Twenty-Third Day – in New York City – “Don’t you just love it?”

Happy Valentines Day! It’s Valentines Day here, and you couldn’t possibly forget. In Australia, it is often noted but there’s never a fuss made over it but in New York restaurants were giving discounts, beautiful flowers and balloons were everywhere and men were running around, carrying bouquets of flowers – even Mother Nature seemed to know it was Valentines Day, as the weather was considerably warmer today than it has been.

Today was also Auntie Mandy’s last day in NYC and we’ve already seen most of what she wanted to, although really you could probably live in New York your whole life and not see all of what it has to offer. So this morning, we decided to go to Greenwich Village and I didn’t realize but as soon as I got there, it was like I had stepped into the world of “Friends”. All the buildings are practically identical to the apartment block used for the exterior shot in Friends.

  

Sorry to everyone who were hoping for a picture of the actual exterior… but… New York is a really big city.

Then we stopped to have lunch at this really nice French place – if you ever get to Greenwich Village, definitely check out “French Roast”. On 14/2/2011 Auntie Mandy declared that it was the best French Onion Soup she’d ever eaten. The prices were reasonable and the Crème Brulee was apparently to die over… not that I think I’d ever die over food… particularly not Crème Brulee – I don’t even like it.

But our next stop, which was somewhat essential before Auntie Mandy left New York was:

 

5th Avenue. Feeling extremely out of place as all the leggy women with little tiny dogs, we ventured into 5th Avenue with two main purposes.

“Don’t you just love it?”

“Love what?”

“Tiffany’s!”

Yes, this is the Tiffany’s from the Audrey Hepburn Classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on 5th Avenue. For those who don’t know the movie (you shouldn’t) and wish to be more accquainted (you should), check out the trailer:

But we were actually at Tiffany’s for a purpose. My Aunt wanted to get something. An expensive souvenir, true, and surprising too – she’s not a big jewellery person but she wasn’t alone in her wanting something. My mum wants something too. Mum appears to like jewellery more and wear it a bit more but she doesn’t like to spend a lot. But they weren’t alone. Yes, who else wanted something you’re wondering? Jonathon, Dad or me?

Well me, obviously. I graduated from school, at the end of last year and Mum and Dad promised me a present from Tiffany’s, so all of us were there and looking with a purpose. Dad and Jonathon shortly got bored and went to the Apple store. Auntie Mandy had to choose something today since she’s leaving and eventually chose one of the keys, called “Daisy Key”.

It’s beautiful, and very much “her”. Mum and I are undecided. See, I’m torn because I see something at home and might like it better but I mean.. it’s Tiffany’s – on 5th Avenue. That’s pretty special. I already have a heart necklace from Tiffany’s, which I absolutely love. So I am looking for something different. Anyway, Mum and I will go back later, possibly with our friend, Mrs Dighton, who’s meeting us in New York in a couple of days.

Something I probably haven’t told you, is that Jonathon and Dad received tickets to the David Letterman show. They applied online and were fortunate enough to receive the tickets, so they went off there this afternoon – leaving me alone, yet again, with Catherine and Amanda Jane. We went to Central Park, because we were there and let me to tell you something. People have asked me “Has it snowed? Is it pretty??” Well it has snowed a bit, but a few weeks ago New York had heaps of snow and it is piled up on the sidewalk (footpath). Now I hate to spoil people’s dreams and ideals but the snow in New York is far from pretty. It’s not glistening and white, the way it is in storybooks, but it is dirty, black and plain disgusting.

    

After Central Park, we made our way back to Grand Central Station (successfully, I might add) and then had a look around Grand Central Station, which is a tourist attraction in itself. It’s quite a nice-looking station, and rather old-fashioned seeming but it also sadly does have plenty of homeless people trying to stay warm. There are so, so many homeless people in New York City.

We even made it back to our apartment safely and (dangerously) I allowed Mum and Auntie Mandy to take a stroll by themselves. And THEY made it back safe!

But the tourism experience doesn’t end there – it seems strange but a tourist experience in New York City is eating Chinese food (just like they do on Friends) which was what we did tonight. Dad and Jonathon picked up Chinese food on there way home from Letterman. I am still battling that stomach virus and don’t really like Chinese food that much, but when in New York do as the New York-ans do.

  (I’m really excited there because the rice came in the proper boxes, like on the television. I look kind of psycho, actually, but hey that’s just me really).

  I am also really excited there because I am holding a bottle of Sprite Zero. We get Sprite Zero at home, but not in small sizes, and I love it. So very excited (and looking particularly unattractive, I might add)

And now, the tourism continues with classic New York Cheesecake (which I don’t think I’ll like either, but will try it anyway). Tomorrow, Auntie Mandy will leave us in the early morn and I honestly don’t know what we’re doing…

  (New York Cheesecake. I didn’t like it :P Haha I sound like a really fussy eater – I’m not – I tried all of the things I’ve said I didn’t like. Oh and check out Pluto next to me. I procrastinated writing this blog by watching Mickey Mouse cartoons on YouTube )

I know I sent you a link last time to look at but I’m going to send you another for a girl named Sammy: http://sammyswalkthroughlife.blogspot.com/ Sammy has Cerebral Palsy and very recently has taken her first train trip walking, after only about 12 months ago, she couldn’t sit fully upright. She’s done an amazing job. So if you care to, check it out. I think you should.