10-7-12

Hello Folks!

What a day. By the end I was totally exhausted - and never thought I would be so grateful for a Pepsi, so what happened.

All started well with a late breakfast - the full works. Then we set off across the Island to pier 86 the Intrepid  Museum. For those that don't know the Intrepid is a US aircraft carrier, around this has grown a collection of planes including a Blackbird and a Concorde plus a submarine - The Growler and the Souyz craft used by  Greg Olsen. What a display - huge thought, provoking and brilliant set out.

A highlight was a guided trip into the Concorde including a trip into the cockpit! It was brilliantly done.

But the stars of the show were two simulator rides. The first was a fighter ace ride which was a full 360 movement simulator - Philip was pilot we chased planes around the sky going upside down (really upside down) banking and generally being made to feel pretty ill!

The second ride was a virtual rollercoaster, in 4D! Oh wow was I scared. You went on a virtual ride with wind in your hair, seat moving in time with the 3D screen. The buggy you were in leapt over impossible voids banked at impossible angles and sped down vertical drops - oh my. The fighter simulator was easy by comparison!

The submarine was one of 4 built designed to fire nuclear cruise missiles. One of the flaws of the program was that it took 15 minutes to surface and fire which meant that within 30 minutes the submarine would be located and destroyed - not really an incentive to fire the missiles.

After the museum we walked back to Rockerfeller Plazza in search of a pizza slice. We were directed to a real pizza dive! it was lovely. Then it was to the Top of the Rock on the roof of the Rockerfeller Center. Exceptional views - really stunning. We hope the photos come out well.

Then we strolled up to Central Park and the Pepsi - 6 hours we had been on our feet!

We jumped into a cab and headed back to the hotel. That evening we went to Smith and Wolensky's for a steak - Philip didn't finish his side of cow - just too much.

Bead exhausted,  hence the late filing of this blog. More of the same today - we're off...