New York, New York
It is compulsory to start any blog post about a trip to the big apple with a smattering of cliches and song lyrics so I'll start spreading the news and telling you the tales of being an english(wo)man in New York.
It was cold. I had to buy a new thick hat to keep my ears from freezing off and I had to wear my skiing gloves rather than my chic leather ones. Once I'd attained the right level of thermal insulation the city began to look (and feel) an awful lot more attractive.
If you're a tourist in NYC, there are certain things you must do. We took the two elevators to the top of the empire state building and saw the twinkling lights of broadway and fifth avanue below us. We took in a show; Avenue Q. The best way to describe it is as a cross between sesame street (puppets), friends (romance and a feelgood factor) and american pie (some rather irreverent humour). I will remember the 'bad idea bears' for a long time to come. They look like care bears but their advice is more interesting "You've got no job. Why not spend the last of your money on beer?"
Of course, there is a lot going on in such a big city and Tim and I found ways to entertain ourselves that others may not have enjoyed so much. I did a little research before I went and I decided to go to Times Square Church for the first of their three sunday services. They had a huge grand theatre that was dripping with gilt and I joined the queue for the limited number of seats (only four thousand ... so latecomers have to stand!) and I joined in with the robed choir as we sang our way through a lot of worship songs and listened to the preacher shout his way through quite a reasonable message. I was all prepared to be cynical but as the service began and the chatter died down as people began to sing I felt completely overwhelmed - in a good way. God was there. Of course, He's everywhere but I felt him there more strongly than I have felt him elsewhere in a very long time.
Tim found us a free lunch on friday. We went to an open day at the new offcies of Fog Creek, a small but influential software company. Tim was impressed with the facilities for the coders; desks that rise and fall at the push of a button, private offices for each programmer, free lunches every day etc. We chatted with several visitors and some of the workforce and admired the view out over the hudson river and ate their nice sandwiches.
I've got so many highlights; ice skating at the Rockerfeller centre has to be one, I loved it. Eating a mountain of pancakes with syrup was another. And on the subject of food I discovering that the New York baked cheesecake you actually get in New York is better than any I've had before anywhere else. I'm hungry now just thinking about it :)
As we left New York I was a little sad as I always am on leaving a holiday destination behind but New York was only half of the story. We left the city on a train, headed for Rutland Vermont where we would meet up with the american branch of our family for their annual ski trip.
It was cold. I had to buy a new thick hat to keep my ears from freezing off and I had to wear my skiing gloves rather than my chic leather ones. Once I'd attained the right level of thermal insulation the city began to look (and feel) an awful lot more attractive.
If you're a tourist in NYC, there are certain things you must do. We took the two elevators to the top of the empire state building and saw the twinkling lights of broadway and fifth avanue below us. We took in a show; Avenue Q. The best way to describe it is as a cross between sesame street (puppets), friends (romance and a feelgood factor) and american pie (some rather irreverent humour). I will remember the 'bad idea bears' for a long time to come. They look like care bears but their advice is more interesting "You've got no job. Why not spend the last of your money on beer?"
Of course, there is a lot going on in such a big city and Tim and I found ways to entertain ourselves that others may not have enjoyed so much. I did a little research before I went and I decided to go to Times Square Church for the first of their three sunday services. They had a huge grand theatre that was dripping with gilt and I joined the queue for the limited number of seats (only four thousand ... so latecomers have to stand!) and I joined in with the robed choir as we sang our way through a lot of worship songs and listened to the preacher shout his way through quite a reasonable message. I was all prepared to be cynical but as the service began and the chatter died down as people began to sing I felt completely overwhelmed - in a good way. God was there. Of course, He's everywhere but I felt him there more strongly than I have felt him elsewhere in a very long time.
Tim found us a free lunch on friday. We went to an open day at the new offcies of Fog Creek, a small but influential software company. Tim was impressed with the facilities for the coders; desks that rise and fall at the push of a button, private offices for each programmer, free lunches every day etc. We chatted with several visitors and some of the workforce and admired the view out over the hudson river and ate their nice sandwiches.
I've got so many highlights; ice skating at the Rockerfeller centre has to be one, I loved it. Eating a mountain of pancakes with syrup was another. And on the subject of food I discovering that the New York baked cheesecake you actually get in New York is better than any I've had before anywhere else. I'm hungry now just thinking about it :)
As we left New York I was a little sad as I always am on leaving a holiday destination behind but New York was only half of the story. We left the city on a train, headed for Rutland Vermont where we would meet up with the american branch of our family for their annual ski trip.
Labels: Avenue Q, Cheesecake, Fog Creek, New York, Times Square Church
posted by Lou Davis at
4:08 AM
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