Monday, September 26, 2011

A Long Post Part 1

A fun blog has photos, right? Posts on a regular basis? Well, Evidently I lack the qualities of a good blogger. This post had every intention of having photos with it, but because my computer’s memory is full (it still runs at decent speed too, bravo Mac) and I haven’t backed up my stuff and therefore have failed to upload pictures to the said computer I cannot then share those photos with you…Okay? Excellent. Moving on.

New York was rad. It was the first place I have ever been to that I couldn’t say “Oh this is like ____” or “This reminds me of being in____.” It is the most unique city I have ever seen, and I am so glad that I was able to experience it. And boy, did I experience it. Remember that list of a million things I hoped to see and do? I checked off a whole bunch. For example I:

-Saw a Broadway show. The Book of Mormon to be exact. You might be asking ‘But isn’t it sold out for the next two months?’ ‘Aren’t tickets super expensive?’ ‘Why yes they are!’ I would reply. However, there is something I did not previously know about called “Standing room” for these types of high-profile, in-demand kinds of shows. Basically, you stand in line for a good portion of the day, and then (if you were in line early enough) you buy tickets for $27. Times Square is right nearby, so our group of four rotated waiting in pairs. The catch is that they are standing seats, but there is a railing to lean against, and you have your own seat number and everything. It’s like having a seat without a chair being there. Surprisingly, I did not even notice the fact that I was standing for 2 ½ hours; the time flew by and I wasn’t at all uncomfortable. The play itself was very funny, although I definitely had my problems with it. There were parts that I was very uncomfortable with, and just flat out didn’t like. It was (in my lay opinion) a well done play, with creative music and the works, but a few of the songs were very offensive to any religion. I didn’t think I would take offense to the play since it is geared at making fun of the Mormon faith, but they side-stepped on to my Jesus-loving, God-revering territory and I don’t do well with that. I still enjoyed myself, and I am glad that I got to see the most talked about Broadway play.

- Visited Central Park and got to ride on a row boat. Central Park is mental. It took me awhile to acknowledge that a park could be so big and have museums, carriage rides, row boats, theaters… it is crazy. Crazy cool! The boat ride was really fun, although there were protesters outside of the Boathouse that we had to side-step. The water is more than just algae-green—it looks like Shrek peed. Now would be a good time for a picture. Sorry folks.

-Went to the “Top of the Rock” at Rockefellar Center. I am glad I went with this way of seeing Manhattan, although there are other options available, i.e. Empire State Building. On your way to the elevators there is an assortment of interesting information about John D. Rockefellar and what went in to building the building. Top of the Rock is at a great location to see everything you want to see, you can go on both sides of the building, and it is less expensive than the alternatives ($23 per person). Yes, you might get to go up higher on the Empire State, but really, 68 floors, 85… you are up HIGH no matter what. Since we went there on 9/11, I couldn’t help but think of the people who jumped from the towers. Those people were ten and twenty floors higher than I was, and it was so sobering to look down and know that jumping was the better alternative. (Side note: the people who jumped were counted as homicides, not suicides) All around Rockefellar Center are flag posts, and usually there is one flag for every nation in the world. When I went (9/11) there was one flag—the American flag and it was half-mast. It was awesome to see the flag flying at half all around the city, but particularly there.

-Saw the Empire State Building. This would be hard to miss. It is huge and you can see it from 85% (rough, poor mathematical calculation) of Manhattan.

- Took public Transportation. Umm… I would have to be crazy-rich or just plain crazy to not take public transportation. This is one thing I really wish we had in California. I loved having to walk everywhere, and have that be normal. If I had a commute on a Subway, it’s not nearly as bad as having one via car, because you just sit there! You can read on your way to work! Awesome! Downside to having to walk everywhere—blisters. I ended up buying a pair of Nike Free Airs to ease the pain of days of trying to look decent in regular shoes. I swore I would never be one to wear sneakers with jeans or (worse) a dress, but I had to. It put a lil’ pep in my step and I was ready to roll! I suppose when you live there your feet get used to it, although I can’t understand the girls who were wearing heels.

*I did not win double my money on a video bonus in the Cash Cab. Sadly, I did not win any money, let alone double, because I did not ride the Cash Cab. Obviously, it was a let down. I didn’t have very good odds though, since I didn’t take a cab the entire time I was there. Public Transportation was the name of the game.

- Saw the Statue of Liberty from afar. I’m glad I didn’t take all day to go inside of it because I feel like it’s one of those things that you can see it from afar, or see it up close and either way it’s just kind of like… “oh, there it is.” I do have some ridiculously cheesy pics of me “holding” the Statue of Liberty. Maybe I’ll upload some later.

*I did not visit Klienfeld’s. I would have at least liked to see it from the outside, but it got skipped since, quite honestly, I forgot about it in the midst of doing so many other things.

-Visited the American Museum of Natural History. This was pretty sweet, as I quite enjoy museums, however I couldn’t stop thinking of the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. If you’ve never met me, (in which case, Hello! And, how are you reading this?) then maybe you don’t know that I am a huge F.R.I.E.N.D.S. fan. Otherwise, if you’ve spent more than five minutes with me you have heard me refer to the show, and you probably didn’t understand my joke. Anyway, I kept quoting the show and pointing out things to the point where you would have thought I was on a movie set instead of a museum. It retrospect, it is moderately embarrassing, but I already know I am weird in that way (among others).

Alright, this post is to be continued… (maybe with Pics next time?)

No comments:

Post a Comment