After riding the Subway and seeing Ground Zero and the One World Trade Center, we headed into a nearby building to find some lunch. We needed something affordable, something that kids would enjoy and that we could all sit down and eat. I was quick to veto anything that was a chain restaurant. When I’m traveling, I like to eat the food that belongs to that place. Which in NYC, means overpriced tourist food. LOL. We found a place that sold a rotisserie chicken with two sides and we got one chicken for our whole group (4 adults and 3 eating children). It was delicious and warm and in outside the rain. After lunch I requested a Nutella crepe and that did not disappoint one bit. Although by the time we were done eating it, we had Nutella E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.
Isaiah pointed that it was possible to see the statue of liberty from where we were, as long as we outside and walked along the shoreline for a little ways. For some reason we though it had stopped raining…but it had most certainly not. NOPE. Jamie slipped and fell into a giant puddle and was soaked through. She cried for a minute and then was fine and the cousins had a blast running around and splashing in the puddles.
I’m always amazed at how well kids can do on days like this. Besides some whining and complaining, the kids did AWESOME. I don’t think we had a single meltdown even though we probably walked miles AND it was cold and raining. Sometimes we underestimate our own kiddos and their capabilities!
After deciding that we weren’t interested in getting any closer to Lady Liberty, we headed back to the Subway to slowly make our way to Times Square.
When we were walking back, we passed the NYC Police Memorial, which records all the police officers who have died while on duty in NYC.
Back on the metro, looking a bit like a drowned rat but feeling so content with our travels for the day! Wondering how much farther the kids can go before crashing and burning.
Next up: Times Square!
I love M&Ms and I wanted to go into the M&M store. We went in and it was immediately OVERWHELMING. Seriously. Three floors of M&Ms and about as many people as M&Ms.
And one quick walk around Times Square..
If you ever want an overwhelming sensory experience, I highly recemmond Times Square ;). It’s FLASHING bright lights and loud and there are so many people rubbing up against you and the smells are all around you. We came, we saw and then we left again about as quickly. Fun to say I’ve been there but had no desire to sit and stay awhile.
Since Isaiah and Sarah live in Manhattan, we were able to walk back to their apartment from Times Square. We had a chill afternoon just lounging around and playing games.
After a night of very little sleep (LOL at the fact that we thought all that walking would make them all sleep well), we were ready to conquer Central Park!
It was a quick walk to the park from their apartment, and it was a BEAUTIFUL day. The kids had a blast playing on the rock playgrounds. We really only made it to one playground in Central Park, but I would love to see more of it!
My friend Tam lives right outside the city, and when she heard we would be in the area, she took a train into the city to meet up with us! I’m so so glad that I got to see her and that she got to meet Ezra!
At this point, we had driven all day on Friday, attending my grandmothers funeral on Saturday, visited the Starruca Viaduct also on Saturday, drove to NYC also on Saturday, spend Sunday walking all over the city in the rain, and spent Monday morning at Central Park. Monday afternoon would begin our trip back to Ohio via Scranton. I snapped this picture of Peter and I’m pretty it summed up exactly how I felt…
We left NYC and drove to the Scranton area where my parents were staying for the week. They usually stay at a missionary retreat home in the Poconos and even though I only spent a few years of my life there, it always feels like coming home. It always feels refreshing and like a retreat. The kids love the playground and the woods and it’s always so special to be with family. Plus the Internet is sooooo slooooowwwwwwww that we always give up on it before anything can even have the chance to load. Which means more face to face time, or more face-in-a-book time. It’s glorious.
We stuck around long enough to celebrate my Mom’s 60th birthday with her, then hit the road back to OH!
The one time we spent a day in Manhattan, it was cold and rainy and by the end of the day was changing to snow. We had a blast but between the sensory overload and the nasty weather I was ready to go home to peace and quiet and warmth! Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me!