A Tale of Two Cities

Next stop, NYC

Annie dancing and drinking on the bar before....

...being escorted from the premises.

Auntie and Mummy being entertained by DJ Annie on one of the 'scorching' days

Helmet - check. Seat - check. But I'm not so sure about this.

Meanwhile back in NYC, cousin May is running everywhere.

Rach reading up on the history of this cathedral which was begun in 1892 but is still being built (check out the unfinished steeple!)

The eagle has landed...outside Ulysses S Grant's tomb - how do both him and his wife fit in there?

Andy showing how it should be done....

...but nothing compares to this!

From Namiyango to New York: one of our thank you gifts from AYISE outside the UN Building with Malawian flag in the background (note the risen sun to illustrate the completion of Malawi's development).

As the photos tell - we left Vienna at the weekend and are back enjoying the final days of our adventure in NYC with the generous hospitality once more of May and her family. In our last couple of days with Annie and family we accompanied her on her first cycle ride - very appropriate that Andy, known by many, well some, as 'Bike Boy', should be the one to attach and test* her bike seat in preparation for her first outing on two wheels. She seemed to enjoy it but sadly her mum's bike seat got stolen whilst we popped into the shops, so it will be her first and last cycle for a while! We also shared another interest of Andy's with her the next day, when we went wine tasting. Shiona kindly drove us to a teeny weeny vineyard where we sampled a variety of reds, whites and fizz. YUM!

The next day we were pleased to have chosen the bus over train to get us back to NYC as the trains were not working due to power failure in Washington DC - suddenly Bangwe didn't seem so far away!

Since our return May has impressed (and exhausted) us by demonstrating her new running and stair climbing skills, which we have been practising at various sites around the city. These can now include outdoor children's parks as although we have had a few flurries of snow, the weather is a good bit warmer (scorching all the way up around 25 degrees for our final day in Vienna!) In non-child related activities, we had a lovely cycle ride around the north-west of Manhattan on Tuesday and enjoyed a great night last night at a live band karaoke session! I really brought the party atmosphere to the place by belting out 'Zombie' by the Cranberries and 'Nothing Compares to You', by Sinead O'Connor! Yup, I really know how to make people feel good! Andy on the otherhand hogged the mike, performing 4 times...but with much more upbeat songs like 'She hates me' by Puddle of Mudd! Hmmm, feel free to hire us for any weddings, Bar Mitzvahs etc. We guarantee to make the day truly memorable!!

I suspect this will be our final post from abroad** but hope to have some time in London to sum up our adventure...hmmmm, might be a long post! Until then, may we wish you all a good weekend and speak/see/hear many of you next week when we are back in the same country!

* With cans of beans not by sitting in it!

** And the first one in which I have both written and uploaded the photos - time to quit me thinks before Andy realises I can actually work technology and makes me do more stuff!