One Huge Day in New York City

Our family is generally not very adventurous.

Normally we visit the same places for vacation because 

we know how to get there and what to expect.

But as the kids have gotten older it seems we are stretching our wings.

I mean, sending Chelsea off to Australia and Thailand isn't 

exactly boring, right?

And, of course, when we have a guest who wants to see

America and they think of our big cities as attractive to visit

we have to put on our adventurous spirits and go with that.

Boy are we glad we did.

We have had a wonderful time over the past few weeks.

We were somewhat accustomed to Baltimore and Washington DC

but New York City was all new to me.

Warren has gone a few times for work but only in a very limited way.

I was pretty much lost as to where to begin planning this day 

when I thought of my blogging friend, Carol.

She lives in the city and shares on Buttercup Counts Her Blessings

a bit about her life in the Big Apple.

I had met Carol a few years ago when another blog friend, 

Marydon, had invited both of us to a meet up in Maryland.

I know...this wonderful world of blogging is amazing.

And so, I gathered my nerve and sent Carol a message asking her if 

she would be willing to show us around her town.

Amazingly...well not really....because she is the BEST,

Carol said yes.

And then set about making a plan for our day 

putting Johnny's priorities first.

New Jersey and New York as we first saw

it on Monday morning.

And after experiencing the "joy" of losing our GPS as soon as we entered the city we 

ended up parking at the wrong parking garage.

Mind you, it was the third one we tried as the first two were full.

But they would have been the wrong ones as well

because we were on the wrong side of the highway.

This is where it became so important that we had someone who 

knew the area so well.

With my confused utterances of seeing water and street names

Carol guided us by phone to a walking bridge over the highway and met us

on the other side.

I was so happy to see her.

Let me tell you!

With that we were on our way.

We passed by Trinity Church where I found out that our local

hero Robert Fulton is buried.  

I took a rather poor photo of his tombstone so you can just 

imagine it if you like.

I'm not planning to post it.

We saw this on the way to the Ferry.

Wall Street!!

And the famous bull.

Chelsea and Johnny waited in line for their photo opp.

A stop at Starbucks, which should surprise no one, 

and then we were off to the Staten Island Ferry.

We LOVED it!!

I was taking photos of Johnny with the Statue of Liberty when I saw the opportunity for this.

You know I couldn't resist.  The Statue of Liberty on his head. 

I'm sorry....but aren't they just too cute?

This is Carol. 

She is such a wonderful lady.

We all agree that we love her and are so glad that she shared her day, 

her knowledge and her love of the city with us.

Thanks, so much, Carol!!!

When you arrive at Staten Island you must disembark and get in line again

to ride back across to Manhattan.

I loved seeing this scene as we waited in line to get back on this ferry.

Lunch was next.

Carol knew the perfect place.

Salad and sandwiches were delicious and the employees were friendly 

while being very efficient.

Very special while we were there was an opportunity to read Psalm 130

in a special remembrance and prayer for three teenage boys who have been kidnapped

in Israel.  I read it out loud and very nearly didn't make it through because 

it is the passage that talks about Watchmen in the night.

My Dad used to preach a sermon entitled, 

"Watchman, What of the Night?".

I would hear him preach it at revival meetings or other speaking 

engagements and it was the only sermon that I readily remember being familiar with.

He wasn't much of one for repeating sermons.

So, when Carol shared that a group she is involved with was 

reading this Psalm on that day and I read it....

well, let's just say that it was a double blessing.

Seriously.

I will now remember to pray for these boys and their safe return.

Next in our journey was Central Park.

A true respite in a large and busy city.

You know we had to do it.

A cute couple pic.

 As soon as I saw the bridge...I knew.

They had to go and pose.

Then we crossed over to Columbus Circle.

A wonderfully air conditioned mall offered several comforts.

Most importantly being free clean public restrooms.

Very hard to come by in New York City.

Although, I have to say we managed pretty well in our day.

Chelsea was thrilled to find that Carol loves Gelato.

In fact she knows where to get the best Gelato in New York City....

GROM.

Now, personally, I was confused at why they would name their shop GROM because

I wouldn't have recognized it as a Gelato shop....

but people definitely find it.  

There were lines.

Mostly behind us for which we were thankful.

Onto the subway

to head to Times Square.

Yes, this was a seriously full day.

We saw a LOT.

This is probably my least favorite spot we visited.

Not that it isn't fascinating....

but it was crowded.

I'm really a country girl at heart.

Country girls are more comfy with cows across the street

than flashing lights and naked cowboys.

Yep, we saw him. 

Live and just a few feet away.

As Chelsea put it...

"Unfortunately".

If you don't know who I am referring to 

you can Google it.

:-)

We were happy to find the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

We may visit the one in Baltimore to actually eat.

Johnny, Warren and Jonathan all love shrimp.

But for photo opportunity this was perfect.

Finally, we took our very tired selves back to the subway and then back to our car.

Carol, bless her heart, rode with us to make sure we got off at the right stop 

and knew how to return to our parking garage.

She was the perfect hostess.

We were parked right by the water and so procrastinated leaving by just 

a bit since it had been such a lovely day and we really didn't want it to end.

Thanks for taking the tour "with us".

Have a wonderful day!