First full day in NYC starting off with the opening of the Birthday presents!

After breakfast we take the subway to Times Square which is pretty busy but also preparing for the thousands of people who will watch the ball drop tomorrow night. There are trucks, trailers, barriers and NYPD everywhere.

We then take a brisk walk over to the west side of Manhattan where the Intrepid aircraft carrier is moored as a permanent exhibition and spent the next 3 hours exploring the Museum. Well worth the visit and there was still more we could have seen but we were anxious to get onto a Circle Line Boat Cruise before it got too late, cold and dark.

We decided to do the 1-1/2 hour cruise which comes down the Hudson on the west side of Manhattan, goes past Liberty Island, round the bottom and then up the East side past the NATO building then back. Really good commentary from the on-board guide who funnily enough was the same chap Georgia and Jenny had 2 years ago when they were in the city for the Madonna concert.

The journey back was lovely as the sun was just setting showing off the Manhattan skyline at its best however it was very cold - minus 1 degree!

Back to the hotel for a warm up and birthday cocktails in the Whiskey Bar served by Robert before getting ready for dinner in Little Italy.

On recommendation from a Godfather looking chap on the street we ate at a Restaurant called Angelo's. It was very busy but a drink at the Bar and our table was ready in 10 minutes. In the meantime Tim was bantering with the Italian American waiters and had already found a fellow Chelsea fan in Giovanni.

Excellent authentic home cooked food and we were serenaded by a passing brass band (as it happens) with 'Happy Birthday' and then the theme from the Godfather.....

Perfect end to a perfect Birthday.