After a very long 2 days of touring and track sitting, we slept a little late. We are both a little sleep deprived anyway in our normal lives. So it was a treat to sleep until 8:00 a.m.
what I had to pack (before we went shopping)
the view from our room
Today was our day to leave around 7:00 p.m. -- but we had the whole day to kill in NYC --- tough life. After packing our suitcases (we had multiplied into a duffel bag too) and checking out. We scooted over to Times Square to catch the Terracotta Warriors Exhibit at the Discovery Museum. I was so excited about this -- on Thursday night I had remembered it was in NYC.
This museum is located right on the street with a few of my favorite theaters. As we had arrived before they opened the door, we wandered around and looked at the new plays out. Normally when I come to NYC, it’s all about what is on or off Broadway. My sister and I try to catch a play a day, if not two a day, with matinees. --- Next time......It was Puerto Rico Day with a big parade out and traffic was all backed up.
NYC parade float
Blair Underwood as Stanley -- dang, I would have liked to have seen that one...
on their way to the parade
A line formed at the museum and we got in it. This is a very modern building located inside an old building. The ticket will call booth was on one level and we proceeded down a glass lit staircase to the bottom floor for the exhibit. After checking our items in the coat check, we collected our audio guides and got in line behind a family from China. The little girl was very wiggly and her mother kept chiding her to stay still. Kids are the same everywhere, it was very amusing when her little brother started poking her in the arm behind the parents' backs. My sweet brother would have been on the floor, if he had done that to me and I would have been spanked -- lines were never our strong suit. I can only imagine my parents' need for Xanax on one of our many trips to Six Flags or Disney World.
Once inside there was a short movie showing the history of the warriors and their discovery. When it was over the screen opened up to the exhibit (well played). I have always wanted to see the Terracotta Warriors in China, but didn’t know if I would ever be able to or not. So this was a treat.
The first piece was a headpiece and a trunk. They had the history of the first emperor and the different dynastys along the walls. For such a difficult and broad subject, this exhibit made it very entertaining and easy to understand (simplified but interesting). I had taken Asian History in high school for a couple of semesters, so I was a little familiar with it --- but it was a distant memory.
Didn’t realize that there would be so many horse soldiers in the exhibit, but there were. So Angel was pleased she came -- three days of horses - Warhorse, the Stakes, and now this.
fascinating expressions
intricacy in such an age
acrobat
cool video with this one.
this was a guy's tomb
remember this is before electricity -- the craftsmanship is unbelievable
Of course the exhibit ended in a shop -- and we were very conservative with our purchases. The museum food options were the “Cake Boss” treats. I have never seen one of these shows but have vaguely heard of it. The chocolate mousse cake and the brownie (more like fudge) were good.
does my little niece and her cousin need one? yes, but maybe not yet :)
On our way to Chelsea Market, we decided that we couldn’t miss the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (remember I was trying my best to be good with my purchases). This is like taking a drunk into a bar though-- Angel and me and a flea market. Lots of treasures in this block area and fun to take pictures -- I walked away unscathed except for some awesome vintage coasters. It’s always fun to look at stuff.
vintage Coach - I have some of these at home.
our immigrant coaster artist :)
We had high hopes of walking all the way to the “High Line” to get us to the Chelsea Market, and we made a valiant attempt.
But we petered out about 6 city blocks in -- Did I mention that it was a beautifully sunny and warm day out in lovely NYC, very much like where we are from. But up here there is way too much concrete to reflect the sunlight and my fair skin was burning. So we did what any other intelligent person would do - hailed a cab (gotta love them).
princess read the second to last one :(
But we petered out about 6 city blocks in -- Did I mention that it was a beautifully sunny and warm day out in lovely NYC, very much like where we are from. But up here there is way too much concrete to reflect the sunlight and my fair skin was burning. So we did what any other intelligent person would do - hailed a cab (gotta love them).
A perfect man--- patiently waiting.
The taxi let us off at the front door of the Chelsea Market, by Anthropolgie (not a good store for us). We had to go in and look. Normally Angel is the one who finds many things here, this time it was me. I lucked out with the motherlode of cabinet knobs and an eggplant colored quilt that I had been eyeing for a few months was on super sale. So of course I had to figure out a way to haul this for the rest of the day -- pack mule now on duty.
Chelsea Market was a great little place. Not exactly on the normal tourist routes. We were hanging out with lots of locals enjoying a beautiful Sunday. I was told later that Chelsea Market is a normal setting for Food Network shows (I wouldn’t know).
Venice in the city
ugh, not good
Sweet Pamela asked me if I had a gift closet. I replied something like that. She said Southern Women were smarter with gift giving. Yes, I did buy a few for my gift storage area....
:)
This was the best place to grab lunch -- people were eating at tables, on the ground, and on the stairs. We opted for Crepes Suzette Bar and eating on the steps in a little alcove, with our packages surrounding us. My ham, cheese and salad crepe was awesome. Angel got a couple of them so we could try them -- a nutella crepe was good but not like in Paris. We liked our NYC crepes.
After shopping a little while longer, we found the local gelato maker and ate on the ground outside a bookstore and people watched.
With all my packages, we went up the elevator to the “High Line” -- it’s an abandoned elevated train platform that has been transformed into a peaceful garden retreat for urban dwellers. I got the sense of being in a treehouse land -- where you could see the big buildings and the river, but were apart from it. There were art pieces scattered about, small vendors with their art for sale, and food vendors.
a NYC snocone
I did this -- cooling :)
Near the end of the High Line, we went down the stairs and entered Greenwich Village. This is an area I have always liked wandering around.
But we were in a more residential part. With all our packages, we decided going back to the hotel to repack/ie rearrange with our new items.
But we were in a more residential part. With all our packages, we decided going back to the hotel to repack/ie rearrange with our new items.
Our hired car arrived timely to collect us and whisked us off to the airport. We made it through security quickly and ate at a pizza joint. Our trip home was eventful, in that we met a very nice lady who was into horses and horse racing as much as Angel was. They chatted the whole way home about horses, while I slept.
Of course, our trips never go as planned. Instead of being able to make our way home, a shooter Bonnet Carre spillway stopped us from leaving. So we stayed another night away from home.... Great trip to the races.
