Part two: NYC

Checking into our hotel in New York (well, the hotel was actually in New Jersey...) was bliss. I don't know how we got so lucky, but we sure felt pampered. Humongous flat screen TV, ginormous comfortable beds, and the best thing of all...

...labeled pillows. I laughed pretty hard, and promptly sent a picture text off to my folks.

Next morning we were up and on our way bright and early - through the Lincoln Tunnel and into the big city. First taste of the big city for these kids was to get off by Rockefeller Center and talk a walk over to St. Patrick's Cathedral. I think it is so lovely - and the best part was that this time we actually got to go inside. When I went last time a funeral was being held, so we peeked in the door and continued on our trip.

This time we were able to go in and do a bit of self guided exploration - walk along the aisles and see the different alters, look into the side chapels and admire the artistry of the sculptures and the stained glass windows. I loved the quiet sense of peace that just seems to sink into your bones. The echos of a million whispered prayers linger in the air - the residue of so much emotion is palpable and tender.

I know that several of the kids in the group (and even some of the adults I think) found the experience rather disconcerting, afterwords commenting on how weird it felt - I don't think that many of them had ever been into such buildings before, and I think they had a hard time overcoming their discomfort with the differences - but in the end, I think some horizons were broadened and minds opened, even just a crack wider.

After the cathedral we headed out for a short tour of the Intrepid - it was cold on the flight deck, but so fascinating to see. True, the darn thing is incredibly massive, but it's hard to believe so many people could live there for so long. But I suppose after seeing the cramped quarters on the Growler (submarine) it would feel more like the Hilton.

And then... Wicked. Ahh, the joy! Only half our group got lucky enough to go to this show, the rest went to see Phantom - I was one of the lucky people to get my name drawn for the more coveted tickets. While I really enjoy Phantom, and would have loved seeing it on Broadway - Wicked beats it all to pieces. Hands down.

I also was fascinated to see how they handled accommodations for the Deaf. Instead of providing interpreters they provide iCaptions, a handy dandy little screen about the size of a blackberry or a sidekick that basically subtitles the production using lighting cues and timing.

Our final activity for the day was a Nets v Suns game that I enjoyed more for the people watching opportunities than anything else. Lets just say that the Nets haven't done so hot this year...

Our second day in NYC started out by going to one of my favorite places - the Statue of Liberty. Oh, how I love that Lady. She symbolizes so much that I hold dear.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me." ~ Emma Lazarus

These aren't the huddled masses I was referring to, although their expressions make them kind of seem to fit the bill. I know, I know... I am not the nicest person, but I get such a kick out of the the wary, nervous and half claustrophobic look on their faces during our walk down Wall Street. For the most part I think everyone enjoyed the city, but I can see how New York could be a bit overwhelming for people so accustomed to open skies and a town of 5000.
Lunch was in Times Square, at Bubba Gumps :) And dang, they had yummy food! Just what we needed to sustain us for our tour of the NYC sights.
Central Park is such a pretty place - but boy oh boy, it was busy! It was a beautiful spring day, school had let out, and it was a holiday for two major religions - Good Thursday for the Catholics, and nearing the end of Passover for the Jews. The diversity there is exhilarating - I love hearing so many different languages in the space of just a few minutes
Once we made it across the park we went on to see some of the other main sights - the Manhattan Temple, Times Square, China Town (fun shopping!), the World Trade Center site - I love seeing the progress they have made with the reconstruction - and to end the evening we dropped off the tour guide and made our way to the Empire State building.

The line was out the door when we got there. Out the door and around the building actually - with an estimated 2 hour wait. The combination of spring break, the holiday and the clear night sky combined against us, and we had to forsake that plan. We would not have made it back to the hotel until nearly midnight, and with the bus driver having limited hours, we would not have made it to our destination the next morning. Instead, to try and make up for that loss we walked part way across the Brooklyn Bridge - something I have been wanting to do for a long time, but hadn't had the chance to do before. It was dark, but oh, so much fun!