New York City: Day Two, Part Two

As we were heading out of Central Park, we made our way over to the Plaza. Again, Alex and I have watched Home Alone 2: Lost In New York so many times...we just had to take a peak inside. It actually reminds me of the Grand Floridian in WDW. It's just a tad to frilly and gold and over the top for our tastes. But it was still fun to take a peak inside.

My kid is so weird.

After goofing around for pictures at the Plaza, we crossed the street to shop at FAO Schwartz. It was super crowded (like always...I've never been here when it wasn't crowded) so we pretty much just looked at the Big piano (Alex has also seen this movie) and decided not to pay to play on it. There were just too many people to really enjoy it. We found some cute NYC Duplo toys for Aidan and checked out some of the displays. Alex was a bit annoyed he couldn't find anything to purchase (I mean, he wanted some Legos..but why pay twice as much for the EXACT SAME LEGOS at other stores?). Instead, he decided to purchase a huge soft pretzel from a cart outside.



Our next destination was Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock. Just up a few blocks, make a right, and you're standing in front of 30 Rock! They were still ice skating at the Center and we people watched for a few minutes. The boys then decided to walk over to Nintendo World. Gaming isn't really my thing, so while they shopped for a few minutes, I walked around the area and people watched some more. I walked over to 6th Ave to get a falafel's sandwich from a street cart. I talked to the vendor for a few minutes (he was a friendly guy and recommended some places for dinner in the area) and happily munched on my falafel.

By the time I was finished, I met up with the guys in front of 30 Rock once again. We made our way to the entrance to Top of the Rock and purchased our tickets. I'd say we had to wait about 10 minutes to get the tickets and reach the top of the building. Such the opposite experience of the Empire State Building. I had waited once for hours and hours just to get the tickets. It was ridiculous. Anyway, we boarded the elevator to the Top of The Rock. I was nervous for Alex, as he had JUST recently gotten over his fear of elevators. He was still a little nervous about them, but he barely flinched when the elevator started to ascend. The cool thing about these elevators is that they are glass topped...and they light the inside of the elevator shaft. You can watch your whole trip up and see the sky at the end. It was really neat! Once at the top, we walked out to see the view of the city.

The first level you step out into is walled by glass with large gaps in between the glass. But we wanted to see it unobstructed, so we climbed the stairs to the top level...and the view was AMAZING. However, Alex started to cry at this point and wanted down NOW. I had no idea why he was so upset at this point. He wouldn't tell me what was so upsetting. He had never really had a fear of heights before, so I couldn't figure it out. I snapped a few pics....and we went back down to the first viewing area.

In front of the glass wall...he was still upset.

So, we took him inside the little waiting area inside the building and had a little talk with him. Turns out he was afraid that planes would crash into the buildings. Not that he was afraid of falling, not afraid of heights...he was afraid the tragic events of 9/11 would happen all over again, right here at Top of The Rock. I felt so bad for him. I pointed out some passing helicopters and how far away they were...that no plane was anywhere near our building. I explained that I wouldn't have taken him up this building if I had thought that something awful was going to happen to us. He perked up a bit and went back outside to see the view.

Again, with the goofball face.

After hanging out here for around an hour, pointing out the sites (we found Times Square, various buildings, our hotel in Hoboken, etc) we headed back down the elevator and out the doors. We decided to head back down to Times Square to do a little more shopping. It took only a few minutes by foot for us to make our way to a very, very crowded Times Square. It just so happens we stopped for a few minutes to get our bearings straight and I realized we were standing right in front of the EarthCam on 46th and 7th Ave. I called my parents and soon enough, we were waving to the cameras. I can only imagine how awkward and weird we appeared to other tourists....standing and waving at what appeared to be just a wall of a building. Anyway, talked to them via cell while they watched us on the Internet. We blew some kisses and said goodbye after a few minutes and walked over to the red bleachers in the Square.

We stopped into a few stores (including the Disney Store...which I was really disappointed with) and purchased some cute things for Aidan.

It was getting pretty late in the day and we were starving at this point. Our feet and legs were starting to feel the long day, so we headed back to the Path Train at 6th and 34th St. On our way we passed a Crumbs Bakery and I just had to go in for a cupcake! Alex didn't want one (he's strange haha), Stephen got a Oreo Cupcake and I got a Peanut Butter Cup cupcake to take back to the hotel.



This night, we easily found the Path train and we were on our way to Hoboken in no time. We had made plans to eat at Grimaldi's Pizza....but there was a pizza place right outside the exit of the train. Our feet couldn't walk even one more step, so we went into Roma Pizza instead of hiking it to Grimaldi's. The pizza was still phenomenal and was exactly what we were looking for: a NYC style pizza. It is so hard to find this style of pizza in Florida!!!! I kept promising Alex that this pizza would be the best pizza he's ever tasted. I was hoping I was right. And, indeed, I was!

It didn't take us long to gobble up this pizza....I had been dreaming of it for months! Dreaming of the thin crust that you fold up just so all the cheese and sauce and grease (yes, grease) doesn't slide off the slice before you can eat it. YUM. Now I'm back to daydreaming about this delicious pizza again!

Our walk back to the hotel was short and sweet and we all practically fell into the bed. We said goodnight to our city, and soon enough, we were all out like a light.

New York City Trip Report, Day One, Part 3!

The train downtown wasn't too crowded and we exited right at Times Square. It was still slightly raining, but this made the crowds very low. We were able to walk the sidewalks (and blocked off streets) pretty easily. That would change the next day.

After wandering around for a few minutes, we headed for ToysRUs. It's a giant store, so big there is a ferris wheel on the inside! A didn't want to ride (bummer..I really wanted to get in the Cabbage Patch Kid car!), but we did grab a drink from the snack bar and people watched for a few minutes. After our little break, we shopped the Lego area with their giant NYC icon displays (with a couple special guests).

 The boys were in their element here. They must have looked at the same Lego displays a hundred times. I just wanted a break. So, I found a small quiet area near the dinosaur area and sat for a few minutes. I could people watch all day, especially in NYC. The boys had a good time looking at the Bakugan, Ben10, Star Wars and Transformers goods for what seemed like hours. I wandered over to the candy area and browsed the preschool toy area. I was missing Am pretty hard at this point and nearly cried when I spotted the Mickey's Clubhouse and Chuggington toys. I had to keep reminding myself how difficult this trip would have been with him (just thinking about lugging the stroller up and down the subway stations was enough), and realized he would pretty much be staring at the backs of people's knees and the ground the entire time in his stroller. Plus, I knew we would be back in a few years when he could really enjoy it. I'm all for bringing little kids on vacations (even if they will never remember) because they still have fun and the parents remember it. But NYC with our toddler, without any extra hands, could have been a nightmare. I know he'll love it though when he's 5 and A is 13. I can't believe I just typed out 13!?!

After A FINALLY picked out a bunch of Lego mini figures, we once again ventured out into the rain. We took our obligatory pics in Times Square.

When we go on vacations, we don't like eating at chain restaurants if we can help it. However, I knew how much A would love Dave and Buster's. Orlando is supposed to be getting one this summer, but A had never been to one. Stephen and I had gone on our honeymoon and had SO MUCH FUN, we knew that we wanted to bring him back here if we had the opportunity. Dave and Buster's is only about a block from Times Square, and we were so hungry at this point (not to mention exhausted). We travelled the long escalator to the second floor in the building and were seated immediately. I think there were only a few other patrons, as it wasn't dinnertime quite yet. While we were waiting, I called home to check on Am. He was already having a fun time with Grammy and Pop. I didn't have to worry. :)

A ordered a large fries (he said he wasn't that hungry), Stephen had the fried shrimp (I think) and I ordered the Island Grilled Trifecta. It was so good! It came with a skewer each of grilled shrimp, grilled chicken, and grilled steak with rice and veggies along with various dipping sauces like pineapple pico de gallo and mango citrus sauce. It was delicious! Both of our meals came with a $10 arcade card to be used after we ate in their humongous arcade. A was anxious to get in there (who wouldn't be?) and when we finished up, we headed right there. I'd say our $20 gave us about 1 hour playing time. A played most of the games you could win tickets with and accumulated a bunch. Instead of buying a huge prize or even a bunch of little prizes, A chose a small grabber toy. He wanted to save the rest for when D&B comes to Orlando. I think he was just really tired at this point and wanted to get back to the hotel.

We needed to find the 33rd St Station for the PATH train but had some difficulty finding it. We knew it was on Sixth Ave, but it was such a large area with a huge square, we couldn't find it (the rain wasn't helping). So, after talking to another woman searching for the train, we spotted it across the street and headed down the stairs. There was a large group of people standing around and we realized the train was shut down. It was shut down going in both directions actually. We waited a few minutes to see if it would start running again to no avail. They did make the announcement that PATH running out of the World Trade Center was still running to NJ. Good thing, I was starting to get worried. So, we had to get down to the WTC. Another check with the subway map (nothing says HEY I'M A TOURIST than staring at a subway map for 10 minutes), and we took the train downtown getting off at the Church St. Station. This gave us the unexpected opportunity to walk by and admire Trinity Church. It was really beautiful!



   Another good thing about being rerouted was the opportunity to show A the World Trade Center site. He was only 6 months old when the tragedy occurred, and I remember holding him so tightly that day. It was my first day of work, and thankfully, A was allowed to accompany me to work (and had everyday after that). One day, a few years ago, A saw the footage on TV of the towers falling. He has some severe anxiety issues (they are getting better, thankfully), but I felt it necessary to tell him what it all meant and why they fell. He seemed to take it well, and asked a lot of questions. At one point he was concerned about visiting NYC because he thought it would happen again. By this trip though, he was a little older and understood the magnitude of it all. (Unfortunately, his anxiety of this will come into play later).

As we walked by the World Trade Center site this trip, we talked a little bit more about what happened that terrible day. What was once a giant whole in the ground (what I remembered about a trip my brother and I took in late 2001) is now lots of concrete and the start of a building. It no longer resembles a devastating loss, but rather, rebirth and renewal. I was proud to be an American in 2001. And I felt that resurgent pride once again when I saw the site this time. A asked me why they were rebuilding the building. I told him because "Americans, New Yorkers especially, want to show the world that we were not defeated. That we will build bigger and better. And that we haven't forgotten." I used those words exactly as I have written here. They may sound rehearsed;  it's because they were. I anticipated him asking this question and wanted to answer in a way he would understand.  A looked up at me and smiled. I'm so glad we had that discussion. I really think he understood. He's growing up so fast!

We walked with, literally, hundreds of other train riders down Vesey Street towards the PATH station. You could tell everyone was just tired from their long workday and just wanted to get home. The train was full and we had to stand, but we were quickly back in New Jersey. The walk back to the hotel seemed to take forever, but in reality, it was only about 5 minutes. Stephen got the keys for our other room from the front desk and A and I checked out the lobby. It glows all purpley and blue. It's very pretty. Stephen also asked the front desk if there was a grocery store or convenience store nearby, and thankfully there was one right around the corner. A begrudgingly went along, he had walked a lot that day. At the grocery store we bought soda, chips, dip, pretzels and sushi (long story) to take back to the room. Again, I can't say how convenient the W is to everything.

Back at the hotel, we bypassed the lobby bar and headed up to our rooms. Our other room connected to the king room, only this one had 2 queen beds. The rooms were very similar, except our comfy chair at the window was smaller and the colors were a little different. We were soooo tired. Stephen and I unpacked while A watched a little TV. We all had a snack and then fell asleep quite quickly in our heavenly beds (as Starwood calls them). A and I left our curtains open so we could see the NYC skyline before drifting off to sleep and for in the morning when we wake up. This was our view:

AMAZING!
Up next: The day I had been dreaming of for 5 years.