Real vacation: Day 2

I just mapped all our routes on the USA Track and Field Association running route maps, and found that Selim and I walked 6.19 miles today.  Granted, we didn't walk non-stop...but still, that is a lot of miles.  Along the way I took 135 pictures.  No worries, I won't post them all.

We started out day heading towards the river to go on a cruise to see the Statue of Liberty.  On our way, we passed through the Fashion District and saw the needle and button statue that we had seen on banners hanging on various light poles.

From 7th Ave we took a left and walked down 42nd street to 12th where it stops at the river's edge.  We decided to take the Circle Line tour because it was a quick 1 hour out and back.  That turned out to be the right decision because the Statue isn't open yet for the season and Ellis Island won't open until for a while.  It is still recovering from the damage from Hurricane Sandy.  Anyway, we got on the ship, no problem.  We waited about a 1/2 hour until we shoved off.  We were sitting in the right spot to look over and see all the aircraft on the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.

 On top and at the tip is the Space Shuttle Enterprise.  They are building a shelter for it.  So pretty soon people on the boat won't have that great view.  Apparently it wasn't meant to weather storms such as Sandy.

While we waited, we took pictures, of course.

Once we backed away from the Pier and turned around, I really enjoyed myself.  I loved seeing the buildings, their reflections, the way you can see the neighborhoods change, even from the water.  We passed by the Empire State Building.

The driving range at the Chelsea Pier is quite something.  It is 4 stories high.  Seems like an odd extravagance.  But what do I know?

Then we came to the Freedom Tower and Battery Park.  I'm not going to get down to see the 9/11 Memorial this time, so I am going to be content with seeing the new tower from the water.

It seemed like as soon as we passed the tip of the island, then Ellis Island came into view.

And then, the Lady Liberty herself.

I didn't take too many pictures on our way back.  We were sitting on the NJ side and not that much caught my attention.

After we docked and picked up the requisite souvenir, we walked back up 42nd Street to 9th Ave and found a great little cafe for lunch, West Bank Cafe.  When we arrived, we were the only patrons, so us parents didn't enforce strict table manners at all times.  The wait staff was great, laughing at toddler jokes, and unfazed by the way we ate, vacuum style.

Fortified, we headed to the Lego store at Rockefeller Plaza.  So, up 9th Ave to 48th Street.  Then over 48th to 5th Ave and into the Plaza.  The guidebook said that the store was "massive" and it did not disappoint.  Selim was very careful in his selections.  We walked around slowly, taking note of the different themed areas.  He decided on a small Lone Ranger set and a small bucket of self-serve individual pieces.  The excitement came when I bumped Selim's arm that was holding the big open container and the Legos spilled all over the floor.  The staff is used to such occurrences and we had the pieces back in the container in no time.

The benches right outside the store were exactly what we needed.  We took a brief break to rest, admire our purchases, and take pictures of the store front and fountains.

Realizing that the younger set needed a bit more of a break, Joshua sat in his stroller and fell asleep as we walked back to the hotel.  Selim wanted to play with his new Legos and it felt like the right time for a quiet few minutes. Turns out, our morning and early afternoon loop was 3.55 miles.

At the hotel, we said goodbye to Heather, Stan, and Joshua.  I took a time out on the bed while Selim put together his new figures.  45 minutes later, we went back outside to enjoy the beautiful day.  This time, we hopped on the subway and took the F train to 23rd Street.  The goal -- the Middle Eastern store, Kalustyan's.  We've broken most of the Turkish tea saucers and I wanted to replenish our stock.  We walked up 6th to 27th Street and then over to Lexington.  The store had tiny aisles and was packed with all sorts of spices, nuts, tea, and other goodies.  I could have lingered, but I didn't.  We lucked out and bought saucers, tea, and three kinds of Turkish Delight.

There was one other store that I wanted to find, Fishs Eddy, in the Flatiron District.  I'm so glad that Selim was up for it and that we made the effort.  What a cool place!  Knowing that I will have to be hauling our overnight bags tomorrow was the only thing that kept me from blowing all my extra cash on really fun (and heavy, or fragile) dishes, flatware, and glasses.

When we walked out, both of us were ready to strap on jet packs and fly back to the hotel.  Alas that was not an option.  But oof bey our feet were tired.  By the time we got to the subway, we had walked an additional 1.77 miles.

We got back to the hotel and dropped off our bags.  After a 1/2 hour or so we decided to go out for dinner.  I thought we would try a place in the guidebook that was over on 44th Street.  Back out we went, only to get to the restaurant and find out that there was a 1/2 hour wait.  No thank you.  We walked back down 7th Ave and found a pizza place for Selim.  A block away I bought a sandwich at Pret A Manger.  When in London, I picked up their sandwiches often.  Our dinner loop added another .87 to our count.  And that is how we got to 6.19 miles.

We wolfed down our dinner and then both of us took really hot baths.  Next up for tomorrow, the Metropolitan Museum of Art with more family.  And more walking.

Real vacation: day 1

I put pedal to the metal this morning and made it to Heather's in about 4 hours, including the obligatory stop at the rest area on the Mass. Pike.  We made such good time, that we got to her house before she returned from picking Joshua up at school and grocery shopping.  We hadn't been to their place since the furniture arrived from California.  It was nice to see the apartment look more like them.

After eating lunch and rearranging our travel bags, we went to the train station to get a Metro North train into New York City.

Our train was on time and we cruised into Grand Central Station a 1/2 hour or so later.

GCS is celebrating its 100 year anniversary.

It has such a beautiful interior.

And the ceiling isn't too shabby either.

We walked the .7 mile to the hotel and checked in.  We are on the 19th floor with a spectacular view of a construction site below.

Bryant Park is also in sight.

We dropped off our luggage and walked through Bryant Park.  Heather, Joshua, and Selim rode the carousel.  I documented.

I loved all the flower baskets that lined the perimeter of the park.

When we got to the library, we stood in front of the lions for the photo op.

The main reason for making the library one of the first stops was so that we could see the Lego sculptures by Nathan Sawaya.  His NYC show closed in March, but his website stated that there were pieces at the library.  We walked in the front doors and asked the security guard where we could find the information desk.  He answered the third floor.  The first person we asked outside the main reading room didn't seem to understand our question about the Lego sculptures.  In fact, she had trouble grasping the concept of Lego all together.  She pointed us to the reference desk.

The man at the desk asked us which entry way we used.  We told him that we went in by the big lions.  He looked at us with a slight raise of his eyebrow and proceeded to tell us that if we walked in past the granite lions then we walked right by the Lego lions as well.  He pointed us to go back down the stairs to the main lobby and look again.

Proverbial tails between our legs, we walked down the stairs and, ta-da, there they were, right on either side of the front doors.  Our observational skills had let us down!  Honestly, I don't know how we missed them the first time.

Mission accomplished.  Next we walked 10 blocks down to get Stan.  Right around the corner from his office is an awesome Thai food place.  The boys were very hungry.  We didn't lick our plates clean, but it was close.  To aid our digestion, we opted not to take public transportation back to the hotel.  Instead, we crossed over to 6th and walked up thirteen blocks to Times Square.

On our way, we passed a store front that had two of the Project Runway challenge dresses in the window.  Document, even though the boys had had enough of my camera.

At dusk, the lights are quite noticeable.

Selim and I said good bye to Heather, Stan, and Joshua and walked back to the hotel.  Selim was a bit teary -- missing his Dad and the comforts of home.  The novelty of the key card entry had worn off a little and he felt the let down.

Tomorrow starts off with the breakfast buffet and then we are off to take a river cruise past the Statue of Liberty.  Let's hope the weather stays rain free.