New York, New York (Part 1)

There's somethin' about 'cha!

Look I'm only a week later on this post than my goal! Hoorah!

Well what an adventure! We just took our first trip to the big apple and had a great time. The theme of the trip was sardines, as we squeezed 4 adults, 4 kids in car seats, 4 umbrella strollers, 2 pack and plays and all of our luggage in a Honda Pilot and then squeezed the same into a hotel room with two double beds. If only I had remembered to take a picture of the sleeping arrangements Was it worth it? Absolutely! It was great...exhausting, and fabulous.

After a little GPS mix up when arriving in the city we found ourselves driving into Manhattan and over a bridge right out of it again into a part of Brooklyn called Williamsburg (I think) before we were able to re-program it to actually get us to the hotel. We saw a whole community of Hasidic Jews. It was really neat. We finally arrived at our hotel checked in, parked the car, and went immediately to Times square. We started the feasting with burgers and concretes (that is what they call their super milkshake) at the Shake Shack. We ate A LOT on this trip.What's a vacation without good eats? Ok and during the drive Peanut picked up the catch phrase, "You're killing me." Hilarious!

The next day we were up bright and early, no alarm needed thanks to all four kids, and headed off to the 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial. It was reverent. I found myself quite emotional. I still remember when it happened. I was coming out of swim practice early in the morning and I couldn't believe that the news was real, it all seemed so far away. Being on the site really solidified the event in my brain and made it that much more personal for me. God bless the USA.

 

 After that sober moment we tried to head to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Tried, being the operative word there. We had no idea that all of it was closed to visitors since Hurricane Sandy.  So instead we went on a hunt for some food trucks and then headed on a ferry ride to Staten Island. This was relaxing and provided a beautiful view of the skyline and the statue of Liberty.

 

 We made a quick stop at the bull on Wall Street. Oh how iconic. I kind of loved all of the giantness of the city. The buildings just towering everywhere. I love the suburbs, and I love farmland, so I wasn't sure if I would love the big city, but I do. I love it. And I love the ocean. What do I not love? :). It was wonderful for it's own beautiful and exciting things. It's dirty, and crazy and a little bit exhausting, but you feel like you are in the middle of everything! I see how it just draws you in. And I love how the whole city tries so hard to have green space anywhere they can fit it in. Aren't these tulips beautiful? Right in a courtyard near Wall Street. And this community garden. Gorgeous. All along our walk to the harbor.

We finished off this day at an awesome little Cuban restaurant in SoHo. It barely fit our group and of course we were the only ones with kids. Kelly, my old room mate from the Olympic Training Center was able to join us. It was so good to see her! I can not tell you how much I love catching up with old friends. 

TO BE CONTINUED...