Uptown girls in One day at a time

Wednesday in New York City was a great day. We were up and out very early as we had a booking for a guided tour of the 911 Museum at 9.30am. Of course we negotiated the subway seamlessly (and only had to ask a couple of people where to go once we exited). The first thing we saw was the pools, they sit on top of the tower foundation sites. Around the outside of the pools are the names of everyone that perished. We then went underground to the museum and met our guide. I had mixed feelings about doing this tour. As with everyone of my generation I remember that day so well but I just wasn’t sure how they would exhibit it. It turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences. It is extremely respectful, and tells the story really well. I managed to hold it together through most of the tour (Susan lost it really early on, which is somewhat unusual for her). Towards the end I saw a display of people queuing to donate blood (so many people turned up that day that they had to turn people away). It was that gesture of the triumph of human kindness over evil that tipped me over the edge. Of course they are used to it there – with handily placed tissue boxes everywhere. It’s hard to describe but like I say extremely well done and very respectful.

We emerged back into the daylight (excellent - I could put my sunglasses on to cover my pink eyes) and realised we had spent nearly 3 hours there. We grabbed some lunch and went and sat in Battery park over looking the Statue of Liberty to enjoy our impromptu picnic and decompress a bit. Then it was off to Wall Street to tick another thing off – a picture of the bull. There were huge crowds there (and a large police presence – left over from the occupy Wall Street movement). Didn’t bother posing with the bull (or rubbing the part of his anatomy that is supposed to be lucky). We were back on the subway for our next mission. Hello Macy’s. The world’s largest department store.

We started in the basement and got a few souvenirs – I got a Macy’s keyring – last of the big spenders. It was down there that we spotted what I think is a piece of pure genius. A bar, in a department store!. I don’t think we even said a word to each other – we all just had that “Bud Light” shining on us. In we went and sat at the bar. We got talking to a couple of locals also sitting there and they gave us some good tourist tips (even though we were running out of days). Two beers later, and ever so slightly jolly it was off to the handbag department. They had a VIP sale on (20% off) plus tourists get an addition 10%, I was unable to resist the allure of a new Guess handbag. Susan got a handbag too. Then up to the dress department where we continued to feed our newly formed label habit. Hi I’m Robyn, and I am addicted to clearance racks. The difference in seasons meant that we were getting summer bargains – and we are just coming into summer, so it’s a match made in heaven really. The plan had been to spend a couple of hours in Macy’s and then head home to freshen up for the nights entertainment, but we got de-railed by the bar/handbags so decided to just stay in the city.
We had dinner at some average tourist joint across the road from Madison Square Gardens. The food was okay (we were all kind of craving vegetables by then), but nothing special. The excitement was mounting though – we were off to see Billy Joel in Concert. Let me tell you I don’t have enough hyperbole to describe that night. He was awesome, entertaining, funny, hit every note, sang (just about) every hit song. Just awesome.

Subway home at around midnight. It was on that ride back that I realised I was finally in the time zone. I was starting to feel tired at an appropriate bedtime. (there is an 8 hour time difference).