USA Trip. Part 2. New York City.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 8:42PM The flight from LA to New York was long. I think it was about 6 hours long....but it felt longer! Maybe coz we were so excited about what was awaiting us at the other end? But I remember being VERY happy when that plane touched down at the JFK Airport!
New York! Oh my dear.....NEW YORK! Let me just say "New York had me at HELLO!" New York ROCKS and I am already excited about going back there again one day! We only spent 4 days in NY.....but it was some of the most amazing 4 days of my life! What a place!
Chris's Brother, Matt, currently lives in New York City. He was there waiting for us at the airport :) After tracking down the missing stroller, we were in our 1st New York Cab & on our way into the city! Ella went from chatting Matty's ear off to passing out, all bobble-head & exhausted in the back of the cab, while I bombarded Matty with questions about the city, the place & the people! Experiencing NY has always been somewhere I wanted to travel to, a number on my bucket list.....and now I WAS HERE!!!!!!!
{Ella, Matty & I on top of the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING!}
Our first afternoon in NY was rainy, but we didn't let that stop us from getting out & about! Once we were checked into the Belvedere Hotel {about 100m down the street from Matty's apartment & one block from Times Square}, we braved the umbrella jammed streets of Times Square! WOW! Yep.....wow, is the best word I can find right now to describe those first impressions of this amazing city!!!!! We ventured into the GIANT Toys R Us store to keep the 3year old happy.....however even the 'grown ups' were having fun :) This shop has a Ferris Wheel.....INSIDE IT!!!! AWESOME! We then enjoyed a dinner at Bubba Gumps on Broadway with Matt, Takumi & Brian. The food was insane, the atmosphere was fun and I got to wear Forrest's Shoes :) Ella & I then headed back to our apartment at about 9:30pm....she bathed & fell asleep in an instant! I sat up & stared out the window.....overlooking the city.....admiring the view....trying to take it all in. I think I had to pinch myself a few times to 'remind myself' that I was really there! It wasn't a dream :)
Day 2....the rain had cleared....so we ventured out to tick off a few more things from my Bucket List. We spent the day with Brian & Matty {having them truly was a god-send....they knew exactly where to go, what to do and how to do it! They helped with the stroller, with Ella, with everything! They were the best company & LOTS of fun!!}. After breakfast at a local diner, we cabbed it to the pier where we enjoyed an hour river cruise.....under the BROOKLYN BRIDGE & TO THE STATUE OF LIBERTY!
It was hot! In fact, Ella started to break out in a heat rash! But it was still so NICE....to be sight seeing in the warm sun, in NEW YORK CITY.....living, laughing, loving! AH-MAZING!
Next stop.....the West Side :) I loved the feel of it here! The amazing old town houses, the tree lined streets, the shops....oh the shops....and: Carrie's Apartment :)
A short stroll on...and we were at the Magnolia Bakery! It was everything I expected.....and at the same time, nothing like how I imagined it! BUT......OMG, the cupcakes......THE.BEST.I'VE.EVER.EATEN!!!! So So So good!
We headed over to an inner city playground & enjoyed our sugar-fest. Ella then enjoyed the simple things in life.....like being a kid ~ swings & slides & sand pits :) I think I may have been the only 'mother' in the playground.....amongst all the 'nannies & sitters' but it was cool! I had my 'mannies' with me :)
We then caught the Subway back to 'our area' & explored the streets & shops surrounding Times Square!
The M & M Factory was a must-see experience.....such a cool place! The buzz there was contagious! I loved it! I bought a 'Red' Onesie for our bub, a few goodies for friends & of course Ella picked a bag of PINK M & M's :)
{on the subway}
{in the M&M Factory}
Seeing a show on Broadway is something I've ALWAYS wanted to do! Growing up in a musical environment & performing being a big part of my life, seeing a show in the world-famous part of New York was something I wanted to experience in my one wild & precious lifetime! Before we embarked on this holiday, I did not pre-book any show tickets as I really did not know what to expect & how things would pan out. Hey, I was traveling solo with a 3 year old....there was a good chance that seeing a Broadway Show late at night was not going to be possible in my circumstances. BUT.....we were a week into our trip.....Night 2 into the New York leg....and Ella was AMAZING! This gorgeous little Soul of ours, amazes me daily.....but whilst in NY, I was blown away by her! She did not whine or stress or worry! There were no tantrums or drama! She simply went with the flow and absorbed it all in! If she was tired, she'd drift off....and it didn't matter if we were in a cab, or if she was being pushed in the stroller down a busy downtown street, she'd just close her eyes & relax. She talked & laughed & asked questions. She listened & followed. She understood! She was not my 'toddler girl'....she was my BUDDY! And together we were seeing the world! It was....PERFECT, really!
And on Night 2 of NY, Matty & Takumi were keen to see The Lion King with us.....ON BROADWAY! I.WAS.EXCITED :) Ella had a 1.5 hour snooze in the hotel bed early that evening, while I chatted to Chris on Skype. We then showered & headed out to meet the boys for a Sushi Dinner :) At 8pm, we headed into the theatre for the Lion King show. I was a little unsure at first if the $150/ticket was going to be 'money well spent' and OMG....it was!!!! The show was magnificent! I had tears & goosebumps of joy as soon as the music started! The costumes, the choreography, the singing, the effects....EVERYTHING.....it was all AMAZING! Ella was drawn in the whole time. She didn't know where to look, there was so much to take in ;) And when it ended, she was shattered that it was over. She wanted more....and so did I. Definitely the best show I've EVER SEEN!!!
New York City truly is the city that DOES NOT SLEEP! We left the theatre after 10:30pm...to discover shops still open and the streets still as busy as ever! Crazy! But awesome-crazy :) We bought a few corny souviners at some local shops & strolled back to the hotel.
Day 3: Ella rose early after getting to bed near midnight.....but then she drifted off again & slept til after 8:30am {which is late for her LOL}. We enjoyed slow morning baths & a late breakfast at a bagel cafe :) YUM! Matty, Ella & I then walked a few blocks down to CENTRAL PARK :) A horse-drawn carriage ride kicked off my 1st view of the park :)
We then explored the park more, by foot. This place is PURE MAGIC! I imagined living in NYC & being able to throw a picnic rug down in this gorgeous park whenever I wanted & lay about there with a packed picnic & happy kids :) Everywhere you looked, there was some form of magic.....
A short stroll later and we popped out of the park & were greeted by 5th AVENUE :) Holy Moly.....I'm on 5th AVE! One of the most famous shopping streets in the world :) It was just like the rest of NYC.....busy, bustling & amazing!!
First stop......FAO SCHWARZ:
{everything in the USA was jumbo-sized} {including the GIANT PIANO that Ella & I danced along}
A walk along 5th Avenue then filled our time....and I indulged in my first Tiffany's purchase:
We then headed downtown {or uptown.....hmmm....still haven't got my NYC barings!} a little further & went to the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING! The line up was looooooong. But I couldn't be in NYC & not go up the ESB!! So, we waited! And for the 1st time during this whole trip....being heavily pregnant had it's advantage. A female security guard came up to us & said to be with her cool accent "I've got your back Mumma! Follow me!" We did.......and we ended up skipping the WHOLE {2 hour} long line up & get put with the VIP Express people.....YEEHAH!!! Within minutes, we were up top of the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING looking over the amazing city! Very Cool!
And, just as I thought the trip couldn't get any more perfect or anymore FUN....we enjoyed a night out in Times Square, wining & dining & shopping with Matty, Takumi, Brian & Naoko {who was visiting from Japan}. And as Ella sat there all perfectly & well-behaved in this inner-city New York 5-star restaurant...I again pinched myself with how good she is & how lucky I am!
Ella truly fits in with NY....the city that never sleeps....coz we were still out 'living it up' until 1am that night! And if it wasn't for our 5am wake-up the next morning to catch our next flight, I think we could've 'lived it up some more!' :)
{Times Square after midnight - August 9th 2011}
Oh New York! I already miss you :) Thank you for having us NYC & thank you for the memories! I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE! It was everything that I expected....plus more! I can't wait to go back one day with Chris & explore it again!! Thank you Matty and boys for looking after us & showing us around! Both Ella & I were sad to leave early that Saturday morning! As the cab drove us back to the JFK airport at 5am, I watched out the window & tried to breathe in every last part & memory of that city....coz it was so surreal & AMAZING!
I heart NYC!
We caught our flight to CANADA that day.....that post coming soon ;)
Claire, Ella, New York, USA, broadway, central park, city, holiday, magic, statue of liberty, travel, trip in {Memories}, {My Life}, {Real Life}
Reader Comments (6)
How absolutely wonderful to spend 4 amazing days in NYC with your gorgeous Ella! I totes <3 NY too, in fact, it is where Daddy BuBbles and I got engaged so it holds a very special place in my heart.
Can't wait to hear about your Canadian adventures eh?! :)
BuBbles
x.
Oh i'd love to do NY! It must have been sooooo special!! And the M&M shop must have been fan-freaking-tastic!! I love m&m's!LOL!
Your so lucky to have been able to have this wonderful journey with your special girl, and how wondeerful of Chris's brother to show you around! Can't wait to hear about Canada! ox
Sounds AMAZING Claire, so happy that it lived up to your expectations! Ella sounds like the best travel partner ever. A trip to remember forever xx
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