Bagels, Buildings and Bus Rides: Our Journey from New York to Washington

Luggage, Latte and a Late Start

The day began with a strict deadline – luggage ready in the room for “bag pull” by 7am, and carry-ons in hand by 7:45am. At 7:45 we trundled downstairs, our suitcases still sitting in the room.

Before meeting the group, Ros grabbed a coffee from Starbucks while Ros treated me to a hot chocolate. Not too bad at all – sweet enough to kick-start the morning. Right on 8am we set off for our short walk to the Brooklyn Diner. The streets weren’t too busy at that hour, which made the walk surprisingly pleasant.

Brooklyn Diner and Christmas Market Dreams

The diner itself was exactly what you picture when you think “New York diner” – booths, chrome details and that cosy hum of conversation. We slid into a seat next to a couple from Adelaide. They told us about a Travelmarvel tour they had taken through Europe’s Christmas markets, which caught our attention since it’s one we’ve had on our maybe-someday list.

Breakfast arrived quickly. Ros ordered eggs benedict, the Adelaide couple had the same, and I went for a smoked salmon bagel. Everything hit the spot – classic diner comfort done well.

Empire State to Empty Apologies

After breakfast we hopped on the bus to the Empire State Building. We had an hour to explore, starting at the 80th floor before heading up to the 86th.

The views were nothing short of spectacular. Looking out over Manhattan from that height is like staring at a living map – yellow taxis creeping along the avenues, Central Park stretching out like a perfect rectangle of green, and the Hudson river glinting in the sunlight as ferries carved their way across. It’s a dizzying mix of old and new – glass towers piercing the skyline while the familiar outlines of the Chrysler Building and Flatiron hold their ground. Every direction offered something different, and we found ourselves slowly circling the deck, pointing out landmarks like kids spotting shapes in clouds.

The observation decks were busy, but not so crowded that you couldn’t get a picture. With a little patience it was easy enough to grab a spot by the railing and soak in the view without feeling rushed.

What struck me most was how much history is tied to the building itself. Completed in 1931, it was once the tallest building in the world, and it still carries that aura of ambition and grit from the Great Depression era. You can almost picture the hundreds of workers perched on steel beams high above the city, racing to complete it in record time. The building has seen everything – from King Kong clinging to its side on film to countless proposals on its observation decks. Standing there, it felt like we weren’t just admiring New York from above, but also standing inside a piece of its story.

From there we settled in for the long ride to Washington, DC. The journey began with a twenty-minute delay courtesy of a couple who strolled back late, leaving everyone else sitting on a non-idling bus with no air-con. They didn’t even bother with an apology.

Tunnels, Takeaway and a Taste of Princeton

Our wheels rolled out of Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel, bus antenna hitting the top of it for the entire time, sunlight giving way to a brief stretch of concrete and headlights before bursting back into New Jersey. Lunchtime saw us at a Walmart stop. The shelves were full of pre-packed options but Ros and I played it safe with McDonald’s. Sometimes simple is best.

A quick drive-by of Princeton University followed. It looked impressive from the bus, though to be honest it didn’t mean much to us beyond “pretty campus, lots of brick buildings.”

Rocky Steps and Market Stops

Philadelphia gave us a welcome chance to stretch our legs. We stopped by the Washington Monument outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art – often overshadowed by its more famous cousin in DC, but striking in its own right with its bronze figures and fountain.

Of course, we couldn’t resist heading up the Rocky Steps. Ros “ran” up the steps whilst I walked next to her. We joined the line of visitors doing the obligatory pose at the top, grinned at the view back down, then turned and headed back to the bus.

With no public toilets nearby, our guide wisely made the next stop Reading Terminal Market. It’s a buzzing indoor food hall with every smell you can imagine wafting through the air. For us it was a practical pause – bathroom break first, then snacks for the ride. Ros picked up some fruit salad and chocolate-covered nuts.

Itinerary Confusion and Friendly Faces

We finally rolled into Washington around 7:30pm. The hotel lobby was buzzing with tired travellers and mild confusion. Another couple was pointing out to our guide that the itinerary in our hands didn’t match hers. A group dinner had apparently shifted nights, which left them juggling their own plans.

We didn’t linger on the drama. Instead, we checked in, dropped our bags, then got an Uber over to Carol and Mick’s hotel to say hello and have dinner (Carol and Mick had already eaten). They shared stories from their own Washington explorations before we all called it a night. They had an early flight, and after 7.5 hours on the bus, we were beyond ready for bed.

Our first impressions of Washington? They love their car horns just as much as New Yorkers – maybe even more. The funny part was there wasn’t much traffic around, so half the time it felt like people were just honking to remind themselves the horn still worked.