Wednesday: I'm obsessed with flying. I wish I could fly everywhere. All the clouds and city lights were gorgeous. We passed around a card for everyone to sign for Bryce's birthday the next day and at midnight Elisabeth chucked it at him across the plane. We bought him a tie with the statue of liberty on it too.
Thursday: We arrived and Elisabeth and I stole away to a different bathroom that wasn't crowded. Win! We ate breakfast at Lenny's, jumped in the crowd to be seen on the Today show, spent some time in Rockefeller Plaza, and then adventured around 5th ave. with Madison, Elisabeth, Bryce, and Brett. We found a small statue of liberty in a gift shop and of course that was a photo op. Ubrig also managed to have us sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral. I don't think I've been in a cathedral before so that was a cool experience. So much detail in the artwork and depictions of Christ's life and those who had given their lives to a cause they believed in. Elisabeth LOVED touring NBC and the Radio City Musical Hall's stage is gorgeous. I could do without some of the artwork there though. ;) Bryce dubbed the word for New York "butt" because they are EVERYWHERE. lol The store employees in China town attacked Bryce while a guy followed Madison, Elisabeth, and I through Little Italy after he heard me complain about not talking to enough New Yorkers to hear their accent. The whole trip was filled with lots of penguin huddles because we aren't accustomed to the cold. Dinner at a mall, the 9/11 memorial, and then a bus ride to New Jersey, where our hotel was. That bus had magical powers that made you want to fall asleep on it's comfy seats.
Friday: Breakfast at the hotel and then we went to Central Park. I wanted to walk around there all day. No Balto statue. :( We saw Alice in Wonderland, author of the Ugly Duckling, John Lennon Memorial, where they dance in "Enchanted" (!!!!), and lots of other famous statues and lakes. Our tour guide, Diego, made sure we made it to our performance on time and had a knack of disappearing and then reappearing right as you yelled out his name. <- That's a tested and proved theory. St. John the Divine's Cathedral = HUGE! No joke I couldn't see the ceiling sometimes and the acoustics in there were beautiful. The Museum of Natural History is NOTHING like "Night at the Museum". It was a cool experience once I got over all the taxidermy, but it was surprising how wrong the movie is. Dinner at Ellen's Star Dust Diner wasn't fabulous, but all the singing waiters and waitresses were entertaining. After that I think we went over to Time Square and I'm proud to report no one was stolen from. This time our adventure group included Me, Elisabeth, Emily Snyder, Morgan Shertzer, Bryce, and Madison. We explored the 3 level M&M world, Hershey store, 2 level Disney Store, peeked into the 5 story Toys R Us, gift shops, and a wonderful store dedicated to Broadway across from the theatre showing "Lion King". "Lion King" was amazing!!! Every aspect of the show was top notch and I wish I could see such wonderful shows all the time. Time Square at night was stunning and most of the vendors disappeared when it began to lightly drizzle. We saw some crazy things; drag queen, foot high hair, a party bus, street performers, and I managed to take a picture of Bryce with cookie monster and not have to pay the character.
Saturday: We took a ferry to Ellis Island and then to Liberty Island. It was pretty foggy, but still super fun. I like riding ferries and subways!!! Well Lady Liberty was gorgeous and terrorists are dumb because I really wanted to go up to the crown and flame, but we didn't have time anyways. Battery park back in NYC and then we rode the subway to Grand Central. It was really busy and fun to run around, especially using the whisper room Elisabeth found. I didn't want to go home, but then we drove back to the airport to board our flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. I ended up hitting Elisabeth because I was so mad, and my cheesecake. ;) There was most definitely a spy in the airport watching Elisabeth and I outside the gate and security in New York seemed more thorough than AZ. We sat with Kevin and then guy in front of us was scary. During the lay over we ate dinner and started a game of phase 10. The last flight split up everyone seating wise, but we still sang Shenandoah and then Elisabeth and I managed sitting next to each other. For the last little bit we convinced kindle-lady to switch with Bryce so he could sit by us.
The hotel both nights was tons of fun and there was one point I was laying on the ground laughing so hard I couldn't get up. When Elisabeth asked why I died I responded with something like, "I'm just so funny." The shower curtain was awkward and Emily LOVED jumping on the beds. We played would you rather and kiss marry kill till we fell asleep. I decided on this trip that next year I'm going to try to be as cool as Madison. She's just so great and definitely a role model. I can't write down all the quotes, but most are recorded in Elisabeth's ipod.
There were of course times I felt like strangling some individuals, but overall it was wonderful. I can't wait to go back some day and resume the mere dent I made in everything I want to do in New York. Vacations with friends are the best and I love choir.
Over the pass little while I've stopped focusing so much on what others think and more what I think of myself. It matters so much more that I'm happy and trying to do my best than pleasing others first, though that is important to me too. I think I became a little too wrapped up in trying to do as much in life as possible and not really considering what I actually want to be doing. I'm so glad I'm involved in choir and that I have the opportunities I do. I hope, especially since it is Easter, everyone remembers the sacrifices others make for us and are grateful for them. <3
Check out my facebook for picture documenting our trip, even though they might be out of order.
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