Can I Keep It?

The Eiffel Tower

Okay, so that night, Nay and I got out into the city and went to see the Eiffel Tower , er Empire State Building. I do not know why I called that building that, but every time I opened my mouth to say it, Eiffel Tower came out.  It got to be so common that Nay Nay started acting as if that were the actual name. Oy.

Part of the CityPASS will let you go to the Empire State Building twice in one day, daylight and dark.  We had so much we wanted to do that we opted for the night views only.  And it was stunning.  A bright sprinkling of color awash for miles around us.

The other thing about the pass is that it upgrades you to the express elevators.  No trudging up nineteen bazillion steps!  Zoom!  Right to the top to see this:

We stayed up laughing until two thirty in the morning.  Draggin ourselves up at nine to go to the Metropolotain Museum. 

It was soooo very crowded.  Nay decided to photo bomb as many family protratis as she could.  I knew when she grabbed my arm, to put my face next to hers and smile.

Despite everybody taking pictures of the work right in front of signs asking them not to, I was a good girl and did not whip out my camera.  But ohhhhh! We saw so many lovely paintings and sculptures.  We had lunch right next to Rodin's The Burghers of Calais.  There were just so many mavelous delights at every turn, I had trouble focusing on the one in front of me.  It was definite ADHD for me that day.  I believe all either of us did was grunt, "Look! LOOK!" to the other for hours.

And at some point, we stepped inside Grand Central Station, but I can't remember if we were coming or going, so I'll just insert it here.  Why not.

We spent the evening on the balcony with nibblies and drinks and rested up for the marathon the next day!

 

 

Things I'm Doing on My Summer Vacation

Week before last, my friend, Nay Nay, whom I have not seen in like, ten years (!) texted me to see if I were up for a girls weekend in NYC.  And I said, "YES!"

 

Her stepson nad his pretty wife were off to Russia visiting her relatives. Their cat, Bella, had recently had intestinal surgery and needed some special care while they were away.  For a free apartment in the City?  I'd be delighted!

Beautiful Bella resting peacefully in bed.  Seems she had been refusing food, throwing up, and had generalized pouting disorder.  At home?  She was fine.  Never lost her dinner.  Ate like a truck driver.  Napped like she was a champion.

This big guy is Finnegan.  He, however, groomed so much that he had a hairball.  On my bed. Nice.  The two of them fought over who got to sleep on my bed and my luggage.  At least it was his turn for the bed and not my suitcase.  Small miracles abound, people.  We take them where they are given.

After eating lunch and picking up Bella at the vet, Nay and I went to the store and bought some supplies.  Okay. Two stores.  One of them may or may not have sold adult libations.

On our way home,we got caught in the rain.  Sadly, we had no pina coladas.

 

But we made up for it on the balcony when we got back to the apartment.  Which, by the way, had fabulous views of Manhattan. We could see the Chrystler building and the Empire State building from just about every window view.

 

 The next morning, we took a stroll on the Long Island City East River Walkway.  Beautiful.

And took the ferry across the East River to 34th street.  And we. Walked. Across. Manhattan. To catch a cruise to visit Lady Liberty on the Hudson!

At the cruise line, we bought a city pass so we couold cram in as many touristy things as we could in the four short days we were in the Big Apple.  As many times as I have been to NYC, I had never done anything touristy. In my twenties, my first husband and I went all the time, but it was always to a party or to hang out with friends in a bar. In my thirties and forties, it was always a work destination.  Zali saw New York maybe five times himself.  He knew all the best places to pee at the Javitz Center.  And his favorite restaurant was Blossom.  A vegan restaurant in the Bronx.  Vegan. Yes. Not even kidding.

 

Me and the lady.

After the cruise, we walked the HighLine.  It's a long walking park that the city converted from an old raised railway, no longer used.  Now it is a beautiful garden.  We stopped at the Chelsea Markets fro a nosh and i had the best soft shell crab sandwich of my life.  And I am an afficianado of the soft shell crab.

The Gehry and Nouvelle buildings.  Both are award winners.  Obviously.

But I'll leave it here.  More tomorrow!