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WIth Robin WIlliams
March 3rd - We had to meet our group at 8 am in the hotel lobby, but I was knocked out. I woke up just about 8 to answer the teachers text, telling them I would meet them at the museum at nine. The students left and walked central park, Carmen and I finally left the hotel about 45 minutes later but unfortunately because we hurried to the museum we did not enjoy Central Park. We managed to stay close to Central Park West almost all the way constantly communicating with the teachers to make it sound as if we were right behind them. We finally came out of the park right about Strawberry Fields and managed to catch up to the group at the museum entrance right before they went in. We walked in with the group and told them they had about two hours plus to meet us back at the exit. We walked into the whale area and enjoyed it , my 3rd visit to the museum and I finally see it. Tired after the walk , we tended to move slow around the museum and ended up at the Deli to get coffee and a light snack. Most of the kids were also at the deli as they did not have much of an interest in the museum.
After the snack we visited the gift shop where Carmen bought a couple of items and I went and took a picture with Teddy Roosevelt. Once out of the museum we had to have lunch with two students that were late to check in. I think it was also our punishment since we missed the morning walk with our students. We had a lousy lunch of a silly hamburger for me and Carmen had a chicken sandwich. After lunch we walked back to the hotel some 25 blocks by ourselves with a stop for tea at Alice's Tea Cup, Carmen buys tea as a gift to Gabby.
We are now back at the hotel for a 1:15 check in for the students before they go into their second committee session. Running short on cash Carmen and I walk over to Grand Central Station because we found a Comerica bank on their website, but after looking around a bit we find that the branch has closed. As we walk into Grand Central Station we are impressed by the art work on the ceiling and are in awed by the size of the main terminal.
After the snack we visited the gift shop where Carmen bought a couple of items and I went and took a picture with Teddy Roosevelt. Once out of the museum we had to have lunch with two students that were late to check in. I think it was also our punishment since we missed the morning walk with our students. We had a lousy lunch of a silly hamburger for me and Carmen had a chicken sandwich. After lunch we walked back to the hotel some 25 blocks by ourselves with a stop for tea at Alice's Tea Cup, Carmen buys tea as a gift to Gabby.
We are now back at the hotel for a 1:15 check in for the students before they go into their second committee session. Running short on cash Carmen and I walk over to Grand Central Station because we found a Comerica bank on their website, but after looking around a bit we find that the branch has closed. As we walk into Grand Central Station we are impressed by the art work on the ceiling and are in awed by the size of the main terminal.
In front of the Flat Iron Building
My destination is now The Strand Bookstore were I have visited the two previous years and love visiting for hours if I could. We walked to 50th and 7th and take the subway down to 14th. I was down in the basement of The Strand for about an hour in the travel essay section looking at over 6 shelves of books, after an hour I had it down to about 5 books and now sitting down because my feet were on fire from so much walking, I ended up choosing one book (since I do not buy some many books anymore) about a pilgrimage in Japan on foot and also bought my moleskin which is where I now keep my journal.
From the bookstore we slowly walk up to Midtown stopping off at several shops, we stopped at DSW to buy Carmen a purse but ended up buying 3 pairs of shoes for myself, which is the first time I've ever bought 3 pair of shoes at once and I 'm pretty sure it could be the last time. Carmen bought two pairs and we ended up coming back the next day to get the purse for Carmen. Nearing Times Square we saw a Red Lobster and had dinner, we pigged out on lobster , steak and a couple of crab legs. From there we walked back up to the center of Times Square taking photos and enjoying the atmosphere.
Carmen - We got off to a late start, Robert slept in!We rushed past Central Park without walking the trails, because we had to meet up with the group at the Science Museum. The cold was biting thru my boots, stinging my feet. We arrived at the museum and walked around to meet up with the kids at the side entrance. The kids were waiting for Fischer to show up with the tickets as we arrived. Robert needed a cup of Jo, so we found the cafe. After spending time in the whale room, a Mrs Fischer guided exhibit, I laid on the floor over my black jacket to do the customary "look at the whale" from bottom up. The blue ceiling and all the exhibits around gave the illusion that I was in the water beneath the whale.
As we exit the exhibit, I glanced to the right where the "average human" swimming in the mist of all sizes of fish is. What a small insignificant part of Earth one can be in the mist of all of God's glory! The coral exhibits with divers gave me the desire to be there; maybe one day i will go diving! After the museum we took the "bad ass" girls to lunch, not what I wanted as my meal in New York;a chicken burger, Robert had a burger. There were doggy burgers for pets!
From the bookstore we slowly walk up to Midtown stopping off at several shops, we stopped at DSW to buy Carmen a purse but ended up buying 3 pairs of shoes for myself, which is the first time I've ever bought 3 pair of shoes at once and I 'm pretty sure it could be the last time. Carmen bought two pairs and we ended up coming back the next day to get the purse for Carmen. Nearing Times Square we saw a Red Lobster and had dinner, we pigged out on lobster , steak and a couple of crab legs. From there we walked back up to the center of Times Square taking photos and enjoying the atmosphere.
Carmen - We got off to a late start, Robert slept in!We rushed past Central Park without walking the trails, because we had to meet up with the group at the Science Museum. The cold was biting thru my boots, stinging my feet. We arrived at the museum and walked around to meet up with the kids at the side entrance. The kids were waiting for Fischer to show up with the tickets as we arrived. Robert needed a cup of Jo, so we found the cafe. After spending time in the whale room, a Mrs Fischer guided exhibit, I laid on the floor over my black jacket to do the customary "look at the whale" from bottom up. The blue ceiling and all the exhibits around gave the illusion that I was in the water beneath the whale.
As we exit the exhibit, I glanced to the right where the "average human" swimming in the mist of all sizes of fish is. What a small insignificant part of Earth one can be in the mist of all of God's glory! The coral exhibits with divers gave me the desire to be there; maybe one day i will go diving! After the museum we took the "bad ass" girls to lunch, not what I wanted as my meal in New York;a chicken burger, Robert had a burger. There were doggy burgers for pets!
Alice's Tea Cup
After lunch we were on our own, so this time I picked where we entered, we found this lovely tea house. Alice's Tea Cup.
I bought some tea for Gab and walked back slowly to the hotel for check in with the students. I then headed out to meet Sophia and Fischer at stores for some shopping while Robert worked out. Being alone on the streets of an unknown city.... I thought my anxieties would flare up. Surprisingly I felt safe - I think it was being surrounded by so many people and knowing that there were so many businesses around. Robert met up with us, then walked back to the hotel, minutes later Rob and I walked to look fora bank...we end up in Grand Central Station.
We walked for miles and miles......and finally ended up at the famous The Strand, bookstore. My feet were so sore - when in the bookstore I could not walk around comfortably....so I sat down and read a book while Robert searched for the perfect book. I realized that I have the wrong kind of shoes on, now I know what they mean by sensible black shoes to walk in New York. Luckily on the way back we found a huge DSW and I bought some comfortable boots. On the way back to the hotel while underground - I experienced the beautiful music played echoing in the tunnels of Union Square. Such a happy moment to feel the music and have a new experience mix with memories from the past. This song brought back memories from high school, but felt so new.
I bought some tea for Gab and walked back slowly to the hotel for check in with the students. I then headed out to meet Sophia and Fischer at stores for some shopping while Robert worked out. Being alone on the streets of an unknown city.... I thought my anxieties would flare up. Surprisingly I felt safe - I think it was being surrounded by so many people and knowing that there were so many businesses around. Robert met up with us, then walked back to the hotel, minutes later Rob and I walked to look fora bank...we end up in Grand Central Station.
We walked for miles and miles......and finally ended up at the famous The Strand, bookstore. My feet were so sore - when in the bookstore I could not walk around comfortably....so I sat down and read a book while Robert searched for the perfect book. I realized that I have the wrong kind of shoes on, now I know what they mean by sensible black shoes to walk in New York. Luckily on the way back we found a huge DSW and I bought some comfortable boots. On the way back to the hotel while underground - I experienced the beautiful music played echoing in the tunnels of Union Square. Such a happy moment to feel the music and have a new experience mix with memories from the past. This song brought back memories from high school, but felt so new.