Travel: New York City, or "The Big Apple" (Part Two).

Day 2: The sun pours in at all sides of our corner suite on the 29th floor. Obviously no one thought to draw the shades upon stumbling in last night. I make a mental note to my self to do so before the next morning. I sit up and blink stupidly for about 15 seconds while trying to get my bearings. Ah, New York. You can hear the city buzzing below-A racket of impatient drivers blowing their horns, street vendors and garbage men yelling, show tunes being blasted from loud speakers in the square, and I swear that you can hear the sound of hundreds of people's jackets brushing together as they pass each other on the street. I [my stomach] coax my self out of bed and into the shower with the promise of breakfast. I am famished. We dine in the restaurant down stairs in the hotel. My waffles and fresh fruit were extraordinary and there were similar sentiments coming from across the table in regards to eggs, home fries, bacon, and a pile of other such breakfasty things. Now fueled for action we hit the streets in our walking shoes. We walk back towards the good shopping and find our selves in the mother of FOSSIL stores. I'm slightly embarrassed by how much time we spent in there........BUT we emerged with his and her watches and sunglasses(quite the feat)-One has to be exceptionally choosy when it comes to sunglasses. After all...they do spend an enormous amount of time on one's face.

At some point during this same afternoon we took a brief spin through New York's "Museum of Sex"...intriguing, yes? Yes. That's why we went in...but alas, it was for naught. An overall disappointing experience. The gift shop was the most entertaining and comedic part of the entire venture. The museum it's self was a crass, cheapening exhibition of what is truly one of the most beautiful, passionate, glorious things mankind will ever know. I did not appreciate it.  But no worries, New York. I won't hold that against you.

Next we take off for the Gershwin theatre to see....can you possibly guess it????? WICKED!
We settle into our perfect (I'm talking center, mid level) seats amidst the sea of families with impatient youngsters. Excitement and expectation hang in the air as large as the larger than life dragon mounted above our heads. All goes dark and the theatre explodes into smoke, movement, and music. As a theatre lover and also a seasoned theatre performer, I am nearly moved to tears by the beauty of such perfectly executed sound and light cues! I'm telling you, if I were crier....there would have been a trickling tear or two (You only think I jest).  And for the next 2 and a half hours we are utterly enthralled by the talent and pure magic of what is arguably one of the greatest Broadway productions of all time.
 I left with that "I can die a happy woman" feeling thumping in my chest. 

By the time we make it through the throngs of people and back to the hotel (all on foot. No guilt over missing 2 workouts here) it is dinner time and we are as curious and intrigued as only two people who have never visited Todd English's "Olives" can be.  We get there around 9:00 p.m. (that's when people eat dinner in NY...apparently) and are lead to the best seats in the house-a large corner booth that gives us the perfect spectator's position.  We order red wine sangria's and get the party started with a veal ravioli, butternut squash ravioli, a mouth watering olive bruschetta to be spooned into your mouth with some amazing flat bread, and the chart topper-an escargot pizza. You heard me. Snail pizza with the most incredible pesto sauce and crispy crust........mmmm....it was truly divine. This was my first brush with snail so I was a bit hesitant, but also insanely curious, as is my nature. When it comes to food my general stance is: "I'll try anything ONCE." And am I ever so glad that I did! I was wonderfully surprised and perhaps even impressed...for the snail in both appearance and earthy, garlicky flavor was much like eating a mushroom. By this time, as is our poor habit, we have ordered and eaten nearly everything on the menu worth having BEFORE our entrees arrive, leaving neither a great appetite nor tolerance for our rack of lamb or anything else that was brought after. The few bites that were had however, were very tasty and I would love to try it again when I can actually do it justice in my consumption of it.  Though both painfully full, we wouldn't dream of leaving without dessert! and so a spicy pear and fig cake with melt-in-your-mouth-Ginger ice cream was called forth and devoured to the best of our ability.

After dinner, instead of going back to the hotel and falling asleep at midnight like sane people  we chose to go the way of the new yorker and hail a cab to carry us to the Empire State Building. We go in, take our cheesy picture in front of the green screen that will turn out a quality photo sure to be seen on this year's Christmas cards, and then we make our way to the 102nd floor. The view is breath taking but I am disappointed to learn that you cannot go outside on the tip top as I had hoped. We take the elevator down a few floors to the 86th and step out into a glacier blast of fast moving, frigid air. I squeal and thrust my skirt down in front with both hands in Marylin Monroe style as we make our way around the balcony. There is something to be said for the millions of twinkling lights and flashing neon's that can be seen from up here. I had an honest to god "Sleepless in Seattle"/"An affair to remember" moment...it can only be described as perfection. On the ride back I am sleepy and completely content. I am also in love. I know that no matter how many times I revisit this famous city, I will always have only the fondest memories of my first encounter with her. It's only my second day and I almost believe that it couldn't possibly get any better than this.