New York. How much can we see in 7 hours

First thing Rachel and I think about in the morning is food.  We pop into the hotel restaurant.  $30 bucks for the buffet.  Lol don't think so.  We would rather eat 5 or 6 little meals than a big one.

Right outside the hotel is Lindys Diner.  Perfect. We share a meal of 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, juice and coffee, oh yeah and toast. All for $22. Perfect.

Off we head to the World Trade Centre. Down onto the yellow line, last stop the WTC.  Word of warning don't just start following the crowd in New York.  There are lots of people and they are all going different places.  We found this out when we almost wandered right back into another subway stop.  LOL  After wandering around for a bit we end up at St. Paul's Chapel.  It is the oldest church in NY.  After the attack it was used as a refuge for the helpers to get food and sleep.  And some very needed solace from the disaster outside.

There was a beautiful choir group singing outside in the graveyard and then they followed us into the chapel.  Their voices were beautiful and made the dedications to 9/11 a little more haunting.  I was in tears at the first dedication.  There were some beautiful works of art and a stand of little hands that people had written messages down on.  After the disaster people had filled the fence with memorials, flowers and stuffed animals.  One section of the fence was set up inside.  There was a section with police and fire badges from people who helped or just came to pay their respects.  A number were from Canada.
 

This little Chapel showed the spirit and love of the human race.  It was inspiring how in the face of disaster so many people, both professional and ordinary pulled together to help in any way they could.

We then headed over to the memorial.  Construction everywhere, it is going to be amazing when it is all finished.  The actual memorial is two square pools with a waterfall falling down into a big pit which then disappeared into another large square whole in the ground.  I had no idea, I knew about all the names being written on the wall, but had no idea about the waterfalls.  So impressive.  Thankfully I wasn't as emotional here as I was at the little chapel but so glad we went.

Our first rain drops hit just as we were leaving the Memorial.  Guess what there's a Star Bucks, one on every corner in NY.  Pop in for a latte by the time we come out the rain has stopped.  We head down to Battery Park for a quick view of the Statue of Liberty and a couple more pictures of my darling daughter.  :)  Lots of construction going on here as well, it is going to be beautiful when it is finished.  

From here my navigator (Rachel) gets us back up to the yellow line and we head to the Empire State Building on 34th st.  As soon as we leave the subway, there are masses of ticket sellers (they are everywhere it was the same down at the Statue of Liberty).  One pounces on us and tells us it is a 2 hour wait to get up the elevator and he can get us a deal for $50 each, VIP.  WOW, Jim and I have already been up so Rachel decides to wait and have Jay take her up.  What a great idea!!!  Way more romantic than with your mom :)

5th Avenue is right there, so off we walk.  And walk and walk,  Did not go in one store.  Thankfully no time for shopping and we both only brought knapsacks so no room to take anything home.  lol.

Passed the New York Public Library, what a beautiful building.  And up ahead was St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Unfortunately it was covered in scaffolding, both inside and outside.  Still worth the visit.

Next stop food.  After looking at 3 or 4 menus, boy did we pick the right spot.  The new NYY Steak.  We had a Caprese Steak Salad that was too die for.  And maybe a couple glasses of Chianti.  Back to the hotel and off to the airport.  Home Sweet Home.  

  

Thanks Rachel for the great time.  What fun!!!!

New York the longest blog ever

Sorry fans, lol.  This might turn out to be my yakkiest blog ever.

The reason we are here is Rachel's TD account has won an award for advertising.  Luckily for her and for me, she as the planner was sent down to pick it up.  This means she has to go to an awards night tonight and I have to kill 3 hours.

After we met up at the airport, we taxied over to our hotel.  Well actually her hotel, I'm just tagging along.  It is the Sheraton Times Square , literally a 10 minute walk to Times Square.  

What a crazy town, there are people everywhere.  Masses and masses of people swarming the streets, blocking traffic.  Ten people are dressed up as the Statue of Liberty.  I have run into 4 Elmo's, Woody, Mickey, transformers, Star Wars.  Something for everyone.  It's March, what is everyone doing in New York.

The smell from the food trucks was amazing and they were everywhere.  Rachel and I have decided that we have to eat at the first truck below.  There was always a huge line up of people waiting for his food.  There were people sitting on walls eating his food and we even saw another food vendor with his food.  Honestly I don't know how he could feed as many people as he did.

Lights everywhere and more shows than you could imagine.  Wicked, Rocky, Chicago, Cinderella, the muppets, etc, etc.   People lined up for all the shows.  

Ads 10 stories high.  Click click cameras everywhere.  Smile 1 2 3 as tourists take pictures of other couples.  Everywhere iPads, iPhones are being passed to complete strangers to take pictures of each other.

And then there have been some complete idiots.  I asked a receptionist guy in the Thomson Reuters building if there was a nice restaurant nearby.  "This is an office building madam". I almost hit him with my camera.  Are there any nice restaurants around.  "Wellllllll there's one on the cornerrrrrrr". Seriously it was a Hard Rock Cafe.  So unhelpful.  

Dropped Rachel off at her event and off I walked with my camera.  It was a little chilly on my hands wish I had brought mitts.  Headed down to 42nd st, up 8th ave, back along 7th avenue, up to 53 and then down Broadway.  It is pretty hard to get lost, oops probably shouldn't have said that.

More and more people just keep coming out of the woodwork.  It is a very comfortable city to be wandering around on your own.  Whether you are taking pictures or just wandering there are lots of people by themselves or in groups.  And lots of cops walking the streets, and all of them being very helpful to tourists trying to find their way.

I ended up sitting at the bar at the Olive Garden, one yummy pizza, 2 nice Chiantis. After about 45 minutes a lovely young lady from California joined me and we proceeded to yak for the next hour.  Pretty well everyone at the bar was by themselves.  Again it was so comfortable for everyone, people had their iPads or phones out.  One girl was watching a show on her phone and laughing away.  I wouldn't think about going to a restaurant by myself in Aurora. Here it is so common.  

Finish my wine and head down to meet up with Rachel.  There is this homeless person outside the building where Rachel is, so I decide to take his picture.  He puts his sign down, shakes his head and says come on put some change in.  

Fine I put a couple of bucks in and he lets me take his picture.  Rachel is running a little late so I get his whole story.  Not only is he not homeless now, he was 8 years ago.  He has been able to buy his own house and some new clothes.  He says he has never been on welfare or collected a penny from the government.  A person came up and gave him food, he says any food he gets he gives to other people.  They all seemed to take care of each other.  A part of me was a little affronted that he did this, but then I thought I would have paid a couple of bucks to get my picture taken with a guy dressed up as the Statue of Liberty.  He has been in movies, advertisements and on a postcard.  I found quite a famous homeless person :).  He was very entertaining and 20 minutes went by lickety split.  

Rachel came out and was in shock when I took her over to introduce her to my new friend. Lol but did agree to have her picture taken.  

She is all excited they won Silver. Woohoo.  She was very nervous about the whole event but thankfully there was an older man (probably my age or younger) who asked everyone at the table to sit beside someone they didn't know.  He was also the keynote speaker so was quite chatty. 

We headed back to our hotel with a stop looking back at Times Square so I could take a picture of Rachel with her trophy.  A glass of wine in the bar and off to bed we went.  

New York New York a quick in and out

Go to bed at 11, read, nice and sleepy.  Shut out the light, roll over and ping go my eyes.  Lie there quietly look at the clock 1 am, 1:30.  Get up grab my book and try another bed. Leave Jim to his "gentle" snoring.  Read a little more, try singing songs, finally nod off.

Wake up again, was I actually asleep, I think I was, it must have been a dream.  Head through to the bathroom, it's 4:13.  Jump back in my bed.  Nod off and on and finally fall sound asleep.  And yes you guessed it the alarm went off.  Jim is still sound asleep has no idea I have been back and forward lol, the things I could be doing.  You know like playing party poker!!!!!

Rachel is up and bubbly, already had her porridge and I am barely functioning.  Woohoo we are going to New York.  Wake up!!!!!!  Finish packing and hop in the cab.  

Rachel is Air Canada terminal 1 and I am American Airlines terminal 3.  A pain but as I had a coupon my flight only cost me $50.  Technology is wonderful we sit miles apart texting each other.  Both of us like to read so this is some nice quiet time.  Luckily we land within 10 minutes of each other.

The reason I had the coupon is my last flight with Us Air didn't have a seat as they gave it away.  So after sitting at the gate for 2 hours my name gets called and I am thinking, here we go again. I tentatively go up to the front desk and they ask me if I want to move up to one of the preferred seats, row 6, rather than sitting in the last row by the bathroom.  I have to tell you I actually hesitated.  Being near the bathroom is comforting for me.  There are only 18 rows on the plane, it's not too far too walk.  I bite the bullet, it's only 1.5 hours I can hold, oops I mean handle it.

Bonus, not only do I have a window at row 6, in front of the wings (never happened before it's quiet), no one is sitting beside me.  

It's 1146 and just passing the finger lakes.  They really do look like fingers.

Getting ready for landing

The tallest building there is the new construction at the World Trade Centre Site

We touch down at 1232.  Smooth landing, gentle brake and then slam on the brakes.  My whole body flies (little exaggeration) forward.  I gather from the other passengers it is a very short runway.  This is a very little plane.  Now we are sitting I guess waiting for a parking spot.  

Jim would be going mental by now.  At Toronto he always complains as we seem to be driving aimlessly up and down runways.  At Laguardia we can see the gates but no open spots.  1247 and we are at least moving again.  Finally get parked at 1.  Now off to find Rachel. 

I dash over to the Air Canada gates and surprise surprise, what seemed like a good idea wasn't quite working out.  You aren't allowed down to the gates.  I go back up to the Air Canada check in and they tell me it arrived at gate A7.  I dash back down. Bang on the security door, am ignored, start gesticulating like crazy they finally open the door.  I explain to them that my daughter is at gate 7 waiting for me.  I am presuming that she has already landed and is sitting there waiting for me.  How old is your daughter?  Well around 20, they now look at me like I am nuts.  Can't you just make an announcement for me.  No go back up to Air Canada and ask them.  Up I go, again the lady asks my daughters age and I get the are you mental look.  

To add frustration to the situation there is no free wifi.  What kind of city is this.  I honestly thought the whole of New York would have free wifi.  Nope.  I break down and turn on my roaming.

I am now getting more and more panicky, and voila there is a message from Rachel.  One of her cabin crew had a family emergency so the plane had gone back to the gate and they had to wait for a replacement.

Grrrrr, now I had no idea where she was so back up to Air Canada, this time I don't go to the crabby lady and find a nice male Air Canada rep.  Wow amazingly they had just landed.  And she came out and was waiting at the gate, thankfully she had figured it out and walked up to the security gate.  

You rely on technology so much, next time better planning.  How the heck did our parents manage?