Day 3 in New York Round Two

Today, Monday, we took the free Staten Island ferry to, well, Staten Island. The point however, was not to actually visit Staten Island, but to get a free view of the Statue of Liberty for Mum (as I have already seen it). After arriving back on Manhattan, I took Mum shopping in Soho. We also had lunch at a fabulous little place called Freeman's which came as a recommendation from a friend of Mum's.

Mum at Freeman's

After finishing shopping, we raced back to the apartment so that we could get to the post office before it closed. As you know, we have of course bought a little too much while in NYC and needed to post stuff home. Three boxes to be exact. We then headed back down to Times Square so I could take Mum up Rockefeller Tower. I was getting excited as the massive Christmas tree is supposed to be going up sometime around now but when we arrived at Rockefeller Plaza, the tree was up but it was covered in scafolding. If only I was here next week...

Flags at Rockefeller

At the Top of the Rock, we had a great, if somewhat foggy view over Manhattan. It was very different from when I went the first time. For one thing, there were far less people there than which made it alot more enjoyable. And it was dark (we ran out of time for Mum to see it it in daylight).

Check out the fog over Manhattan from Top of the Rock

Heading back to the subway, we made a pit-stop at Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes and then once back near the apartment, we stopped by an Italian place for dinner. Here we had yummy pasta and enjoyed music being played by a guy 3 metres away from the restaurant. We thought he was busking but then a guy walked past and gave him a twenty and the musician was shocked and confused. As it turns out, he was just sitting on the front stoop playing guitar and singing because that's what he likes to do. He had great music taste, a fantastic voice and was very good on the guitar. It was a lovely dinner experience.

Back at the apartment we set about packing our suitcases for our flight to New Mexico in the morning. My apologies if this post is a bit dis-jointed but I am very tired and have to be up in 4 hours so we can go to the airport. Am not sure when I will next have internet access as we start our week long road-trip tomorrow.

Day 2 in New York Round Two

On Sunday we walked through Central Park. Half-way up the park is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, better known as The Met, which we visited. Here we had our first celebrity sighting! Meg Ryan walked past us (with lips looking just that little too plastic) wearing sunglasses. It's nice that famous people can wander around places without being bothered but is it really necessary to wear the glasses? The room already has low lighting so you are basically screaming "I don't want anyone to recognise me!" We later hung out in the ladies bathroom with her (totally by fluke). After The Met, Mum and I took a horse-drawn carriage through part of Central Park.

Central Park

That night, I took Mum to Times Square and we also saw the Broadway production of The Lion King! It was absolutely amazing and I desperately want to see it again. Words can not describe it. The performers, the costumes, the music, the colour, the dancing, the singing...the talented people who made this fabulous Disney movie come to life on the stage deserve many standing ovations. Truly wonderful! Apologies for the short post, it's 1am and I have to be up in 4 hours :(

First Day in New York Round Two

Today was Mum's first full day in New York and we went all out. First we caught the train to Columbus Circle which is at the south-west corner of Central Park. Here we stumble across a movie being filmed called Tower Heist staring Ben Stiller and Alan Alda (but we didn't see either of them) plus a bunch of other big names. We then walked along the bottom of Central Park to 5th Avenue. 5th Avenue resulted in visits to FAO Schwarz, Bergdorf Goodman, Diesel, Gap, Armani Exchange, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Lindt store and Tiffany's, amongst others. And yes, many purchases were made!

Movie being filmed

Outside FAO Schwarz

Meeting the current residents of FAO

Christmas decorations at Saks

After many hours shopping we trudged back to the apartment to drop off all our bags and then raced out again to Union Square. Here I showed Mum the farmer's market, that is there 5 days a week, where she marvelled and got jealous at the number of different potatoes that were available (for those of you who are not aware, Mum's pride and joy is her veggie garden at home and she is a regular every weekend at the farmers market back in Perth where she does most of the food shopping). I then showed her the discount designer stores at Union Square and then we went into American Eagle Outfitters, a favourite of her's from when she went to Hawaii.

The farmers market at Union Square - Mum with some of the potato selection

Our next stop was the fabulous Strand bookshop where of course we bought lots. It is hard not to when the books are less than a third of what they would cost at home, even once you add shipping on it's still cheaper! After dragging ourselves away we got dinner at Vapiano before heading back to our apartment.

Bye Bye Boston, New York I'm Back!

Yesterday Mum and I left Bec and Gaj in Boston and headed back to New York City! This was Mum's first trip to the Big Apple (outside the airport anyway!) and she welcomed it in spectacular fashion! That's right, after dropping our luggage at the fabulous apartment we are renting for the next 4 days, we wandered around some of the Upper West Side and did what Willis women seem to do best, shopped!

I think it might have all been too much for her though as she was asleep by 8:30! I'll have her completely worn out by the time we leave!