DAYS 29 AND 30 -
STATUE OF LIBERTY BOUND - Myself, Jutta and Karina hitched a ride on the commuter ferry to Staten Island, home to The Mindy Project's, Danny Castellano. 1, because it's free and 2, we could still catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty. This internationally recognised symbol of freedom and democracy was a generous, friendship gift from France. Well, it would've been rude NOT to say hello to the green woman of colossal, copper proportions! Cruise companies at the terminal aggravated us as they got pushy, badgering our trio to pay $28-30 to board one of their boats in order to obtain a greater look-see. The hustlers urged us to check they were legit with the police but their credibility wasn't ever the issue .. it was the price and the condescending manner in which they spoke to prospective customers. Not only that, they outright flagrantly lied right to our faces that we wouldn't see the statue at all and neither would we be able to stand on the top deck.
Yes, they were correct on the front that the angles we surveyed Ms Liberty from, were not altogether remarkable and the proximity is not as close as you'd like -- but for a freebie you can't grumble. A black dot formed on the lens of my camera obscuring the images so my photos came out quite crappy. It was a bummer that we couldn't do any funny, distorted perception pics as we were too far away. That S.O.L was a grain of green unless we zoomed in on the giantess who didn't look so jolly as does the Green Giant with the sweetcorn! Bummer dos - Climbing up to the crown was fully booked throughout December - ain't that a kick in the head? And I thought my nose was large but this girly was cursed with a schnoz that stands 4ft 6" of her freakishly soaring 151 ft 1" frame.
LOVE. LIVE. FOR TOMORROW IS NOT GUARANTEED - That concluded our business with Everybody's Gal (one of the nicknames attributed to the sculptor, Bartholdi's enlightenment to the world) as we stepped off the ferry only to get straight back on another returning to *the* city. After our flavourful lunches which turned out more than palatable for somewhere seemingly, utterly NON-special; we proceeded to Ground Zero. Fire departments in the neighbourhood commemorated the brave firefighters with plaques dedicated 'to those who fell and to those who carry on', paying respect to those who lost their lives with valour 'may we never forget'. The dark clouds of 9/11 still devour the loved ones who mourn those who were near and dear to their hearts.
The memorial reflecting pools in the footprints of the twin towers measure almost an acre in size as the water cascades down some 30 ft. Sombre inscriptions of the 2996 names of all who died in the attacks of terrorism, permeate powerfully in my heart. It felt disrespectful to take photos but there's a beauty and a stillness here as the sun beamed that I wanted to immortalise. A rainbow arched across the pools like a sign of hope as did the single stem white rose of purity. Thinking about everyone who passed away that dreadful day is all too devastating 14 years on. I took time to honour the victims and was reverently reminded that there might be no 'later' so the opportunity to act is now.
"NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME" - The exhibits inside the 9/11 Memorial Museum offer a harrowing, intense and poignant sense of the darkness of that morning. To see the faces of those killed (including tiny children - a fact I was previously unaware of) made it become too overwhelmingly real to me which choked me up, as you could match a name with a photographic image and hear details of their life recounted. These angels were taken from earth far too soon :(
Possessions belonging to the deceased, remnants of the World Trade Centre North and South towers, buckled fire engine and elevator shafts, dust and a timeline of chronological events during that day with news reports, genuine phone calls of distress etc... it was TOO MUCH. The Survivor stairs is the solitary remainder above ground from The Towers and was a critical escape path for countless of those who fled to safety and standing beside such tangible evidence of terrorism... made me very teary. I wasn't emotionally prepared for the tugging to my heart strings and I had to exit.
'THE ULTIMATE BLEND TO DRINK' - Grab your coat and get thee to Serendipity 3! Don't await a happy happenstance to take you to this brilliantly kitsch (I'm talking flamingo-pink, fluffy string lights and oversized menus), Upper East Side institution. Their speciality *THE* Frozen hot chocolate is the imaginative fulfilment of my dessert desires and it felt good on my lips. What do you mean you've never had one? Apparently, you don't know what you're missing! In order to partake in this fabulously, fancy dessert you may have to queue aaaaaages - we lucked out in a relatively short 45 minute wait before luxuriating on sweets for the sweet. I'd go to jail for a tall glass of its sugar-laden frothiness. Should you wish to be seated at the star table where Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack shared one of their romantic movie moments, best of British to ya - everrrrybody requests it. I managed miraculously to gulp down my paralysingly naughty libation without brain chill, slurping up every splash appreciatively but my mates couldn't manage it all. Count your blessings, not your calories because trust me you don't want to know how many are contained!!
PREPARE TO BE ASTONISHED - I lit up like a firefly at Dylan's world of Candy which just happens to officially be the world's largest confectionary store and cloud 9 for all things candy. Lollipop tree, giant faux choco bunny, gummies galore and 3 floors of sweeties - I was in my element and got literal goosebumps!! Nobody should be proud of the amount of dollars I spent here but somehow: Mega candy buttons with crazy quantities of e-numbers and flavourings, Razzles the candy and a gum like on 13 Going on 30 and a cute candy dispenser with a miniature scoop, found their way into my shopping bag. I'll chalk that up to me being me :S
I LOVE YOU NEW YORRRRKKKKKKK!! And I had to suppress myself from yelling out what was bursting out from every pore of my body at Rockefeller Plaza. All were fascinated by the Saks 5th Avenue Winter Palace light show; bedazzled in purple with an extravagant 225,200 crystals, almost a quarter of a million individual points of programmed light and 10,000 hours of production. I took the handsome seller up on 3 NYC prints for a steal and he remembered me from my perusing a couple of days earlier *blush*. We were back at our hostel home by 8.45pm to recharge as we didn't rest once this day and I was shaaaaattered beyond belief as the Empire State is so tiring.
NYC IS AN ENERGY DRAINER OF AN ISLAND - All this carpe diem-ing fatigued and wearied my mind, body and soul. And so a lay in was very, totally required; I didn't drag myself out of bed until nearly 9. Ellen's Stardust diner is where the party is! Friends recommended a visit knowing I would go nutso for this novelty greasy spoon and right from the off, my adulation started. A line sprawls around the corner which I inadvertently bypassed as I hadn't seen it. This didn't matter too much, since I was a lamo party of one, I was virtually seated immediately at a counter. It lives up to its nickname of The Broadway Breeding Ground with 16 servers formally Glee-ing it up, lost to the brighter lights of Broadway last year alone.
Every second of my brunch was thoroughly lurrrrved with the singing waiters and waitresses slaying tune after tune. My hot chocolate and chocolate chip pancakes were so gorge to gorge on during my ultimate 'dinner' and a show as I cheered on all who sung excellently. It was a musical theatre smack down and some of the songs of my heart (basically) were warbled - including: Royal, Rehab, One Song Glory, a Santa medley, Cool Rider from Grease 2 and the best was One Day More - a Les Mis tour de force which left me floating with happiness. I had to tear myself away after one of my all time favourite songs, Rascal Flatt's God bless the broken road -- I was pleased that the dude did it amazing justice.
GO GET YOURSELF LOVED - It is a photo must take, to be alongside the Love sculpture pop art piece .. but the couple of jpegs captured for me this first time round, were RUB-TO-THE-BISH! Reflections of light distorted the shine and bold blood red colouring of the letters. Have a love in of love sharing on the corner of 6th Avenue and 55th! Display your amorousness for your amour in all the gorgeous glory, so long as you don't get freaky deeky!
Hordes of angry protesters amassed outside the Plaza Hotel and as there was such a furore, my first thought was that celebs must be filming a movie scene as I'd noticed a boom mic in the air. Nah, they were only waiting to rant and rave in protest at Donald Trump; I feel strongly that it is right for his idiotic ideologies to be ridiculed and challenged. I joined the pack of vultures waiting to pick at Trump's corpse, spectating the spectacle caused by the activists and the lone Trump lover shriek 'WE LOVE TRUMP!' while everyone retorted 'NO WE DON'T. NO WE DON'T!' I can't blame them for sticking to their guns over addressing his serious issue with refugees and Trump's heinous racism and applaud all who would not be budged.
A SHARK IN HIS OWN POLLUTED OCEAN - As it got later, the waiting got sillier as it seemed that the immorally gutless, dog-like degenerate had been snuck in round the back as he was too cowardly to face the music of his hate mob and the TRUTH. When it became evident that this was the case, the media dispersed as did the most part of the crowds and I. Some of the chants continued as the anger of the people could not be silenced. Some were quite catchy e.g 'DUMP TRUMP!' and others far too violently colourful to ever be repeated. It was later reported on the news that some had apparently forced their way inside and interrupted his speech, being thrown out by security.
The High Line, a 1.45 mile aerial esplanade is a public park on a high-rise portion of a disused NYC rail road track. A few zombie apocalypse chase scenes from I am Legend were filmed here also. I was in harmony with the world up there, overlooking the moggy, foggy Hudson River. It has a certain appeal to those who like to keep fit, out-of-towners and people from all walks of life who like a short and sweet walk. Back in my sleeping quarters, the new geriatric woman in our dorm who was asleep by 8pm the night before was STILL asleep 20+ hours later. I was momentarily concerned that she'd kicked the bucket until she farted so ferociously and then piped up in espagnol to the cleaner. What a waste of sooooo much time in the city patented for not sleeping - snooze when you're dead, lady!
GOT MY GLAM ON - When a lady attends the theatre, she should clothe herself in her finest attire, must she not? My mind was put at rest over safety concerns during the performance as the security measures in place were so tight. Twas a bummer to see that Madison Square Gardens was hosting Z100's Jingle Ball at the same time - meaning I was in the same building at the exact same time as Pentatonix, Nick Jonas, 5th Harmony, Charlie Puth, Selena Gomez etc.. I'd forgotten to eat anything else since Ellen's so had to resort to a $6 hot dog and bag of Kettles sea salted chips prior to the show.
The worst theatrical experience I have ever entailed sent me all Looney Toons - Firstly, The seats were not inclined/tiered and I was near the back. Secondly, A guy with 7-UP hair sat in front, blocking the entire stage from my eyes so I had to sit up on my coat and crane my neck at uncomfy angles. Thirdly, Arctic cold AC blasted down. Fourthly, People were let in late and roamed back and forth with the ushers shining their torches in our eyes and we could hear out back as exit doors were left open. Fifthly, The family next to me spoke throughout without so much as a whisper, their child had coughing fits, the Grandma kept elbowing me as she wiggled around and the rest of them outright chatting endlessly. Picture an entire musical of this!!
SMILING'S MY FAVOURITE - Only a cotton-headed ninnymuggins wouldn't go to watch Elf: the Musical. It didn't stick rigidly to the movie - leaving out the burp, Baby it's cold outside scenes and the store name for Gimble's was changed to Macy's etc. Cutting out the 'DID YOU HEAR THAT?'soda sketch is unforgivable but it was an awesome show nevertheless and impeccably sprightly. It sure had a lot of pep allowing the audience to get in touch with their inner elf. The mirthful musical numbers were so infectious I couldn't NOT purchase the sparkletwinklejollytingly soundtrack.. The best line from Buddy was right at the end as he sing songily declared that he and Jovie 'had a special kind of hug I never knew about and now we have a baby' ;) Afterwards, all I wanted to do was spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear, then make snow angels for two hours, then go ice skating, then eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as I can, then snuggle! :D xx
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