New York

(Looking from our 10th floor staircase down. It made you very dizzy)

At the beginning of June my sister Sarah and mom took a trip to New York and Prince Edward Island. We were gone a week but spent 3 days traveling so we actually only got 2 days in each place. But we managed to pack as much in as we could. Our first stop was New York. Our flight left early and we were suppose to arrive at 3pm NY time but there was a storm in NY and so our plane circled for an hour before we were diverted to Rochester for refueling. We weren't there long and finally landed in NYC at 5pm. Our hotel was the Hotel at Times Square and it was a great place. It was perfectly located on 46th st. between 5th and 6th Ave. We couldn't have been more perfectly situated from everything if we tried. It gave a great breakfast buffet and our room was really nice.

(Italian place. Hmmm, Hmmm good.)

After we checked in we were starving and asked where there was a good place to eat. We were directed to this little hole in the wall Italian place right next to our hotel. My goodness that is the best Italian food I have ever had. My mouth is just salivating just thinking of it. I can't remember the name of the place. But I will for sure eat there if I go back. We pretty much then headed back to our room to prepare for the next day. We all planned on going to bed early but not having kids and silence we enjoyed talking and reading and went to bed way later than planned.

(Our Hotel)

Our first full day that we were there we had hired a walking guide for 6 hours. He took us all around NYC. We weren't sure how we would like it having someone with us the whole time but it ended up being one of the best experiences. He walked at a slow pace (more for my mom and Sarah) and pointed out so many places to us that we would have otherwise not known anything about. All the buildings that we had heard about but aren't necessarily labeled he took us too. He didn't bother taking us to places that we could come back to and take tours because it would be wasting our time. Honestly one of the best things. He gave us a history of so many things and we really learned so much. We didn't even realize we were at Ground Zero until he pointed it out to us. I thought I would be completely overwhelmed but it didn't have any fliers on the fences or anything. It was just like any other place around that is having construction. But then he took us to a church right across the street (I wasn't paying attention to why we were going to the church but just remember him saying look for George Washington's pew) but when we walked in it was a huge emotional impact. The church had turned into a semi museum from that day with different sections set up with what happened that day and the day after. It had the actual fliers, and letters written and all of that stuff. It just had me crying and so grateful for all the people that did so much for us that day. I don't know that we would have found that church if we were on our own and I was really glad we got to. So worth it. Our walking tour ended at FAO Schwartz which my mom really wanted to go into. We walked in and of course what we walked out with was chocolate--not toys. We were really sustained with good food and lots of chocolate on this trip.

(Central Park--we walked in and walked out but at least we can say we were there.)

(Bryant Park)

One of the things that our guide recommended to us was not going to the top of the Empire State Building but to the Observation Deck at the Rockerfeller Center. He said there are pros and cons. Going to the top of the ESB is cool because it is the ESB, and it is the tallest building in NYC. But he said it usually has very long lines, and the elevators are older and break down. But at the Rockerfeller Center he said the elevators are newer, the lines are shorter and best of all you can get a picture of the ESB. So that is what we did. And boy were we glad. We walked right onto the elevators that took us to the top but there was someone in our elevator saying they had come from the ESB where there was a 4 hour line. The top was completely awesome. so beautiful to see all of NYC. And it was great seeing Central Park amidst all the skyscrapers. Once again something way worth it. We got back to our hotel late that night and once again had a early morning the next day.

Our next day we were on our own. We went to all the places we wanted to go to that we didn't necessarily need a tour guide to see. We each picked a place that we most wanted to see. I wanted to see the Statue of Liberty. We had decided that since we were so short on time that we wouldn't be able to actually go to the island and walk on it. But the next best thing was the Staten Island Ferry goes right in front of it so you can get pictures and it is free. So that is what we did. I have to say that I really expected the SoL to be way bigger. It is portrayed in books and movies as huge but compared to all the skyscrapers it looks so small. But I was still really glad to see it. I tried to picture myself as an immigrant coming on a boat and seeing it and it was overwhelming.

(On the Staten Island Ferry with the skyline behind us)

(This was a real tenement building that we were able to walk through)

My mom really wanted to go to the Tenement Museum. We all love history and were excited to go. We were a little late for our tour because of going to the SoL first so we missed our guide telling us about him being a liberal. We got there just in time for him to start giving the history. It was awesome because they took us to an apartment that was just like it was and told us the history of the first family to live there. He made them come alive and it was very real. The whole story was awesome. Then he took us across the hall to another apartment and told us their story. Once again it was a great story and talked about this family that hadn't come through Ellis Island but across Canada and it was right before the Great Depression. You feel for this family and their hardships. Then he talks about how the mother lied to be able to get a box of food and clothing from the govt. because they were starving. He then asked how that made us feel and everyone was like you do what you need to to survive. Then he mentions that they were illegal immigrants and look at what we were doing now to illegals. I was so mad how he had such a political agenda when telling us this story. It was a total set up and it took away from the story of this family. Seriously it put a damper on the whole thing. I loved hearing about the first family and I loved hearing about the second family until his little rant. Stupid guide, just talk the history that is what I signed up for.

(about to eat the Frozen Hot Chocolate)

Sarah wanted to go to Serendipity because of the Frozen Hot Chocolate she heard about on Oprah. Man that place is expensive. Frozen Hot Chocolate was $9 but really good. My meal wasn't anything special but the desserts were awesome. Once again really expensive. A banana split was $23. But we still ordered two different desserts and shared. I mean that is what we came for right?

(Mom and Sarah about to enjoy their frozen hot chocolate)

That was the end of our day. Well except for a stop at Dylan's Candy store where we picked up more chocolate. That was our last day in NYC and we really enjoyed it. We felt like we got to hit so many different places in the 2 days that we were there. We also found the people to be really really nice in NY. You hear they are rude but I didn't come across a single rude person. And also the sidewalks were so dang clean. You would expect to see so much trash with how many people are walking but there was none. The Subways were even really clean. I was impressed and feel like LA could learn a few things. Going there and talking with our guide made us realize how different everyone's lifestyles were. He lived in a small 3 bedroom apt. for $1600 a month with no A/C and no elevator. The fridge was just an icebox so they grocery shop everyday and his kids take the subway to school everyday and have since they were in 6th grade. Plus he doesn't have a drivers license and never has had one (he was 50 something) But he loved it there and had no desire to ever move. What a great experience to go to NY but now I need to go back to take Eric to the Italian place.