We {Heart} New York & Walgreens

The Holiday Saga continues...

Someone must have figured that I needed a break because by Sunday, December 21, I was feeling pretty close to human again so just after lunch DH and I decided to pack up and head out on our trip. It was a good thing we did too because just as we neared Bangor, Maine, we ran into a bad snow storm that was coming up the coast. We debated about trying to get to Portland but with so many whiteouts on the I-95, we wisely decided against it.

The next morning we woke up to...snow. I wish I had been quicker with my camera because there were at least half a dozen transports off the road. We drove as far as Freeport, Maine, and took a quick shopping break :o) DH did very well in the clothing department, so well that I now call him a Clothes Horse. LOL! It was serious driving after that and we made it as far as Danbury, Connecticut.

DH wanted to call his sister to let her know we'd be in the next day. Do you know how frustrating it is not to have a cell phone (that works in the US) or a calling card???? Don't even get me started on those pre-paid phone cards or trying to locate a pay phone! Then I spotted Walgreens. Surely they would have one. I asked the clerk behind the counter and he said no but that I could go back to the photo counter and make my call there. I told him it was a long distance call and he said it was okay. Huh? Just to make sure I heard him right, I explained it to him again. His response..."It's within the country right?" O-kay... How nice was that! We Heart Walgreens :o)

On December 23, DH and I finally reached our destination in Summit, New Jersey! What a beautiful spot. My DSIL and DBIL have a lovely home and they made us feel more than welcome there. We were able to spend a bit of time with our nephew before he was scheduled to fly to England for the Christmas holidays and we were really happy about that :o) Brie was reintroduced to her cousins Casey and Stella and by the end of the trip, she was having a grand time.

For Christmas Eve, DSIL cooked a turkey dinner and was it ever delicious! Even Stella thought so :oS I can't tell you how nice it was to have a home cooked meal again :o) DH and I were greeted with a Baked French Toast Casserole for breakfast the next morning, made by DBIL. Seriously, check the recipe out! Christmas day was pretty quiet so we decided to take the dogs for a walk in Liberty State Park. The park is located just on the other side of the river from New York City so we were able to see the skyline -

The magnificent woman herself (although we could only see the back of her) -

And Ellis Island with its wonderful history -

The next day, December 26, we ventured into "The City" by train and arrived in Penn Station. Can you guess the first thing I spotted? A KRISPY KREME! The only one that was even remotely close so I just had to stop ;o) When we emerged above ground, it was everything I remembered and more. Poor DH was completely dazed though. The day before when he saw New York from across the river, it looked so peaceful to him. ROFL! I just told him to go with the flow.

We pretty much did a walking tour where we got to see the New York Library with its awesome and inspiring sculptures -

At Bryant Park we watched the skaters, we saw the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building (from a distance), Macy's, and Saks was all decked out for Christmas -

There were actual line ups in order to see the window displays!

Rockefeller Center was packed so I took the best picture that I could -

We went by the NBC Studios Rainbow Room, Radio City Music Hall and Cartier's -

On the way to Tiffany's we passed by The Disney Store and Trump Tower. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to shop so it was no little blue box for me :o(

On our way to the show, the Big Apple Circus, we saw the carriage rides -

that go through Central Park -

One of the many street performers -

By the time the show was done, and I finally got rid of "the devil child", it was dark outside and for the first time, I got to see New York City at night. My love for this place re-surfaced and it bit DH as well :o) Don't get me wrong, we don't want to live there! But there is just SO much to see and DO. We made our way towards Times Square and there people e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-re -

Even though we weren't there for New Year's Eve, at least we got to see the ball that would have been dropped -

Luckily I was notified ahead of time, so when we came upon the M&M Store, I just had to check it out :o) It was THREE floors stuffed with M&M candy, clothes, ornaments, you name it -

The store was so crowded that they had people directing traffic. The salesperson that rang up our order told us it was like that e-v-e-r-y day. Oye!

New York City truly IS the city that never sleeps. Unfortunately, after a day like that, Pumpkin slept for 14 hours straight ;o) LOL! We can't thank our DSIL and DBIL enough for such a fun filled day.