New York!

I had a great adventure this weekend - a trip to New York, New York. The place was fast, loud, and full of life. I loved it all!

I went with Angie and her family for a weekend trip. We were scheduled to leave Friday on the Amtrak at 1:05 pm. When it was time to load, we found out that our departure was delayed. An hour and a half later we were off! We all prayed that the rest of the trip was successful and smooth so we could make it to the Broadway play, Mamma Mia at eight o’clock. But there was trouble in store for us in Philly. We stopped in Philadelphia to let passengers off, and when it was time to leave we found out that our engine had broken down. The Amtrak people had to replace the engine before we could leave again. So we sat in the dark and waited, finally leaving about an hour later.

When we took off again, we decided that we would not have time to go to the hotel room, change clothes, and get to the play all before 8:00 pm. To save time, we changed in the Amtrak bathrooms. Boy, was that a challenge!

We were just a few minutes away from our destination. Everyone that was getting off at New York was getting their luggage and lining up by the door. This one lady got in between our group and said, “I will let you all go in front of me because I know ya’ll are in a group.” We thanked her and continued to talk. Come to find out, her name is Celine, she lives around New York, and she had what we needed to get to the play on time. I really don’t know what we would have done without her. Angie’s mom called our hotel before we got in and told the front desk that we will be dropping off our luggage, picking up the play tickets, and will not check in until later that night. The hotel said they would be waiting for us.

When the Amtrak arrived, we flew off and darted out, with Celine leading our pack. We went to a random street that Celine said would be the easiest to get a taxi. We all stood on the side of the street, holding her bag while she hailed a cab for us. Celine found one, gave the taxi to us and said, “Good Luck!” We zoomed off to the hotel, when we got there everyone in our group had a plan. I stayed in the taxi so the driver wouldn’t leave us; Angie ran to get our play tickets; and Angie’s parents basically threw our luggage at the hotel doormen. It was fast and efficient. We then zoomed off to the play. We ended up arriving ten minutes before the curtain went up. God was truly looking out for us, and as Angie’s mom would put it- Hello New York!! We truly felt the big city rush.

The play was AMAZING!! I loved every minute of it! The cast was great, the music was perfect, and I felt like I was right there on stage with them. I would really love to do that someday….too bad I can’t sing.

After Mamma Mia, we went and ate dinner at Roxy’s. The diner was established in 1946 and is still going strong. The food servings were huge! I ordered a grilled chicken club sandwich and got this monstrous creature (I posted a picture of it on here). I could only eat ¼ of it, but it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten! We also all split a piece of original New York Cheesecake. That too was enormous and the four of us couldn’t eat it all, but it was delicious!

With our stomachs full, we looked around Times Square. It was unreal! There were so many lights! I don’t think that part of town ever sleeps. We then went back to the hotel and rested up for the next day.

The next day we got up and walked around town, going in and out of different stores. We ate lunch at Hard Rock Café. I learned something very interesting there. It is a New York law that the calories must be printed for every menu item. It sure does make you think twice before ordering something!

We headed out to Chinatown after lunch to do more shopping- and we shopped till we dropped!

By the time we were done with Chinatown, we were all worn out. On our taxi ride back to the hotel was a scary. It felt like the driver was using both feet on the steering wheel. When we got back to the hotel, Angie’s dad and I went and got Chinese take-out.

We ordered out at this place called Ollie’s. Angie’s dad ordered sweet and sour chicken for Angie’s mom, and then he ordered another for himself. The cashier said, “You want two? Are you sure?” We both looked at each other and laughed and he said yes. I then ordered the same thing. Our wait was fifteen minutes, so we went next door to this enormous Apple store while we waited. The store was so neat! There were two stories, the ground level was the iPods and the basement was computers. So organized and so simple, but it sure was exciting to go to.

When we picked up our Chinese food, both of our bags were extremely heavy. I was thinking that I got more food than I ordered. We got back to the hotel room and opened everything up. My one order of sweet and sour chicken with rice was huge!! When I finished eating, it didn’t look like I touched it.

The next day, Sunday, we got up and headed back to DC. I had so much fun and I cannot wait to go back! There is still so much I want to see!!

I am back in DC. I unpacked, did laundry, and now I am preparing myself for work tomorrow. It has been so long since I have gone to work; I am hoping that I remember how to do everything. Our office is in recess this week so hopefully it won’t be too stressful. It will be a little harder because Rae-Lynn, my staff assistant, will be in the district with Congressman Conaway. We will see how it goes!

I hope all of you enjoy my pictures! Some of my pictures are on Angie’s mom’s camera, so those will come later.

until next time,

madelon