arieljasmine
08-25-2007, 06:42 AM
Laur’s and Andy tackle the Big Apple Day 3
Laur’s – 28
Andy – 28
Monday 6 August 2007
We were up at 8.30 am this morning and went down for breakfast in the hotel. I had a croissant, Lucky Charms and a babybel, and Andy had a croissant, Cheerios and toast. We left the hotel at 10 am and headed into my favourite American store, Walgreens! We needed some new batteries for the camera, and whilst we were in there I thought I might as well stock up on Sally Hansen stuff, ;) so I got a purple potion nail polish, 4 in 1 formula, nail oil and nail polish remover pads. We also picked up a bottle of cherry coke for our walk down to Fifth Avenue.
On the way there, we stopped for pictures at the NY public library. As Ghostbusters is one of my favourite films, it had to be done. “Get her”!!!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07033.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07034.jpg
The main reason for visiting Fifth Avenue was, of course, the World of Disney. Within ten minutes of being in the store, I could be heard saying “Thank God for Disney” because the restrooms were so nice! On the top floor of the store, they hold character meet and greets. We were very lucky to have our photos taken with Minnie dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Donald dressed as a NY fireman.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07036.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07037.jpg
We spent about an hour in the store, and I picked up special NY pins for my lanyard – what else but Statue of Liberty Minnie and Fireman Donald! I also got a I love NY skirt – but instead of a heart it has a red Mickey head, and one of my secret santa presents (sssshhhhh).
When we had gotten our Disney fix, we went into the Apple store to have a look at the iPhone. Very nice. Andy could have been tempted by one, but they were all locked to US networks.
We had a look in FAO Schwartz, and decided to stay here for lunch so we could be out of the sun for a while. It was soooooo hot, and unlike Florida, there isn’t air conditioning everywhere. Sometimes it is nearly as hot in the shops as it is out of them. We got a diet coke, and two sandwiches, tomato and mozarella, and turkey, to share, followed by a mountain of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Boy, did that cool me down!
After lunch we realised how close we were to Central Park, so had a stroll through. We saw the zoo where we were planning on visiting the following day.
After a look round the park, we walked back to Times Square. By this time our feet were heavily protesting, so we took a break in a coffee shop with a cappucino each. After refreshment we went to Foot Locker, and Andy got some Adidas trainers.
When we had been in the Virgin store the previous night we saw that they had the couch from the Simpsons set up for people to have photos on, so as we now had the camera, we got a picture each.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07039.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07040.jpg
On coming out of Virgin, we saw loads of people clustered around in front of Sephora. Sensing celebrity, we headed to the back of the crowd. The difficulty with this was that I am only 5”3, and Andy, who is 6” wouldn’t know a celebrity if he fell over one! I heard some whispering that it was Tyra Banks, so Andy lifted me up to have a look – and sure enough it was. He took a couple of pictures for me, whilst having no idea who she was. I did remember that she was in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air though, so managed to relate that way!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07044.jpg
After all the excitement, we popped into Toys R Us to marvel at the gigantic ferris wheel in the store. Having been once stuck at the top of a ferris wheel, I found the thought of it absolutely terrifying, but I have to admit that it was kind of neat (especially when I knew I didn’t have to go on it!). Whilst we were in there, we picked up an I love NY bookmark for Andy’s mum.
We headed back towards the hotel, stopping when we discovered the Skechers store so that I could get a new pair of trainers. We also stopped in a touristy shop to buy stamps and postcards, a pencil for my auntie who collects them, and a pen and a lighter for a couple of my colleagues.
Our feet were calling us a few choice words by this time, so we went back to the hotel for a shower about 6 pm. After a shower, Andy wrote the postcards while I had a rest. We were going to the Top of the Rock that night and I had been getting gradually more agitated all day worrying about it.
We set off at 8 pm and had a ride in a yellow cab to the Rockefeller Center. We had decided not to eat until afterwards as I was feeling really sick (did I mention that I am terrified of heights?) I had booked our tickets online, and our time wasn’t until 8.45 pm, but we asked if we could go early so that I could get it over with! We were allowed in, and were both impressed by the efficiency of the staff here.
Once we went through the usual security routine, we had our picture taken sitting on a beam so they could make it look like we were sat at the top of the building. The photographer suggested that we could pretend we were falling if we wanted, but I told her (with a lurch of my stomach) that sitting was just fine, thank you very much.
We watched the introductory films about the history of the building, of NBC, and of the “World famous” (in America, maybe) Radio City Rockettes. I was feeling really sick by this point and was glad we could get straight in an elevator without waiting.
The lift took us to the 67th floor – it’s a weird experience when your ears pop in a lift. It was all lit up so you could watch your progress up the lift shaft – needless to say, I passed on this opportunity. Once out of the lift, we took an escalator up one floor to the viewing deck. I have to say that it was nowhere near as bad as I imagined. The viewing area is very wide, so you can’t accidently get pushed off (like my brain would have me believe) and there are even benches to sit on. What really sealed it for me though was the fact that there was a gift shop – proper normality! Andy walked the few steps to the higher viewing deck (no, thank you) whilst I sat, fairly relaxed, on a bench. Andy came back down and took some more photos, but I decided not to go to the edge as there were only glass panels, too scary. One of the photographers asked if he could take our picture and looked at me like I was crazy when I said I was too scared to go over there. We had a walk round and then took the lift back down.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07059.jpg
It was a weird experience looking up at the building afterwards, I couldn’t put my head back far enough to take it all in, and couldn’t comprehend that I had just been to the top of there.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07060.jpg
Stomach feeling almost back to normal we walked to McDs for some food. We had so much junk food on this trip as neither of us felt like eating much the whole time we were there. I guess this is to do with the heat, but that has never bothered me before – I love to eat! I had a cheeseburger happy meal which came with a cute bunny and Andy had a ranch burger.
We got back to the hotel at 10.30 pm, and went up to have a drink on the rooftop terrace. Wow, the view is spectacular. The Empire State Building is so close, and its quite surreal sitting in its shadow. (Incidentally, since we came home, I love Heroes more than ever because I can say, “Ooo, I’ve been there, and there, and…” you get the idea). Andy had a beer and I had a malibu and coke. We stayed up til just past midnight so that I could sing happy birthday to Andy, and then we went to bed.
Laur's princess:
Laur’s – 28
Andy – 28
Monday 6 August 2007
We were up at 8.30 am this morning and went down for breakfast in the hotel. I had a croissant, Lucky Charms and a babybel, and Andy had a croissant, Cheerios and toast. We left the hotel at 10 am and headed into my favourite American store, Walgreens! We needed some new batteries for the camera, and whilst we were in there I thought I might as well stock up on Sally Hansen stuff, ;) so I got a purple potion nail polish, 4 in 1 formula, nail oil and nail polish remover pads. We also picked up a bottle of cherry coke for our walk down to Fifth Avenue.
On the way there, we stopped for pictures at the NY public library. As Ghostbusters is one of my favourite films, it had to be done. “Get her”!!!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07033.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07034.jpg
The main reason for visiting Fifth Avenue was, of course, the World of Disney. Within ten minutes of being in the store, I could be heard saying “Thank God for Disney” because the restrooms were so nice! On the top floor of the store, they hold character meet and greets. We were very lucky to have our photos taken with Minnie dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Donald dressed as a NY fireman.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07036.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07037.jpg
We spent about an hour in the store, and I picked up special NY pins for my lanyard – what else but Statue of Liberty Minnie and Fireman Donald! I also got a I love NY skirt – but instead of a heart it has a red Mickey head, and one of my secret santa presents (sssshhhhh).
When we had gotten our Disney fix, we went into the Apple store to have a look at the iPhone. Very nice. Andy could have been tempted by one, but they were all locked to US networks.
We had a look in FAO Schwartz, and decided to stay here for lunch so we could be out of the sun for a while. It was soooooo hot, and unlike Florida, there isn’t air conditioning everywhere. Sometimes it is nearly as hot in the shops as it is out of them. We got a diet coke, and two sandwiches, tomato and mozarella, and turkey, to share, followed by a mountain of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Boy, did that cool me down!
After lunch we realised how close we were to Central Park, so had a stroll through. We saw the zoo where we were planning on visiting the following day.
After a look round the park, we walked back to Times Square. By this time our feet were heavily protesting, so we took a break in a coffee shop with a cappucino each. After refreshment we went to Foot Locker, and Andy got some Adidas trainers.
When we had been in the Virgin store the previous night we saw that they had the couch from the Simpsons set up for people to have photos on, so as we now had the camera, we got a picture each.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07039.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07040.jpg
On coming out of Virgin, we saw loads of people clustered around in front of Sephora. Sensing celebrity, we headed to the back of the crowd. The difficulty with this was that I am only 5”3, and Andy, who is 6” wouldn’t know a celebrity if he fell over one! I heard some whispering that it was Tyra Banks, so Andy lifted me up to have a look – and sure enough it was. He took a couple of pictures for me, whilst having no idea who she was. I did remember that she was in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air though, so managed to relate that way!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07044.jpg
After all the excitement, we popped into Toys R Us to marvel at the gigantic ferris wheel in the store. Having been once stuck at the top of a ferris wheel, I found the thought of it absolutely terrifying, but I have to admit that it was kind of neat (especially when I knew I didn’t have to go on it!). Whilst we were in there, we picked up an I love NY bookmark for Andy’s mum.
We headed back towards the hotel, stopping when we discovered the Skechers store so that I could get a new pair of trainers. We also stopped in a touristy shop to buy stamps and postcards, a pencil for my auntie who collects them, and a pen and a lighter for a couple of my colleagues.
Our feet were calling us a few choice words by this time, so we went back to the hotel for a shower about 6 pm. After a shower, Andy wrote the postcards while I had a rest. We were going to the Top of the Rock that night and I had been getting gradually more agitated all day worrying about it.
We set off at 8 pm and had a ride in a yellow cab to the Rockefeller Center. We had decided not to eat until afterwards as I was feeling really sick (did I mention that I am terrified of heights?) I had booked our tickets online, and our time wasn’t until 8.45 pm, but we asked if we could go early so that I could get it over with! We were allowed in, and were both impressed by the efficiency of the staff here.
Once we went through the usual security routine, we had our picture taken sitting on a beam so they could make it look like we were sat at the top of the building. The photographer suggested that we could pretend we were falling if we wanted, but I told her (with a lurch of my stomach) that sitting was just fine, thank you very much.
We watched the introductory films about the history of the building, of NBC, and of the “World famous” (in America, maybe) Radio City Rockettes. I was feeling really sick by this point and was glad we could get straight in an elevator without waiting.
The lift took us to the 67th floor – it’s a weird experience when your ears pop in a lift. It was all lit up so you could watch your progress up the lift shaft – needless to say, I passed on this opportunity. Once out of the lift, we took an escalator up one floor to the viewing deck. I have to say that it was nowhere near as bad as I imagined. The viewing area is very wide, so you can’t accidently get pushed off (like my brain would have me believe) and there are even benches to sit on. What really sealed it for me though was the fact that there was a gift shop – proper normality! Andy walked the few steps to the higher viewing deck (no, thank you) whilst I sat, fairly relaxed, on a bench. Andy came back down and took some more photos, but I decided not to go to the edge as there were only glass panels, too scary. One of the photographers asked if he could take our picture and looked at me like I was crazy when I said I was too scared to go over there. We had a walk round and then took the lift back down.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07059.jpg
It was a weird experience looking up at the building afterwards, I couldn’t put my head back far enough to take it all in, and couldn’t comprehend that I had just been to the top of there.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/andlaur23/NYCAugust07060.jpg
Stomach feeling almost back to normal we walked to McDs for some food. We had so much junk food on this trip as neither of us felt like eating much the whole time we were there. I guess this is to do with the heat, but that has never bothered me before – I love to eat! I had a cheeseburger happy meal which came with a cute bunny and Andy had a ranch burger.
We got back to the hotel at 10.30 pm, and went up to have a drink on the rooftop terrace. Wow, the view is spectacular. The Empire State Building is so close, and its quite surreal sitting in its shadow. (Incidentally, since we came home, I love Heroes more than ever because I can say, “Ooo, I’ve been there, and there, and…” you get the idea). Andy had a beer and I had a malibu and coke. We stayed up til just past midnight so that I could sing happy birthday to Andy, and then we went to bed.
Laur's princess: