I don't know where to start! New York was a dream come true. I never thought that I would really make it there and then it just happened. My mom and I flew out on June 28th. My cousin Michele, met us at the airport and our adventure began. We loved every part of New York and we cannot wait to go back! I don't know how to fit all of our trip in (hence why it has taken me awhile to post about it). So I will just put up the highlights or what you might call a run down of our trip because all of it was a highlight! And a slide show.
On the first night we went for a nice little walk with Michele. We got to see the George Washington park and Bridge. This bridge connects New York to New Jersey. It was really beautiful! We also gave Michele some baby presents that had been sent with us. It was a really nice evening to sit and chat.
The next morning we went to the Natural History Museum. This is where Night at the Museum was filmed. We went to an IMAX movie and a really cool exhibit about the brain. Their was one part of the museum that was a quiet gallery. My mom really wanted to see it but Michele and I just wanted to sit down. Michele and I were just gabbing away and laughing when I guard stepped into our view and told us to be quiet. We had to leave at that point because we were having too much fun for the silent gallery. I also learned that why I am so picky with my food could be because I have an overactive nose! The three of us took a movie of us flying in a hot air balloon over an African desert and got to send it home. I think my highlight of the museum was being with Michele. I haven't laughed that hard for a long time. John also got to be with us after lunch. After the museum we walked a little in Central Park. We then went and had scones at Alice's Tea Cup. It was a cute little restaurant and the scones were good! That evening we went to Trader Joe's or, as some call, it Traper John's for some more groceries. The stores in New York are really small so they are usually more than one floor. To get your shopping cart from one floor to another, you simply put it on a special escalator. It is so cool. I was really enamored by it. After groceries, we went to see the temple. We then walked all over New York just taking it all in.
First thing on Thursday we went to get onto the Staten Island Ferry. This is the cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty and to get a really good view of it. It was beautiful! I think both mom and I cried as we passed. We are so grateful for our freedom and for those that fight for us. We meet this really cute kids on the way back and I held the one up so he could see over the edge of the ferry! After the ferry ride we walked around the shoreline and looked at a few things that were around there. We then meet John for lunch at La Mela. La Mela was my favorite eating out place. It was Italian and I had Gnocci with Ham. It was delicious. After lunch it was time for a walk. (Actually, come think of it, most of what we did in NY was walk.) We then walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It was really fun to look out and see the view of NY from the bridge. Cars were driving right under us which was also really cool. Lovers will bring a lock with them onto the bridge. They put up the lock on the side of the bridge and throw the key into the water. This way their love will be forever. I thought it was a cute idea! We then walked to Chinatown after the bridge. We went to the lest touristy side first. It was fun to sit and listen to the people in the park make music. It was the most relaxing time of the day. We could have set there forever. But we of course had too many other things to see. We walked around for awhile just taking in the wonderful cultural experience that was going on around us. I thought that the fruit and veggie stands were awesome. It was fun to look at all the different food that I had never even seen before.
From Chinatown we went to a museum commemorating 9/11. This year they are opening the real memorial for those that died that horrible day. Just walking downtown brought tears to our eyes. We were reminded once again of the freedoms we have and the love we feel for those that fight for it. It was really neat to see what sacrifices people made in a split second that day. The stories touched us deeply. There was a really neat spirit in the building. This was defiantly a highlight for my mom. She loved it and could have stayed longer. We then walked over to where the towers use to stand. At this point you can't really see anything because Ground Zero is a construction site. But we did get to see a model of what they plan on doing. On Friday we got to go into a high building and look down into the construction site. They have built fountains where the Twin Towers use to stand. The fountains are done now but don't official open until 9/11 of this year. The one fountain was working and the other one was being cleaned. It was a really awe inspiring thing to see.
Friday morning we woke up and got ready to go to the temple. I don't know why we didn't take a picture of us going to the temple. This was for sure my mom's favorite part. We were some of the only people in the temple that day, so we got the full tour. It was beautiful and magnificent. The temple is in a very busy part of town. But once you step into the temple, peace and tranquility transcend. This is accomplished because the temple is double walled. Nothing can be heard from inside the temple. I remember thinking when we walked out that the people on the streets and in the cabs on the road, didn't know the truth. I had the strongest desire to share it with them.
Also on Friday Morning we went to see my friend Marisa and her baby. She just moved to New York about a week or so before we visited. It was so fun to see her. Her baby is so cute. We chatted for awhile, I wish it could have been longer. Marisa will always be one of my dearest friends. She is a really awesome example to me. I was so happy to see her.
That afternoon we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I don't remember much of this museum because for the most part I was sleeping. I just found a bench and crashed. But my mom and Michele loved it. It was fun to see some of Van Gogh's paintings and others that I had studied in school. But I was just so tired at this point.
We then went to F.A.O Schwartz. This is a HUGE toy store. It was wild. Anything you would ever want was there. Michele and I played on the BIG piano and made stickers. You can only guess where my mom was; the bookstore part. I love that no matter where we are my mom is thinking about her kids at school!
The last part of the night we walked down 5th Ave. It was interesting to see so much money. We went into a few stores and didn't touch anything! We then went to Rockefeller center. All the stores were closed inside Rockefeller so we got back on the subway and had NY pizza for dinner.
Saturday we went to WICKED!!!! I was so excited. WICKED was every everything I thought it would be and more. John and Michele wanted to go to WICKED with us. So they put into the WICKED lottery which means you can get tickets for cheaper if they pull out your name in the drawing. We didn't know if they would win but we were hopeful. John was the first name called. We were all so excited. Their tickets were on the front row. So, for the first half of the musical we sat in our seats in the back and then we sat up front. Thank you John again for letting us take your tickets. You are awesome! I felt like we were part of the show we were so close. I defiantly cried of happiness and because some parts really touched my heart. I loved it so much and hope to be able to go again! I was so in awe of it all, I didn't sing one word of any of the songs! I can't describe how great it was!
Times Square was so much to take in. Our favorite part was the huge "I am a Mormon sign." I yelled out "I am a Mormon too!" It was cool to see a good representation of us in the middle of the world. We also ate the most delicious sandwiches that afternoon. The whole day was amazing! We ended the night with a walk through Central Park again and eating Soul Food at a famous restaurant. It was great!
It was then time to fly to Florida. It was so sad to leave. But we are really praying to get back soon! It was so great I can't explain it. Thank you so much to John and Michele. They made our trip what it was. I know we wouldn't have enjoyed it as much without you. We loved being with you and think you are the greatest for letting us come! Thanks!
Onto Stop#2!
On the first night we went for a nice little walk with Michele. We got to see the George Washington park and Bridge. This bridge connects New York to New Jersey. It was really beautiful! We also gave Michele some baby presents that had been sent with us. It was a really nice evening to sit and chat.
The next morning we went to the Natural History Museum. This is where Night at the Museum was filmed. We went to an IMAX movie and a really cool exhibit about the brain. Their was one part of the museum that was a quiet gallery. My mom really wanted to see it but Michele and I just wanted to sit down. Michele and I were just gabbing away and laughing when I guard stepped into our view and told us to be quiet. We had to leave at that point because we were having too much fun for the silent gallery. I also learned that why I am so picky with my food could be because I have an overactive nose! The three of us took a movie of us flying in a hot air balloon over an African desert and got to send it home. I think my highlight of the museum was being with Michele. I haven't laughed that hard for a long time. John also got to be with us after lunch. After the museum we walked a little in Central Park. We then went and had scones at Alice's Tea Cup. It was a cute little restaurant and the scones were good! That evening we went to Trader Joe's or, as some call, it Traper John's for some more groceries. The stores in New York are really small so they are usually more than one floor. To get your shopping cart from one floor to another, you simply put it on a special escalator. It is so cool. I was really enamored by it. After groceries, we went to see the temple. We then walked all over New York just taking it all in.
First thing on Thursday we went to get onto the Staten Island Ferry. This is the cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty and to get a really good view of it. It was beautiful! I think both mom and I cried as we passed. We are so grateful for our freedom and for those that fight for us. We meet this really cute kids on the way back and I held the one up so he could see over the edge of the ferry! After the ferry ride we walked around the shoreline and looked at a few things that were around there. We then meet John for lunch at La Mela. La Mela was my favorite eating out place. It was Italian and I had Gnocci with Ham. It was delicious. After lunch it was time for a walk. (Actually, come think of it, most of what we did in NY was walk.) We then walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It was really fun to look out and see the view of NY from the bridge. Cars were driving right under us which was also really cool. Lovers will bring a lock with them onto the bridge. They put up the lock on the side of the bridge and throw the key into the water. This way their love will be forever. I thought it was a cute idea! We then walked to Chinatown after the bridge. We went to the lest touristy side first. It was fun to sit and listen to the people in the park make music. It was the most relaxing time of the day. We could have set there forever. But we of course had too many other things to see. We walked around for awhile just taking in the wonderful cultural experience that was going on around us. I thought that the fruit and veggie stands were awesome. It was fun to look at all the different food that I had never even seen before.
From Chinatown we went to a museum commemorating 9/11. This year they are opening the real memorial for those that died that horrible day. Just walking downtown brought tears to our eyes. We were reminded once again of the freedoms we have and the love we feel for those that fight for it. It was really neat to see what sacrifices people made in a split second that day. The stories touched us deeply. There was a really neat spirit in the building. This was defiantly a highlight for my mom. She loved it and could have stayed longer. We then walked over to where the towers use to stand. At this point you can't really see anything because Ground Zero is a construction site. But we did get to see a model of what they plan on doing. On Friday we got to go into a high building and look down into the construction site. They have built fountains where the Twin Towers use to stand. The fountains are done now but don't official open until 9/11 of this year. The one fountain was working and the other one was being cleaned. It was a really awe inspiring thing to see.
Friday morning we woke up and got ready to go to the temple. I don't know why we didn't take a picture of us going to the temple. This was for sure my mom's favorite part. We were some of the only people in the temple that day, so we got the full tour. It was beautiful and magnificent. The temple is in a very busy part of town. But once you step into the temple, peace and tranquility transcend. This is accomplished because the temple is double walled. Nothing can be heard from inside the temple. I remember thinking when we walked out that the people on the streets and in the cabs on the road, didn't know the truth. I had the strongest desire to share it with them.
Also on Friday Morning we went to see my friend Marisa and her baby. She just moved to New York about a week or so before we visited. It was so fun to see her. Her baby is so cute. We chatted for awhile, I wish it could have been longer. Marisa will always be one of my dearest friends. She is a really awesome example to me. I was so happy to see her.
That afternoon we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I don't remember much of this museum because for the most part I was sleeping. I just found a bench and crashed. But my mom and Michele loved it. It was fun to see some of Van Gogh's paintings and others that I had studied in school. But I was just so tired at this point.
We then went to F.A.O Schwartz. This is a HUGE toy store. It was wild. Anything you would ever want was there. Michele and I played on the BIG piano and made stickers. You can only guess where my mom was; the bookstore part. I love that no matter where we are my mom is thinking about her kids at school!
The last part of the night we walked down 5th Ave. It was interesting to see so much money. We went into a few stores and didn't touch anything! We then went to Rockefeller center. All the stores were closed inside Rockefeller so we got back on the subway and had NY pizza for dinner.
Saturday we went to WICKED!!!! I was so excited. WICKED was every everything I thought it would be and more. John and Michele wanted to go to WICKED with us. So they put into the WICKED lottery which means you can get tickets for cheaper if they pull out your name in the drawing. We didn't know if they would win but we were hopeful. John was the first name called. We were all so excited. Their tickets were on the front row. So, for the first half of the musical we sat in our seats in the back and then we sat up front. Thank you John again for letting us take your tickets. You are awesome! I felt like we were part of the show we were so close. I defiantly cried of happiness and because some parts really touched my heart. I loved it so much and hope to be able to go again! I was so in awe of it all, I didn't sing one word of any of the songs! I can't describe how great it was!
Times Square was so much to take in. Our favorite part was the huge "I am a Mormon sign." I yelled out "I am a Mormon too!" It was cool to see a good representation of us in the middle of the world. We also ate the most delicious sandwiches that afternoon. The whole day was amazing! We ended the night with a walk through Central Park again and eating Soul Food at a famous restaurant. It was great!
It was then time to fly to Florida. It was so sad to leave. But we are really praying to get back soon! It was so great I can't explain it. Thank you so much to John and Michele. They made our trip what it was. I know we wouldn't have enjoyed it as much without you. We loved being with you and think you are the greatest for letting us come! Thanks!
Onto Stop#2!
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