louis and Oliver bought remote controlled helicopters. Ife and Louis bought a plane you throw in the air.

We went back to the hotel to relax and then went to Planet Hollywood. It was cool. It had the Star Wars Death Star which was used in the film. There were hands you pressed and you heard the voice of the person like Will Smith, Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker. They had a motorbike that was used on Jurassic Park. We ate our meal and Oliver accidentally went into the Ladies' toilets... Then we walked back to the hotel.

Louis, Ife and Oliver

Grace Church, Shopping and Wicked!

We woke up very early on Tuesday morning and when we'd got ready we went to Grace Church. It was HUGE compared to Bronxville Church but it didn't discourage us because we didn't think it was scary but a good challenge. It was all very long and at the end of it we went to a different restaurant for lunch called the Silver Spur.

When we went to South Street Seaport we bought lots of stuff - we split up and looked around the mall. We went to the Game Stop and loads of people bought games. We met back downstairs and went back on the Subway to Bloom's restaurant to have dinner.

After dinner we went to Broadway to go and see Wicked. The shuttle train was really packed and it was hard to breathe! The good thing was we got there really quickly. Wicked was wicked! Luke thought it was funny and confusing. It was the background story of Wizard of Oz. Every time the witch tried to do something good it turned out bad. Lots of us were really tired and some of us fell asleep!

We walked back through Times Square. It was very bright and a bit chilly at that time. It was worth all the hassle because the show was magnificent.

Luke, Yomi, George and Ubayed

Empire State, AMNH and Basketball

The Empire State Building didn't seem that high from the ground but when we got to the top it was HUGE! You could see for miles. It was windy and freezing and you couldn't stay out there for too long. Somebody's job was scraping the snow from the top! The people looked like ants and Central Park was a complete rectangle. Florian thought it looked really big but Alfie thinks it was surprisingly small!

We went to the American Museum of Natural History. First we looked around the section about space. We stood on the scales to see our weight on the sun and we all weighed more than 2000lbs! On a neutron star we were 1.5 trillion lbs! Then we had a really nice lunch in the museum. Nick doesn't like the tax thing because you get your money out and then you have to get more to pay the tax. Florian's sandwich had loads of ham.

After that we went to the Planetarium. The screen was rounded over you and it was really realistic. It felt like the whole room was moving. When a comet came past your chair vibrated.

Then we went to the dinosaurs and we looked at some interesting bones - George knew all about them and got all the answers right.

In the evening we had a great time watching NY Knicks against Indiana Pacers in a basketball match at Madison Square Garden. All the Americans were running around showing off their foam fingers so we went and got some and showed them off back to them. We all got free Knicks tops signed by Starks. Our school's name was mentioned on the big board! Alfie really enjoyed it. We had a voucher for a hot dog, crisps and a drink. Luke, Yomi and Christian fell asleep and people kept putting foam fingers in their mouths. Everyone was so tired - the escalators weren't working going down. We all had loads of fun. It was everyone's first basketball match and it was AMAZING! It was a shame that the Knicks lost.

Robert, Florian, Alfie, Ben and Nick

Bronxville and the snow

First we went out to our diner for breakfast and then we went to Grand Central Station. It was very posh and elaborate - and "Madagascar" was filmed there. We got on the train and had a half-hour journey to Bronxville station.

We had a very good walk to the church because there was lots of snow and we were skidding and falling around! We went into Bronxville Church and met their choir and then we went into the church and did a 25-minute rehearsal for the service. Then we had the service and then we went to the Bake Sale. After that we had food with their choir.

Then we went back to the station and back to the hotel to get changed, then back to Grand Central and onto the subway to Central Park.

We walked to the park itself and had a big snowball fight. After that we got back onto the subway to Bowling Green where we went to see the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River and we saw the globe that was between the twin towers when they were still standing.

After that we came back to the hotel on the subway by which time we were freezing and about to die... We got changed for dinner at 7pm, which was about an hour. Then we came back all tired to the hotel about to die again and that's when we wrote the blog.

Harry and Thomas (not Christian - he was too tired!)

Arrival in New York

Although it took an hour and a half to check in at Heathrow, the flight had very good entertainment.

When we got to JFK it was FREEZING but lovely and sunny. Our coach was there right away and it took us straight to the Bedford Hotel.

We walked through Times Square and it was BUSY! We all hugged an ape...! We saw the BEST Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center.

Then we ate a very large meal at Bloom's. No-one could finish it! But it was nice.

We're all very tired but hopefully with a good night's sleep we'll be ready to go tomorrow.

Edward, Ross, William and James

Itinerary

With less than a week to go, here is a brief itinerary of our tour:

Saturday 15 December
9.30am: Fly from London to New York
Afternoon: Walk to Times Square

Sunday 16 December
10.00am: Sing at a service at Christ Church, Bronxville (www.christchurchbronxville.com) along with the church choir
Afternoon: Visit Battery Park and South Street Seaport shopping mall (www.southstreetseaport.com)

Monday 17 December
Morning: Visit Empire State Building (www.esbny.com)
Afternoon: Visit American Museum of Natural History (www.amnh.org)
Evening: Attend NY Knicks v Indiana Pacers basketball game at Madison Square Garden

Tuesday 18 December
12.00noon: Recital at Grace Church, Broadway at 10th Street (www.gracechurchnyc.org)
Afternoon: Shopping at Macy’s (www.macys.com)
Evening: Attend performance of “Wicked” at Gershwin Theater

Wednesday 19 December
Morning: Visit Central Park
1.00pm: Recital at St Paul’s Chapel, near former World Trade Center site (www.saintpaulschapel.org)
Afternoon: Visit Roosevelt Island and FAO Schwartz toy shop
Evening: Dinner at Planet Hollywood, Times Square for (www.planethollywood.com)

Thursday 20 December
Morning: Visit Statue of Liberty (www.statueofliberty.org)
8.00pm: Fly from New York to London

Friday 21 December
Morning: Arrive home