First Timer in New York

Left on Friday 4/13 and got back on the nextThursday night.  I was on a straight mission for my first visit to New York.  I saw Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Broadway Production of Les Miserables all in the first day.  I could not have been more stoked.  Everything was great and Les Miz made me ball my eyes out.  I could not believe we were front row center to that show!!  We were so close we were afraid the performers' spittle was going to hit us and there sure was alot of that flying around.   Doesn't matter though because they were incredible. 

I was very disappointed that my second day in the big apple there was a major storm with the heaviest rain but I still got out there.  Went to a quaint little brazilian restaurant by the name of Rice and Beans where I had awesome Chicken Bossa Nova with yellow rice and black beans.  Then went to the American Museum of Natural History.  Didn't stay long there though because everyone was there because of the storm.  Felt like thousands of people.  So, we went back to the hotel and later went for dinner at Renaissance Restaurant.  I LOVED this restaurant, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner..they are open 24 hours, they deliver and they have a super cute waiter named Sam that worked that night.  We sat there for a few hours eating and then had dessert and then had some strawberry daqueris.  Second round comp thank you very much.  Probably thanks to my friends Js but no matter we loved Sam and didn't want to leave.

The next day my friend went to work and I set upon my mission.  I walked from the hotel to Madame Tussaud's wax museum and toured it.  Felt like a dork posing with a huge statue of the Incredible Hulk but just had to buy the pic when I saw how corny it was.  I love it!!  Then I walked over to the Empire State Building.  I went all the way up to the 86th floor observatory and stood outside taking pictures.  Now, let me tell you what a feat this is.  I am deathly afraid of heights.  I am afraid walking on the second floor of a shopping mall.  I was scared but too excited by the experience to care.  I cannot believe I overcame my fear.  It was totally exhilirating.  When I came down I explored a bit walking through the garment district and through Macy's on 34th street.  When I got back my friend invited me to have dinner with her and her associates at a restaurant nearby.  We went to Thalia on 8th avenue for dinner.  The dinner was great and I fell in love with the waiter at this restaurant too.  Seems like most of the waiters in the area we were in were either very cute and young or were very feminine.  I loved all the cute, young ones. 

The next day I set out for Lady Liberty.  Took my first subway ride to Battery Park.  On the way down to the subway was frightened when a man said, "He's coming for you." and tried to hand me a paper with SATAN written on the top with a picture of satan right under it.  I was creeped out and WOULD NOT take the paper.   Other than that did not have a bad time of the subway system at all until our failed attempt to go to chinatown at night which I will get to later.  Anyway, got on the subway and took it to the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  I was very disappointed to see the longest line I have ever seen for the ferry.  It took awhile but I finally got to the Statue of Liberty where I had to wait in another line to go into the pedastal of the Statue.  There was a very interesting museum inside and went out on the observatory.  Then headed to Ellis Island and took in that museum as well.  On my way back to Manhattan my friend said she was out of work and would like to go to another broadway show, so I jumped onto the subway and made my way to the TKTS window in Times Square at the Marriot Marquis where I bought us tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera for half the price she paid for our tickets to Les Miserables.  Of course, though they were orchestra tickets the same as Les Miz  but not nearly as close.  It was still great except for the fact that we could not see the top of the stage and there was quite a bit of action up there.  It was great though when while we were at intermission they were raising up the chandelier from the stage and it almost hit a couple on the head that was posing for pics.  I think a concussion would have made a great souvenir of broadway.  LOL.

Last FULL day in New York I tried to see as much as possible, but, with so many possibilities I knew I wouldn't.  Tried to wake up early but absolutely couldn't.  Went to Renaissance for breakfast, was not disappointed by the two egg breakfast with ham..yummy.  Then jumped on the subway to Ground Zero.  I was not ready to be dropped off right at the viewing site, even though the stop was called Wold Trade Center viewing site.  Walked up to see the open ground where contruction was happening.  Many people were taking pictures but I couldn't bring myself to do so.  Walked up the stairs up to street level where there were some pictures up showing the events of 9/11 in a time line and some of the destruction and emotions of those days.  Honestly, I could not stand there long because the loss of so many lives could be realized more because when you look at the humongous hole and imagine that that was only one level of the 110 story buildings.  Across the street was a small episcopalean church where I read that the tiny church did not get even one broken window because it was protected by trees that stood behind it for hundreds of years.  It was pretty miraculous.  I was in awe of this.  I walked around a bit and contemplated walking over the Brooklyn Bridge but decided not too since my feet had been through hell the last few days and already were killing me.  I went to Wall St. and walked a bit and then took the subway to Central Park.  Walked through Strawberry Fields and then walked to Tavern on the Green and over to the lower west corner of the park where I saw the Trump Tower, Christopher Columbus statue and went into the Time Warner Shops.  After exhausting myself I went back to the hotel and ordered in lunch.  After taking a nap my friend and I attempted to go to Chinatown for dinner and drinks.  Took the subway but Chinatown at night is pretty gross so we left there pretty quick.  This was the only time I had trouble with the subway.  It directed us to go down for the train uptown but when we went down it sent us down a hall up some stairs down some other stairs and then up even more stairs until we ended up on the other side of the street.  Now why the sign that directed us down to the subway couldn't have directed us across the street is beyond me because it would have been a whole lot easier than all of that.  Anyway, we then went to Grand Central Station.  It is so beautiful but I recommend going during the day because if you want to get pictures this is definitely a must.  You really cannot see any of my pics from here.  Too dark.  We then went back to Times Square and tried to go to Dave and Busters to drink and have fun but they were closed for a private party!!  Guess it just wasn't in the cards to do the nightlife.  It sucks but I guess I will live. 

Last day in New York.  I didn't want to leave but we had to.  Went out to buy souvenirs for my family and walked around just a bit.  I knew we had to leave pretty early in the afternoon so did not get to do much.  We decided to get some lunch.  Our bellman recommended Carmine's in Times Square.  I recommend this place too, especially if you are with a group.  Their dishes are served family style so they are all huge and can feed up to 5 people.  We ordered the lunch portions and had plenty left over for two more people.  We had the sausage spaghetti and Rigatoni country style.  I have never had pasta with white beans but it was SO good. 

Both flights over and back were great.  We flew Jet Blue.

I can honestly say that I had a GREAT time with a lot of fun.  I will never forget this trip.