New York City: Day 2 – “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…”
We woke up late again on Christmas Eve Day, but were buoyed by an excellent breakfast (yay for butter!) cooked by Tim and then headed off to the subway. We made it to the Empire state building relatively quickly and were immediately greeted by very long lines. As much as I hate standing in lines, I’ve really wanted to see the city from that high up for some time so it was worth it. After about an hour of line waiting and 2 elevator rides we finally made it to the top. I made my way over to the edge and immediately looked down. Never having been the type of person to be afraid of heights, the sensation of panic was new to me. I forced myself to stand there looking down and my heart just about leaped out of my chest. It was terrifyingly high up but after a while I started to focus more on the horizon and really got my bearings about the city and the neighborhoods contained therein. It really was magnificent.
After that little adventure we headed over to Macy’s. Their window displays were wonderful, these amazing mechanical pop up books with various New York scenes. Then we headed inside and I must say that it was more than just a bit shabby. A few mannequins were knocked over. Clothing displays awry, and the escalators seemed rickety and really dirty. The employees all looked tired and mildly disgruntled. I guess I would be too if it was my job to deal with the enormous crowds, but all the same, it was kind of disappointing. What wasn’t disappointing was the great deal I got on some Ralph Lauren towels for Echo’s apartment. Go Macy’s last minute sales!
Right before we left Macy’s we sat down on a display bed in the Home department to get our bearings and figure out where we were going. It was at this time (we believe) that the key ring holding Echo and Utku’s apartment, mail and building keys slipped unnoticed from Tim’s pocket. We of course didn’t know this happened, so we went on our merry way.
After this we attempted to take the subway uptown, got frustrated after taking the wrong train and went back up above ground and took a bike taxi to Rockefeller Center. The bike taxi driver was a really nice Turkish guy and we probably would have been content to walk but he seemed eager to give us a ride, so we took it. It was nice actually to move around the city being free to look up at the buildings without having to worry about running into people or having the view blocked by a cab roof. (they really should have clear ceilings on those yellow taxi cabs…) We arrived back at Rockefeller Center, got some oily Chinese food for lunch and then Tim shopped compasses in the concourse while I went and changed into my Christmas shoes and lipstick. Afterwards we walked to the Radio City Music Hall and got in another REALLY long line for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Christmas Eve Show.
The show really was a spectacle! It would have been even more fun, I’m sure, if we had children, as much of it was geared towards a younger audience. All the same we really enjoyed it. The Rockettes are really magnificent to watch. They are so coordinated, and smiley, and sparkly. All in all, it was a very wonderful show. Afterwards, we went across the street to the Radio City Music Hall gift shop to get my mom a present. As I was shopping, Tim came up to me and said, “Erin, don’t freak out, but I can’t find the keys…”
I instantly freaked out. We frantically dug through all of our bags trying to find the keys but to no avail. I spent a few minutes hyperventilating, Tim spent a few minutes trying to calm me down. Then I pulled it together and lectured him on security of our operation. (Hey, I’m a sergeant, it’s my natural reaction…) He ran across the street to see if they were left at the Radio City Music Hall. I immediately called my Mom and fussed about Tim losing something so important. My mother, always the voice of reason, simply said, “He’s human, Erin. Anyone can lose keys, even you.” I knew she was right, and me being upset wasn’t helping but I am such a security junkie that I couldn’t relax. I had all these worries about where we would stay if we couldn’t find them, what would Echo and Utku say, would they be really pissed off, what could I do to fix this... I was so frustrated. The gift shop where Tim left me was closing, so I paid for my Mom’s Rockettes mug (hey, I’m not too upset to spend money…) and waited for him in the crowd outside. I saw him walk up shaking his head. He looked so upset that I couldn’t really say very much.
We decided to head to Rockefeller center to see if we’d lost them there, but they weren’t there either. We walked into one of the last restaurants in the concourse that was still open. Sbarro Pizza. We sat and tried to figure out what we could do. Tim called his Dad and we tried to call Dane to see if he could look up the Super at Echo’s building in my email account at home. When we couldn‘t find immediate answers, I cried. (yeah, I cry…only when I’m really frustrated and feel out of control…) Tim felt so bad and apologized profusely to me. We canceled our reservations for Dinner and headed home on the Subway. When we got there, we buzzed the Super and called him but there was no answer. Finally, and older man leaving the building let us in. We walked down the hall to the Super’s basement apartment, loud salsa music blaring and found him eating dinner with his friends. We told him what had happened and he agreed to try and get us into the apartment.
After about an hour of drilling and banging at the door of Echo’s apartment with a giant hammer, we finally got in. It cost us $150 bucks for a new lock and keys, but at least we were home. The bad news was that it was late on Christmas Eve, in Harlem, and we hadn’t eaten dinner, or bought any presents for each other and we were both emotionally exhausted from the events of the evening. But…Tim decided to save the day.
He left for a bit and came back with sandwiches, cookies, and a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly champagne. We ate our little dinner in Echo and Utku’s apartment, and fell asleep watching Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Tim really did save the day. He’s so wonderful. And that was the end of Day 2…enjoy the photos.
After that little adventure we headed over to Macy’s. Their window displays were wonderful, these amazing mechanical pop up books with various New York scenes. Then we headed inside and I must say that it was more than just a bit shabby. A few mannequins were knocked over. Clothing displays awry, and the escalators seemed rickety and really dirty. The employees all looked tired and mildly disgruntled. I guess I would be too if it was my job to deal with the enormous crowds, but all the same, it was kind of disappointing. What wasn’t disappointing was the great deal I got on some Ralph Lauren towels for Echo’s apartment. Go Macy’s last minute sales!
Right before we left Macy’s we sat down on a display bed in the Home department to get our bearings and figure out where we were going. It was at this time (we believe) that the key ring holding Echo and Utku’s apartment, mail and building keys slipped unnoticed from Tim’s pocket. We of course didn’t know this happened, so we went on our merry way.
After this we attempted to take the subway uptown, got frustrated after taking the wrong train and went back up above ground and took a bike taxi to Rockefeller Center. The bike taxi driver was a really nice Turkish guy and we probably would have been content to walk but he seemed eager to give us a ride, so we took it. It was nice actually to move around the city being free to look up at the buildings without having to worry about running into people or having the view blocked by a cab roof. (they really should have clear ceilings on those yellow taxi cabs…) We arrived back at Rockefeller Center, got some oily Chinese food for lunch and then Tim shopped compasses in the concourse while I went and changed into my Christmas shoes and lipstick. Afterwards we walked to the Radio City Music Hall and got in another REALLY long line for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular Christmas Eve Show.
The show really was a spectacle! It would have been even more fun, I’m sure, if we had children, as much of it was geared towards a younger audience. All the same we really enjoyed it. The Rockettes are really magnificent to watch. They are so coordinated, and smiley, and sparkly. All in all, it was a very wonderful show. Afterwards, we went across the street to the Radio City Music Hall gift shop to get my mom a present. As I was shopping, Tim came up to me and said, “Erin, don’t freak out, but I can’t find the keys…”
I instantly freaked out. We frantically dug through all of our bags trying to find the keys but to no avail. I spent a few minutes hyperventilating, Tim spent a few minutes trying to calm me down. Then I pulled it together and lectured him on security of our operation. (Hey, I’m a sergeant, it’s my natural reaction…) He ran across the street to see if they were left at the Radio City Music Hall. I immediately called my Mom and fussed about Tim losing something so important. My mother, always the voice of reason, simply said, “He’s human, Erin. Anyone can lose keys, even you.” I knew she was right, and me being upset wasn’t helping but I am such a security junkie that I couldn’t relax. I had all these worries about where we would stay if we couldn’t find them, what would Echo and Utku say, would they be really pissed off, what could I do to fix this... I was so frustrated. The gift shop where Tim left me was closing, so I paid for my Mom’s Rockettes mug (hey, I’m not too upset to spend money…) and waited for him in the crowd outside. I saw him walk up shaking his head. He looked so upset that I couldn’t really say very much.
We decided to head to Rockefeller center to see if we’d lost them there, but they weren’t there either. We walked into one of the last restaurants in the concourse that was still open. Sbarro Pizza. We sat and tried to figure out what we could do. Tim called his Dad and we tried to call Dane to see if he could look up the Super at Echo’s building in my email account at home. When we couldn‘t find immediate answers, I cried. (yeah, I cry…only when I’m really frustrated and feel out of control…) Tim felt so bad and apologized profusely to me. We canceled our reservations for Dinner and headed home on the Subway. When we got there, we buzzed the Super and called him but there was no answer. Finally, and older man leaving the building let us in. We walked down the hall to the Super’s basement apartment, loud salsa music blaring and found him eating dinner with his friends. We told him what had happened and he agreed to try and get us into the apartment.
After about an hour of drilling and banging at the door of Echo’s apartment with a giant hammer, we finally got in. It cost us $150 bucks for a new lock and keys, but at least we were home. The bad news was that it was late on Christmas Eve, in Harlem, and we hadn’t eaten dinner, or bought any presents for each other and we were both emotionally exhausted from the events of the evening. But…Tim decided to save the day.
He left for a bit and came back with sandwiches, cookies, and a bottle of Barefoot Bubbly champagne. We ate our little dinner in Echo and Utku’s apartment, and fell asleep watching Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Tim really did save the day. He’s so wonderful. And that was the end of Day 2…enjoy the photos.
posted by saucybritches at
12/28/2005 11:31:00 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks for the towels, they are super nice. Sorry about all the stress with the keys, I'm still waiting for them to show up some place:)
Tim is such an awesome guy Erin, and it is obvious he loves you. I am so glad everything worked out! Love mom
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