New York, New York!

Finally I am up to date (kind of), and it's time to write about my trip to New York. Thanks to Mom, I was able to get a ticket and go on my dream, 5-days vacation, to the city that was number one on my list of places to visit. Yeaah!

I arrived an hour before Mom, and my darling friend, Haydee, was already waiting for me at the airport! Oh, it was soooo good to see her! I missed my girl so much. :-) We hugged, and we kissed, and then we went to have some coffee. I loved that place sooo much--there was coffee available in every possible corner on each street in NY! Wow! A truly paradise for a coffee lover like me! Shortly after we finished our little coffee/breakfast meal, Mom arrived. Unfortunately she got sick the day before and was still feeling bad, but decided to have a good time anyway. We took a limousine to our hotel in Manhattan, and our adventure began.

The hotel was very pretty and stylish, and although our room was very small, with only one Queen size bed in it, we knew we will have fun. Few hours later, Mom and I went to the Central Station to meet with Dave, and head for Long Island on a train to visit Gloria and Larry. We arrived on time, but most of the people were already there. I got to meet Mom's writer friends, and it was really nice to spend some time together. We had so much fun, ate a lot, and played tons of games. The best part was when Mom handled me a huge box, with my birthday present. She mailed it especially for that day, to Gloria's house. I was sooooo curious what it was! And I was speechless when I finally held it in my hands. Mom just knew exactly what I wanted!!! She ordered a hand painted tile made by Terry Cox-Joseph herself! And I loved every inch of it! Wow! What a wonderful surprise. And Terry--what a beautiful piece, just gorgeous. But there was one more surprise to come. Each of us received presents from Gloria and Larry, wrapped in red paper! We all got different games. It was so much fun! The game I got will be perfect for me and Rob. Oh, we needed something new.

The rest of our stay in New York was as exciting as the first day. Even though weather became cooler and nastier by day, it didn't spoiled the fun I had. Mom was mostly working, leaving early in the mornings, and coming back at nights. We did go to ComedySportz one night together, and it was fun! At one point Haydee got up on stage and performed--it went pretty smoothly! Mom got to meet her old friends, the professional comedians at the club. After a wonderful evening there, we went for dinner to an Indian restaurant, where I had my favorite desert in the whole world--Ras Malai.

Haydee took some days off from work, just for me...awww... how sweet! (I love you, Girl!) And she came and picked me up at the hotel every morning. She managed to surprised me every single day, with the different places she took me to, amazing breakfast and coffee restaurants, and the best sightseeing in New York (including Sephora!!!!). I saw Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero--where the September 11 happened, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Saint Patricks Cathedral, Veterans Memorial, Soho, and many, many other places that I just forgot the names of... We've had an amazing time together; it was soooo much fun! Haydee made sure that my stay in this beautiful city, that I fell in love with right away, was full of amazing moments. I loved the fact that we walked everywhere most of the time, but also took subways plenty of times a day, and I even got to take a ride in a bus! I am such a city-girl, I just love and miss all those small things... We visited Saks Fifth Avenue, and other famous stores that I only, until now, saw in magazines. One night, without telling me about her plans--as usual, Haydee took me to her husband's, Sid, work. I finally got to meet him! It felt like we've knew each other for years! Sid rocks! :-) Then we went to their house and I met the children, beautiful and sweet Victoria, and adorable and super cute Andy. Oh, such good kids! Later that evening Haydee and Sid took me to an amazing Thai restaurant, where we ate and laughed, joked, took pictures, and then ate again... The food was AWESOME!!!!! I guess I ate more than any of them, but I couldn't help it, the food was just waaaay too good.

One of the days, I think it was Tuesday, Dave Feldman, yes--THAT Dave, decided to spend his day with us, me and Haydee, showing the best places to eat, shop, and just hang out. It was great. But the weather was so cold that even though I was wearing Haydee's jacket, I still had to get a warm hat and a pair of gloves. It was soooo freezing! But I got to see Little Italy, China Town, and the Jewish/Polish area where we had some of the best pickles, doughnuts, halva, and other goodies. We ate almost every fifteen minutes. My belly was so full, but I decided not to give up--the whole adventure was just too good.

Few days before our "food tour", Dave took me and Haydee to this nice bakery, where they served THICK, creamy, hot chocolate! All of tables were taken and people had to sit close to others, which resulted in us meeting Christine, who we befriended right away. Christine was sitting right on the left side of our table and couldn't help but listen to our conversation. Well, Haydee and I can get pretty loud and spontaneous, and I guess that's what did it. We asked Christine if she would take a picture of us, and that's how it all started. Then we all took pictures together--with Christine, which I am going to post below. She is just a sweetie and I am so happy that she had became my new friend. :-)

The days in NY were getting colder, and on my last day it even started snowing! Haydee had to go to work that day, but she left on her lunch break to spend time with me. Well, it took longer than a regular "lunch break" before she came back to work. But we had so much fun together, with our oatmeal breakfast (which I miss tremendously), delicious coffee at Starbucks (another thing I miss!), some sightseeing, shopping (miss it too!), and amazing lunch! The time was running away from us, and I had to hurry up to hotel where I was meeting Mom at 2.00 pm. After many hugs, kisses and tons of teary good-byes, Haydee left me by the hotel and went back to work. Her office was just next to our hotel, so everything worked out perfectly. But I did miss her as soon as she left...

Mom had a package to take all the way to Wall Street. Yeeaahhhh! How could I go to New York and not see THE Wall Street??? I was happy. And I took pictures. Of course. :-) After we were done, Mom wanted to take me to a museum, and the nearest and most possible had an exhibition of bodies stripped of skin--yuck! I mean.... YUCK! I talked her out of it, and explained that it would be a waste of money since I would have to walk out of this place after just few seconds, to throw up. But thank you, Mom, for trying. I love you--that's for sure. :-) She made it up to me by going with me to The Body Shop where we got each other some yummy-smelling body butters.

Later that day we met Dave who took us to Queens for dinner at this special Egyptian place. I say "special", because it's hard to call it a restaurant, and it's not a grill bar. Well, it looks different than any of the other places we ate so far, but what makes it special is the food. FOOD was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean, everything was served like in a gourmet restaurant, with the only difference that it was Egyptian and prepared in this tiny place. We enjoyed it soooo much, and it just couldn't get any better. But it did. After that delicious dinner, Dave took us to a cafe that had the best deserts in New York. Wow, I am not sure if I will be even able to describe what we ate, but it was heavenly! The evening ended too soon, we just had too much fun, but it was time get back to hotel. I had to get up at 3.00 am to get ready for my flight back home. Our bellies were so full, and both Mom and I had troubles with falling asleep. After tons of giggeling, and some other noises, we finally fell asleep. ;-) (Mom, only YOU know!)

Only four hours later I had to get up, get dressed, kiss Mom good-bye, take a taxi to the airport, and go home.

It was wonderful to be back in NC, in my sweet husband's arms who missed me so much all those long five days. I missed him too, but since I had so much fun, it didn't really show ... ;-) But I am soooo happy to be back with my Robbie.

But... New York--I will be back!































At Gloria's: Dave, Stephanie, and Monkling--the Gang ;-)
Below: Dave, sweet Neala, and Mom.

All the way back, is Gloria.

My beautiful birthday present from Mom!

Back at the hotel

On the way to the bakery with Dave, where we met Haydee and later befriended Christine.


















Here is Haydee!

Dave surely does look happy! :-) We all had such a great time.

And here is Christine...

My first ride in a Subway

And here I am in front of our hotel

At the ComedySportz

More pictures from New York in my next posting. This one is getting waaay toooo looong.... ;-)