Nomad Norwoods
From Quito to NYC and all the places in between
a Change of perspective
We are embarking on an eleven month adventure from September 2022 to August 2023. Travelling to Ecuador, Galapagos, Columbia and various other destinations (which we haven't quite ironed out yet) and ending in New York.
The aim of this website is to be a link for us to share with our nearest and dearest where we are and what we are doing.
If anyone else stumbles across this then you are very welcome.
home
We returned home yesterday on the 16th August 2023, after an easy train journey from Bellport to JFK and a very easy flight to Heathrow. Now we need to unpack and sort at our house.
We are glad to be home and are looking forward to the next chapter of our lives as Static Norwoods!!
Photos: Saying farewell to Lindsay and Paul (and Briscoe) in Bellport on Tuesday afternoon.
The girls on the train from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica before getting the AirTrain to JFK.
Meeting the parents at Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning. Then it was an uneventful, thank goodness, journey back to Harpenden.
It's Elsa and Ana!
Oh no it is Julie and Isabella.
Best friends forever!
We returned to the park on Monday for one last play.
The fire engine is a big hit.
Posy had loads of fun driving. Isabella is being tickled by Charlotte to get her to smile.
Us and the Minnies on the train back to Bellport on Sunday.
We arrived and were whisked off to the park.
However this park was on the beach.
our last few days in the city
Our journey is drawing to a close. On Sunday (13th August) we head back to Bellport, Long Island, to spend our final days of the trip with Lindsay, Paul, Jack and Julie. We have spent our last few days in New York City revisiting our favourite places and discovering Governors Island.
Photos: The girls playing on some rocks in the park on Governors Island; Charlotte and Posy sheltering from the rain with Manhattan in the background; Us with the Statue of Liberty in the background and me playing with the girls in the play park (all on Governors Island).
Isabella relaxing on the ferry to Governors Island.
I enjoyed the boat ride too.
The girls preparing for yet another adventure.
We had some really good views from the window of the ferry to Governors Island. The ferry is free at weekends!
Isabella enjoyed the climbing logs in the park.
A great vista from the car deck of the ferry.
On Friday we headed to Times Square.
So that we could visit the Disney Store.
The girls each got a Mini Mouse as a reminder of their time here.
On Friday afternoon we returned to 'hurty-bum-park' named by Isabella as she hurt her bum the first time we came here.
The girls love this park the most.
Isabella spends most her time zipping around on a scooter.
And playing with her gang of little mates.
On Wednesday we went to Battery City Park.
The girls loved playing in the park.
Especially on this roundabout.
We then walked down to WTC to get the train home.
Central park zoo
On Tuesday we popped to the Central Park Zoo. We finally got to see some penguins which evaded us in Galapagos, Argentina and Chile. The girls enjoyed the sea lions and stroking the animals in the children's zoo.
Isabella making friends while watching the sea lions.
Posy and Isabella trying to decide the best way to approach the sheep.
Isabella worked it out.
And then went to stroke the goats.
They found a big spider's web.
Which they jumped on for a while.
And became rabbits.
Which some took very seriously.
They found things to climb on.
And sit on.
And climb inside.
This reminds me of somewhere else.
Monday was a bit wet, so we headed to the WTC.
Posy and me at the 9/11 memorial.
Another view of the One World Trade Centre tower.
The girls in the rain with their brolly.
Cuddles!
Posy is still perfecting her photo-smile.
I took these photos from the Highline Park and from Little Island.
On Wednesday we took a stroll to Little Island on the Hudson River.
It is a human-made island and has lots of great spaces and loads of activities for kids to do.
We particularly liked the weeble chairs.
A view of WTC from Little Island.
Bellie and me in the apartment.
Posy and, in the background, Isabella playing in the park on Thursday.
The girls at Rockafella Centre on Friday morning.
12 year ANNIVERSARY
Sunday was our 12 year wedding anniversary, so we celebrated it by, accidentally, walking the girls to Grand Central Station. I say accidentally because we were going to jump on the subway at 28th and Lex, but then saw Grand Central and didn't think it looked too far away; turns out we were very much mistaken.
Isabella really enjoyed looking at the signs of the zodiac on the ceiling in the central concourse. We rewarded the girls with a snack in the bowels of the station before heading to the subway for our return journey home, which we sensibly did by train.
Even though we made a terrible mistake by making our poor little girls walk 19 blocks (actually only Isabella as I carried Posy), it was a nice mooch in the sun and we got to see another part of the city. It was also very quiet, we assumed that this was due to it being Sunday.
We had some great views of two of my favourite buildings; The Empire State and Chrysler so I was very happy.
As you can see the girls weren't too truamitsed!
Thursday and another trip to the park.
Isabella loves climbing and making friends.
Posy loves to strip off and get in the water.
Friday we went and explored the city.
We walked through Soho and Little Italy.
And ended up in Chinatown.
In the afternoon we went back to the park.
The girls had fun playing with children.
On Saturday we went back Central Park.
We rode on the carousel.
Charlotte went on.
And so did I! we all had fun.
Afterwards we went to the play park where Isabella zoomed around on her scooter.
And then she played on the swings (I would like to think that she appreciated the view).
The girls are enjoying playing with Jack and Julie's toys.
Dressing up in Julie's costumes.
And mucking around with each other.
On Wednesday we went to Chelsea Market.
And ended up spending some time on the High Line Park.
The girls loved splashing in the water and admiring the flowers.
On Tuesday we decided to borrow Jack and Julie's scooters and head to Central Park. This was Posy's first time on one and it took Isabella a while to get back in to it. We scooted up to the subway at 28th and took it to Columbus Square.
Posy enjoyed being on the swings and practising her scooting.
While Isabella went on the slides and zipped around on her scooter.
The girls honed their skills in the playground and then we went scooting through the park.
We went all the way to the south-eastern corner of the park where the Plaza Hotel is.
The girls then scooted down to Times Square so we could catch the subway home. A very successful morning!
A weekend in Bellport
After a quick trip to the park, we took the train back to Bellport on Long Island on Friday afternoon so that we could spend the weekend with Lindsay, Paul, Jack, Julie, Cathy, Mark and the dogs. On Saturday evening Megan, Lindsay's sister, and her dog Oliver also joined the party.
On Saturday, after Charlotte and Lindsay went paddle boarding, we caught the ferry over to Fire Island and Ho Hum beach. The beach was lovely, but the sea was a bit cold for us: well it is the Northern Atlantic and we are used to the warm waters of the Pacific.
On Sunday the kids made cakes with Nanny Cathy and then Isabella and I went to a kids Birthday party. When we got back we had a dip in the pool.
And then on Monday we came back to Manhattan for more city fun-times!
The girls had a lovely time playing on the beach.
I got to top up my tan!
It was too cold to surf in the sea.
We all had a paddle and played in the shallows.
The kids made cakes with Nanny Cathy.
They were very proud of their achievements.
They made cupcakes in ice cream cones.
And decorated them as unicorns!
Back to the park this afternoon.
This time we went prepared for the splash park.
But the water was a bit cold.
So the girls got changed and went on the climbing frames.
They basked in the sun to get warm.
And relaxed in the tunnel.
For a while.
Then Isabella tried to escape!
On Thursday morning we rode the Staten Island Ferry.
So that Isabella could see the Statue of Liberty up close.
You get a good view of Manhattan too. I had completely forgotten that the ferry was free; what a great service! It was packed with tourists.
Isabella sporting her new outfit.
The girls have enjoyed exploring the city's highlights.
So many things to cuddle!
New York city
We got the train from Patchogue station on Long Island to Penn on Monday morning. We are staying in Lindsay and Paul's gorgeous Manhattan apartment, which is situated in Chelsea; it is in a perfect location. The girls are settling in nicely and haven't experienced too much of a culture shock. Charlotte and I have had a touch of the holiday blues, as it feels that the trip has come to end even though we have a month left (it also hasn't helped that we have all, except Posy, caught colds). Anyway, we are now getting our New York vibe back and feeling the joy of being in this amazing city.
Photos of Tuesday outings: Top, Charlotte and Posy riding the subway; above, the girls (sort of) looking at the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park; left, a street view featuring the Empire State building.
Enjoying a celebratory ice cream in the World Trade Centre.
Isabella has loved dressing up in Julie's costumes.
On Wednesday we went to the 100th floor of the One World Trade Centre. This is the view looking south.
The girls and me at the top of the tower and yes I am wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
The view looking up town towards the park. Unfortunately it wasn't the clearest of days.
We then took a walk to the Brooklyn Bridge.
The girls on the Brooklyn Bridge.
View back towards the One World Trade Centre (it's the one with the spire).
Up the top of the tower.
The girls just wanted to run about.
We went to Madison Square Park in the afternoon.
So Isabella and Posy could play in the park.
Long Island
We arrived at Lindsay and Paul's house in Bellport, Long Island in the early hours of Friday morning. We had a lovely weekend with them, Lindsay's parents and some friends.
Tomorrow we are off to Manhattan for the week!!
