Day 1: We made it to New York!

We finally made it to New York! After a night full of driving we finally made it and got to experience the city that never sleeps for the first day. We started our journey to the Big Apple Tuesday night around 11pm. Anxious to hit the road, the choir started loading luggage and preparing equipment for the buses arrival. As with any proper trip, the youth choir was gathered around where we got motivated and inspired by the words of Pastor McGill and Director, Marshall White followed by a powerful group prayer that inspired the students and parents. From there, the choir sang a beautiful rendition of "What a Wonderful World" which is the song they are singing at Carnegie Hall on Saturday.

See all of the pictures from our first day (click here) and the rest of the trip on our Facebook page. You can also follow our journey live on Twitter and Instagram as well as our hashtag #VoicesofUnityNYC.

Our trip was long throughout the night but we perservered and made it through. Some of us were able to sleep through the night while others, not so much. We started off the next morning by getting breakfast at a local McDonalds in Brookville, Pennsylvania halfway through our trip. Everyone got a chance to stretch their legs and get some food in their stomachs. It was well earned after such an early beginning to our destination.

Once we were fed and happy, it was time to get back on the bus and continue our trip. Energies ran high as we got closer and closer to the big city! Our bus drivers from American Heritage Trails did a great job maneuvering the tricky streets of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  We arrived to our hotel around 3pm and started to unload, happy to get our feet back on solid ground! After having some time to unwind and get situated, we geared up in uniform to head out and get some well deserved dinner.

After dinner, it was time to head into the heart of New York City to see the sights. It’s safe to say that after a good meal and some time off the bus everyone was excited and ready to see the diverse culture that New York City has the offer. Everyone was full of energy, from adults to some of our younger travelers! The buses were filled with happy chatter and even some happy singing.

Our drive through New York consisted of some of the big attractions unique to the big city. We drove downtown passing Central Park and got to see the extensive park as well as all of the big buildings around it! We were able to see prominent cultural landmarks such as the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum and Times Square, which was bustling with busy bodies and bright lights! We also saw the Empire State Building and Rockefellar Square.

We got to see New York City in a way that we’ve never seen it before, in real person! It was an exhausting first day, but we’re excited about everything we’ve gotten to see; and it’s only the first day/ Tomorrow we have our performance at the Children’s Harlem Zone then we’re off to see the Lion King on Broadway.

See all of the pictures from our first day (click here) and the rest of the trip on our Facebook page. You can also follow our journey live on Twitter and Instagram as well as our hashtag #VoicesofUnityNYC.