New York City

As most of you hopefully realized, my family and I were not at church Sunday night.  You did notice,...right?? :-)

We were off for a long planned trip to NYC (first time ever) that was absolutely wonderful.  Don't get me wrong.....when 5pm came Sunday night, we all were very much missing being there for the opener of the Narnia series......but by about 5:15pm, we were eating one of the most incredible meals ever at Carmine's on 42nd Street and enveloped in another world. 

I will list some of the highlights of our trip, but the "Big Memory" is no doubt all the Italian food we ate....including some of the best desserts and coffees in Little Italy, which we made special trips for (see pict to the left..).

Here are the highlights as they occured....By the way, we stayed at the Broadway Plaza on Broadway and 27th....very unspectacular, but reasonable, by NY standards.....

Sat pm.....Walked 20 blocks, ate cheapo NYC Chinese, saw "The Lion King" on Broadway, followed by late night Starbucks and walking Times Square....Sun am...family bfast at an organic deli, hopped on the Gray Line Tour of the City.  Got off at Greenwich Village, went to cool shops, walked a very long way in the very, very cold weather to Little Italy and ate marvelous desserts with coffee.  Went to Ground Zero (sobering...).....St Pauls.....the City Lights Tour (slept on the bus).....then the Empire State Building... (WAY too cold up there to enjoy...)....another late night Starbucks, then walked many blocks home in the freezing NYC cold. 

Monday was a total blast.  Brit and I got up very early and went by ourselves to the Today Show at Rockefeller Center.  I have decided that NYC is best enjoyed early, before everyone else gets off and about.  It was wonderful to walk thru Rockefeller Center with few people there, all the Christmas stuff up, the chill in the air......memorable.  We saw Katie Couric, Matt Loeuer (sp?) and the weather guy up close, as they do part of the show outside.  Brit and I then hussled into Dean and Delucca's for coffee and a lite breakfast of bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese.  Yummmmm...!  Then we hooffed it to Trump Towers to meet Deb, Michael and Tory. 

The rest of the day was spectacular, walking snow-filled Central Park, going to 5th Ave Shops (buying nothing..), and of course, more coffee.  Then we made our way back to our favorite places, Greenwich Village and Little Italy.  Food...more food....amazing coffee...spectacularly wonderful Italian desserts. 

We finished off our last day in NYC by going on the Staten Island Ferry after dark and seeing the Statue of Liberty.  Kind of disappointing, in that it is smaller than you imagine.  Still a fun memory together.  We finished off the night by finding another cool restaurant by Battery Park called Au Bon Pain then headed to the hotel, as we had to get up REAL early to fly out this am.

Sorry to bore you with the details, but it is fresh and we had a great time as a family.  I would not do it again in winter, as words can't describe how much colder that cold is than here in the South, but we were all glad we did it.  And we all agree that we are true Southerners who love our home in Pensacola.  We love our city, we love our church and our friends. 

I am very much looking forward to being with you all at church Sunday......we miss our church family!  Many of you prayed for our trip.  Thank you. It really makes a difference each time...no kidding. 

See you tommorow....PB

Comments

[Becca]

Had no idea you guys were such lovers of coffee! Now I don't feel quite so bad...
Glad you all had such a grand time.

[Wendy (Lamboy) McSwain]

Thanks for the wonderful description of your trip. New York is one of my all time favorites cities to visit (stress visit). I am so glad you were able to enjoy it as a family. I am sure the Christmas decorations were beautiful. I was there a few years back in the summer. Thanks for letting me "walk in your shoes" as you walked through New York. :) Many blessings to you and your family this Christmas!

Wendy