Mary Poppins on Broadway
Madaam Tussand's Wax Museum
Central Park
The Guggenheim Museum
The Whitney Museum of American Art
Madison Square Garden
Times Square during the day
Radio City Music Hall (outside)
Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock for New York during the Day
Empire State Building and New York at Night
Bryant Park at Night
Washington Arch at Night
Greenwich Village and an amazing spoiling steak dinner and cocktail
And also walked from 59th St and Lexington to 4th Street. That's a minimum of 55 blocks, almost 3 miles if I hadn't of gotten lost like a million times and wandered back and forth and stuff. Yay me!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Broadway
While I will write my official Mission Accomplished post tomorrow I have a few short points to make...
1 - Patti Lapone is a Broaway Goddess with the voice of an angel, and those in the know from my eavesdropping say that she has outdone herself with this, the show that was seemingly made for her, the best Mama Rose ever.
2- I have never seen a standing ovation in the middle of the show, and she got one, me with my hands over my head, the man next to me yelling Brava! I can't tell you how many times I sang "Rose's Turn" in the mirror as a teenager, practicing until I could get the whole song out without falling breathless...she stunned me with her power.
3- I call it now, she WILL win the Tony. I am a lucky girl I got this ticket before it opened and at a discount, she's catching on fire.
4- Be prepared for me to gush about all of that again tomorrow.
1 - Patti Lapone is a Broaway Goddess with the voice of an angel, and those in the know from my eavesdropping say that she has outdone herself with this, the show that was seemingly made for her, the best Mama Rose ever.
2- I have never seen a standing ovation in the middle of the show, and she got one, me with my hands over my head, the man next to me yelling Brava! I can't tell you how many times I sang "Rose's Turn" in the mirror as a teenager, practicing until I could get the whole song out without falling breathless...she stunned me with her power.
3- I call it now, she WILL win the Tony. I am a lucky girl I got this ticket before it opened and at a discount, she's catching on fire.
4- Be prepared for me to gush about all of that again tomorrow.
I am not sure how my feet will survive 8 more days of touristing.
So I am here. I got here. It was an okay set of travel, just a really long day. The shuttle driver from the airport to LIRR was HILARIOUS and I met this nice guy Chad that was on his way to Brooklyn from Atlanta. It was really cool for me to have these very first experiences of friendliness. Can I just tell you how friendly everyone in New York is? I mean, yeah, there are some scary crazy people in this city...everywhere. But none more than SF, LA, etc. Just different. I think this city is the most diverse city I have ever been in, and I am eating it up. Unfortunately, I am not so digging the hostel thing, but keep reminding myself of how much money I saved. Last night, everyone in my room was asleep when I got in, and it was very awkward even trying to find my bed and clean out my locker from someone else's crap. I was no quiet, let's just say that. I ended up being thankful I brought ear plugs and sleeping pills, it's just a noisy building and my room is right next to the front desk. Unfortunately, those two plus hostel plus alarm clock I think means I am the most hated girl in the room right now. I tried to stay away as much as possible today until my feet swelled and I am about to collapse from lack of energy, and STILL someone is asleep in the room, so it's all dark still and I can't even get into my stuff. I grabbed my laptop since I had to clear pictures from my card (439 since I left SC) and headed up the lounge where I am trying not to collapse and sleep on the couch. I also am still sure I am sick and just pushing through, but I have to. I can't believe how much left there is to see.
Today, I fit in all of Lower Manhattan, which I am sure I will write about at length later, but since this trip is about me and my growing as a person, I think I want to jump straight to the biggest awakening of this trip. I'm a morning person. No really...I am. I like sleep too, it's amazing hobby, I think it's awesome. But, I love watching a city come alive. From home to the playa to SF to wherever, there is something about being out before anyone and seeing it come to life. Today, I left Union Square to a little north of the Bowling Green and wandered around in the damp air, meandering down to the Castle Clinton Monument and the Statue of Liberty. First piece of advice - If you ever plan on coming to New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty, get your ferry and monument tickets ahead of time, get there at 8 o'clock and in line to pick them up and go on the very first ferry out. If you miss Ellis Island, you're still pushing noon. Between 2 security checkpoints, lines, etc, it's a big ordeal, and when I turned around to see the line behind me, I was shocked. Anyway, even though the ferry was insanely crowded, and the line to the monument still seemed long in front of me, I managed to work my way through security faster than everyone but one couple. What that meant is that for a brief moment, I was in the statue of liberty alone. When I walked in the door at the base, I wept. I walked all 156 steps to the pedestal, and came out in full tears. I called my grandmother and told her where I was, I needed to share it with someone at least a little closer to my time zone. I am very thankful I had her to call, I needed to share that desperately. It was seriously life changing.
She is beautiful. As you take the ferry there, you start to think she is so much smaller than you thought, but when you are standing under her, looking at every fold so carefully carved, you realize the undertaking. She is majestic, and amazing. I was so glad that I was there as the sun broke through the sky, gleaming her torch in the sun. As far as moments in my life go, I am certain that this was one of the most amazing. I walked to the lowest level of the pedestal, still free from any other people who seemed to be crawling like ants below. I laid on the ground and stared up at her. I am sure that anyone up at the top at this time may have thought I was nuts. I walked up and I touched the rock that held her up and thanked her for guiding us. I have hundreds of pictures, but this I just had to share for now.
More to come...
Today, I fit in all of Lower Manhattan, which I am sure I will write about at length later, but since this trip is about me and my growing as a person, I think I want to jump straight to the biggest awakening of this trip. I'm a morning person. No really...I am. I like sleep too, it's amazing hobby, I think it's awesome. But, I love watching a city come alive. From home to the playa to SF to wherever, there is something about being out before anyone and seeing it come to life. Today, I left Union Square to a little north of the Bowling Green and wandered around in the damp air, meandering down to the Castle Clinton Monument and the Statue of Liberty. First piece of advice - If you ever plan on coming to New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty, get your ferry and monument tickets ahead of time, get there at 8 o'clock and in line to pick them up and go on the very first ferry out. If you miss Ellis Island, you're still pushing noon. Between 2 security checkpoints, lines, etc, it's a big ordeal, and when I turned around to see the line behind me, I was shocked. Anyway, even though the ferry was insanely crowded, and the line to the monument still seemed long in front of me, I managed to work my way through security faster than everyone but one couple. What that meant is that for a brief moment, I was in the statue of liberty alone. When I walked in the door at the base, I wept. I walked all 156 steps to the pedestal, and came out in full tears. I called my grandmother and told her where I was, I needed to share it with someone at least a little closer to my time zone. I am very thankful I had her to call, I needed to share that desperately. It was seriously life changing.
She is beautiful. As you take the ferry there, you start to think she is so much smaller than you thought, but when you are standing under her, looking at every fold so carefully carved, you realize the undertaking. She is majestic, and amazing. I was so glad that I was there as the sun broke through the sky, gleaming her torch in the sun. As far as moments in my life go, I am certain that this was one of the most amazing. I walked to the lowest level of the pedestal, still free from any other people who seemed to be crawling like ants below. I laid on the ground and stared up at her. I am sure that anyone up at the top at this time may have thought I was nuts. I walked up and I touched the rock that held her up and thanked her for guiding us. I have hundreds of pictures, but this I just had to share for now.
More to come...
Friday, April 4, 2008
The Day Of
I don't think I have taken off for a trip in the past 3 years that I haven't had a panic attack the morning of. While better than Japan, this morning was bad, bitter and angry I was doing this alone, certain I had overpacked and would look silly pulling my new suitcase through the East Village. It felt like a dream, like all my planning hadn't happened, that I could just go back to sleep. I'm still feeling in a daze, running on no sleep and massive adrenaline, unsure how I drove the hill in my groggy state. I am sitting the Chicago Midway airport, which is actually a kind of neat airport. I went looking to find out who was the first to have rocking chairs, they seem to be multiplying across the country and are here as well. (Charlotte was the first in case you were curious.) This airport is getting ready to install fancy leather chairs with power supplies in them to replace the random stools and benches that exist everywhere. I go in waves with the panic, starting to wonder if I can do this, why I am alone. I feel like crap, I should have slept more last night, I'm having my usual stressed out bladder situation where I think I have to pee but I don't, and my throat is getting more sore not less. That's really not helping my mood and confidence.
I'm watching a movie on Netflix Watch Now about the scrabble tournaments called Word Wars to distract me, and it is a good follow up to the movie I watched last week called Word Play about the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. In studying people, it's incredible informative to study the pop culture phenomenons that they are drawn to. While I would not expect these movies to be beyond enlightening, I feel a greater understanding of a breed of people I may have overlooked in the past. I love people. I think that is what has me most excited about this trip. It is a unique opportunity to not just observe, but do so at my own pace and leisure. I think it will amuse some to find one of the things I am most excited to see are the chess players in Battery Park. While I have let my game lapse, for more than 2 decades now, I have sat in awe at their speed and skill, and just like Broadway, it is an attraction for me to not be missed. Apparently, they are sided by Scrabble players with the same intensity. I need to keep reminding myself this is an adventure, and to not be scared. Dammit, I have to pee again. I think it's an aisle seat for me the next leg. Dammit.
I'm watching a movie on Netflix Watch Now about the scrabble tournaments called Word Wars to distract me, and it is a good follow up to the movie I watched last week called Word Play about the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. In studying people, it's incredible informative to study the pop culture phenomenons that they are drawn to. While I would not expect these movies to be beyond enlightening, I feel a greater understanding of a breed of people I may have overlooked in the past. I love people. I think that is what has me most excited about this trip. It is a unique opportunity to not just observe, but do so at my own pace and leisure. I think it will amuse some to find one of the things I am most excited to see are the chess players in Battery Park. While I have let my game lapse, for more than 2 decades now, I have sat in awe at their speed and skill, and just like Broadway, it is an attraction for me to not be missed. Apparently, they are sided by Scrabble players with the same intensity. I need to keep reminding myself this is an adventure, and to not be scared. Dammit, I have to pee again. I think it's an aisle seat for me the next leg. Dammit.
The Night Before
This has been a crazy day, but it's here, it's like Christmas eve.
First, uhm, I'm sick have allergies and it's not cool. I'm pumping vitamins, and hoping to pretend my way through, but frankly, have the energy of a slug and want to sleep the next 5 days. That not happening, we're going to fake it until we make it.
Second, I've come to the miraculous breakthrough conclusion that the reason I procrastinate on things the night before a trip is that it helps me push off the panic attacks. When things get done, there is only time to worry. I have mostly just work to do before I can call myself free to go on vacation and I'm saving that for last after my shower as I enjoy my cleaned up house and packed self and anxious kitty.
We had a 3 hour diversion earlier when, me in all my procrastinating glory, discovered my camera charger missing and my batteries uncharged since Missouri 3 weeks ago. Not cool. So we searched, cleaed, searched some more...I even found my umbrella and found the floor in parts of my car. Finally, trying to convince myself that there are solutions, I was about to give up, trying to get focused enough to do chores, when I found it. It was amazing how much relief I felt, my heart raced. Able to focus again, I've got most things packed and cleaned and am feeling less stress than normal before a trip. I think I should be fine, I just am going to miss my cat.
I really don't think I can be any more prepared...let's just break down some of the modes of transportation I will be taking over the next week...
A car to a shuttle to a plane to a shuttle to a train to a subway to a hostel.
A ferry, maybe another boat, another train, probably a taxi or two, and yet another train.
Another type of subway, a bus or maybe another train back to a plane back to a shuttle to my car.
And probably some more things I'm forgetting.
That's cool.
Oh, and Jesus is here, with me...Mike was kind enough to allow Jesus to miss HIS 30th birthday so that he could escort me! I'm actually not going to New York alone. Yay. We'll have to do something very special for him when we get back!
Wish me luck folks, I have to get to stuff...but watch for pictures and updates and fun! Can you believe the project is almost 1/2 done?! Broadway, Yankees and DC here I come. I challenge myself to do 30 "little" other things that I have never done before, since technically I keep saying this is the big birthday present to myself in the project and I want to push myself to not be afraid. (Staying in a hostel, Ride the subway or walk the brooklyn bridge counts, seeing stuff doesn't.) Let's see how many things I can see and how many new experiences I can have in the next 9 days. I'm off!
First, uhm, I'm sick have allergies and it's not cool. I'm pumping vitamins, and hoping to pretend my way through, but frankly, have the energy of a slug and want to sleep the next 5 days. That not happening, we're going to fake it until we make it.
Second, I've come to the miraculous breakthrough conclusion that the reason I procrastinate on things the night before a trip is that it helps me push off the panic attacks. When things get done, there is only time to worry. I have mostly just work to do before I can call myself free to go on vacation and I'm saving that for last after my shower as I enjoy my cleaned up house and packed self and anxious kitty.
We had a 3 hour diversion earlier when, me in all my procrastinating glory, discovered my camera charger missing and my batteries uncharged since Missouri 3 weeks ago. Not cool. So we searched, cleaed, searched some more...I even found my umbrella and found the floor in parts of my car. Finally, trying to convince myself that there are solutions, I was about to give up, trying to get focused enough to do chores, when I found it. It was amazing how much relief I felt, my heart raced. Able to focus again, I've got most things packed and cleaned and am feeling less stress than normal before a trip. I think I should be fine, I just am going to miss my cat.
I really don't think I can be any more prepared...let's just break down some of the modes of transportation I will be taking over the next week...
A car to a shuttle to a plane to a shuttle to a train to a subway to a hostel.
A ferry, maybe another boat, another train, probably a taxi or two, and yet another train.
Another type of subway, a bus or maybe another train back to a plane back to a shuttle to my car.
And probably some more things I'm forgetting.
That's cool.
Oh, and Jesus is here, with me...Mike was kind enough to allow Jesus to miss HIS 30th birthday so that he could escort me! I'm actually not going to New York alone. Yay. We'll have to do something very special for him when we get back!
Wish me luck folks, I have to get to stuff...but watch for pictures and updates and fun! Can you believe the project is almost 1/2 done?! Broadway, Yankees and DC here I come. I challenge myself to do 30 "little" other things that I have never done before, since technically I keep saying this is the big birthday present to myself in the project and I want to push myself to not be afraid. (Staying in a hostel, Ride the subway or walk the brooklyn bridge counts, seeing stuff doesn't.) Let's see how many things I can see and how many new experiences I can have in the next 9 days. I'm off!
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