New York City Trip - Day 1

My wife Cathy and I joined her sister Rita and husband Larry for a trip to New York City, December 27 through 30, 2009. Larry came up with the idea the previous May, and we kept it a secret from Cathy and Rita as long as we possibly could! We had a great time together, and hope to do more of the same with them in the near future. I will attempt to log the highlights of our trip by day, starting with Sunday the 27th.

We all awoke around 4am to check in at the Nashville airport by 6am. We arrived by flight to New York City LaGuardia Airport approximately 11am Eastern Time. We took a taxi to our hotel, which was the Doubletree Guest Suites Time Square. Cathy and I stayed on the 14th floor (1407), while Larry and Rita occupied the 25th (2502).

After checking our bags, we toured by foot to see Times Square. Lunch was taken at a street side grill stand (hot dogs, sausages, kebabs, and gyros).


We then proceeded to see the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station (snacks in the basement included Black & White cookies, knish), St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Rockefeller Center (saw the Christmas tree). The Rockefeller Center area was probably the most crowded of the entire visit, as we departed NYC before the big crowds hit Times Square on the 31st. We saw loads of great architecture, including gargoyles, which held my imagination in childhood from the late night thriller movies.

The New York Public Library featured the original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals, a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, and an amazing wood-panelled rotunda with murals. Larry applied and received his own library card!

We managed to do a little window shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Lord and Taylor, and visited the Nintendo Store (for Neil and Taylor).

Have you ever had a drink go down the wrong way and spewed it all over? Well, this happened to me that day as I was walking down one of the streets and approached a corner, drinking a cranberry spritzer. I think about 15 or 20 New Yorkers were staring at me as I made a spectacle of myself. It reminded me of a Jerry Seinfield episode featuring Kramer!

We crashed back at the hotel for a short rest before adventuring out for a late dinner. After a long walk to the very popular Carnegie Deli, we decided on a shorter wait for some New York style pizza. The walk took us past the David Letterman's Ed Sullivan Theater.

We had a very eventful day, and I was completely exhausted. I slept soundly despite the late traffic and bustle fourteen stories below on Times Square!