Saturday: Homeward Bound

Saturday was supposed to be a day filled with Rockaway Beach, more sun- more fun. However, we woke up to a tropical storm and it was probably to the benefit of us all. We were tired and exhausted. However, we did wait till the rain stopped and went on the subway to go one stop over to a mall nearby. Waiting in the subway, I started getting impatient while sweat was beading on my back. I realized I couldn't wait to be back to a nice cool place such as Washington. The best part about vacation is the ability to realize which things in life are truly blessings. As we made our way back off the subway, through the suffocating air, we turned the corner to the stairs and almost ran into a wall of people. With a quick peek, we learned that it was pouring rain. Cats and dogs. Or maybe in NYC it's called raining taxis and pigeons. Anyhow, we decided to make a run for it and positively soaked our clothes.When we left the mall not too long later the sun had come out and dried up all the rain. (And the itsy bitsy spider... okay, I'm getting sidetracked here.) We went back to shower and drag my heavy suitcase to the airport. Since I am from WA, I brought a plethora of clothes for all weather. Unfortunately there was only one type of weather the whole time which was humid hotness. I tried as much as possible to wear the least as possible in New York- being modest of course. Despite my crankiness for the humidity towards the end my trip was one I'll never forget. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to stay with people I know very well, and who know the city well. Nivaldo and Rachel rode with me to the end of the subway. We saw a unique wall in the AirTrain station with piano keys. New York art and design is at many different levels and definitely more interesting than in the northwest. It felt so good to know my time spent in New York was well worth it. It also telt so good to feel my plane land just below the Columbia River and have my mom and dad meet me with their loving smiles. Life is good.

Friday: "Top of the Rock"

Friday, Nivaldo and Rachel worked so I slept in a bit and then went to Rachel's work to meet Nivaldo for lunch with Rachel as our server. Before I headed to the subway I took a picture of the apartment I had started calling "home". They live in the basement of this house (you can see the top half of their door to the right of the main house door). After eating my scrumptious "Shrimp Chop Chop" at Rock Center Cafe we headed toward what we thought was the Empire State Building but it ended up being the Chrysler building. The Chrysler building had a beautifully painted and low-lit lobby. We found our way to the Empire State Building even though we had decided to ride to the top of the Rockefeller Center later at night.
Here's a picture with the Empire State Building and below is the front of the Grand Central Station. I was happy to be able to see it because somehow the last time we went through it we didn't come out the front so I hadn't see it yet.
Continuing alongside the honking mess of taxis and thundering slap of sandals, we came across the New York Public Library. I've never been in a castle, but this building feels close to one. They had marble stairs and artifacts from centuries ago. In this room, many students and adults were looking down, studying hard and we had our necks cranked back in old wooden pews looking up. In another room, the walls were lined with portraits of American politicians painted by amazing artists in the 18th century. Although the room was bare and empty of any furniture, it was filled with everyone's awe of the paintings.
To be kind to ourselves, we shared a delicious Chocolate Souffle at Rachel's old restaurant, and then went home to rest our feet and watch some more Friends. We got a little more dolled up to go to the top of the Rockefeller center. It's a different feeling when you get dressed up to go to New York City than in the northwest. Going somewhere on the subway is less private and fun than driving a car but once you get there it's a whole other world. When you step up onto the cracked cement sidewalk, there's nowhere in the northwest that makes you feel so small. So surrounded. Trying to look up at the top of the buildings is almost impossible without falling backwards first. I bet most people take in the sights of the skyscrapers once and then are forced to scurry along with the rest of the crowds for the rest of the duration they're in the city. I was fortunate to ride the elevator up at least 70 floors to see how expansive New York City really is. The room used to walk from one side of the building has multiple lights that usually can sense where people are and follow them but that feature wasn't working while I was there. From the top of this building almost as tall as the Empire State Building, people can enjoy a 360 degree view of the lights. The sites of the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Chrysler building, the water, and the relatively dark spot that was Central Park solidified the memories I had created in one week in the city.