Yay New York post part 2!
Is anyone even enjoying these? Please let me know...
The next day was my 21st birthday. !!!! What??!!!!! I'm getting old, save me.
I was awake early because of my inability to deal with jetlag and it felt very weird to not be running into my parent's room. Yes even at the ripe old age of 21 I will still do that. I knew my mum was still asleep so I crept past her into the bathroom (is this TMI?) and when I came out NOT 5 MINUTES LATER, she was awake and had laid out cards and presents and balloons and a banner on the trunk at the end of her bed. I am still so perplexed about how I didn't notice any of this going on.
I started my birthday in true style - watching Saved By The Bell and eating pretzel M&M's.
The plan for that day was to rent bikes in Central Park and then see a show in the evening. What I hadn't realised was that 90% of Broadway shows have Mondays off. After lots and lots of discussion of what we were going to try for, we decided to go the Gershwin and see if they maybe had any tickets for Wicked available for any of the days we were there. Oh man. Walking into the Gershwin. It was like the mothership calling me home.
We managed to get tickets in the centre of the "Orchestra" seats - the stalls to all us Brits - for the next night and I cried there and then. In the Lobby of a theatre. Low point. Since it was a "dark" day there was only about 3 other people in there so we went over and starting talking to the girl on the merch stall. I think I found my soulmate in her. We literally spent about half an hour talking about everything we love about the show and about Idina and Norbert. I even let slip that I've watched the
As Long As You're Mine proshot on YouTube about a thousand times (I wish that was an exaggeration).
So from then it was up to the bike hiring place and onto Central Park. Before this I hadn't ridden a bike in probably nearly 10 years and I was petrified of falling off immediately but those people are right; YOU NEVER LOSE IT. Before I knew it I was speeding off round the "roads". Are they considered roads? In a park?! America is weird. JUST KIDDING I LOVE IT THERE TAKE ME BACK.
Here look at this fetching picture of me on my biiicycle. Stylin'.
So the park is beautiful. I cannot describe how much I loved it. It is crazy that in the middle of a mega busy city like New York, there is this wonderful, serene park. Madness! There were a few landmarks my mum and I wanted to see (from films of course, we are so cultured). The first was the boathouse from 27 Dresses. I don't know if that's what it's even called but here it is.
And then directly opposite it is this fountain/statue from every other film set in Central Park ever? Maybe? Whatever it is; it's pretty.
Look at that nun. So happy.
The one part of the park I was desperate to see what the Bow Bridge. I'm gonna talk about Glee again, I'm sorry. I was on a one-woman mission to stand in as many of the same places as Lea Michele as possible. And it's a lovely bridge.
It took forever to get there but when I did I was in my ultimate happy place.
I am actually on the bridge in this picture, but I'm so tiny in it. If you spot me you win a prize.
For some reason, I was alone on the bridge for a long time before my mum joined me and so I took the opportunity to reply to birthday texts.
Of course, I also took a selfie here. I carved my initials and date into the wall, as so many others had done before me and felt so very content to be in my favourite place on such a special day.
"Lea Michele stood here, Mum!!"
The rest of the day involved a lot of cycling and my VERY FIRST (rock solid) SNOWCONE! America is great.
For dinner, we went to Ellen's Stardust Diner. Let me tell you about this place. Number 1: great food. Number 2: EVERYONE SINGS. The waiters are all trained (?) and hopeful broadway stars and every few minutes they sing. They climb onto the booths and tables and they sing. I was in heaven.
I had my first legal (in America) Cosmo and our waitress let slip to the others that it was my birthday and before I knew it the entire restaurant was singing "Happy Birthday" to me. I hate attention like that but I couldn't help but smile. It's a truly wonderful place to be I cannot recommend it more.
Just as quickly as it came around, my birthday was over. 22's got a lot to live up to.
On Tuesday, we made the decision to do Bloomingdale's, Macy's and everything in between. Literally. They're at opposite ends of the city almost. Unfortunately, Tuesday was also the day the heavens decided to open. I was a grumpy cat indeed. The walk from our hotel to Bloomingdale's felt like eternity as I was continually splashed by cars driving through puddles and I was desperate to get into the warmth of the department store. When we FINALLY reached the doors, however, it was closed for another half an hour. It was a very pressing time for everyone involved.
Tiny hiccup aside, it turned out to be a good day. It stopped raining and Bloomie's let us in. The woman at the Clarin's counter told me I was beautiful and gave us so many freebies. We were in there for what felt like hours and I was desperate to buy something just to get a "little brown bag". I bought a pencil case. Because I really needed one. Of course.
Then we started our long long long long walk to Macy's, stopping only at Grand Central Station.
Truth time: I only wanted to see it because of my love for the movie Madagascar. I don't think I got a single decent photo in there because I kept forgetting how the flash on my camera worked - what a n00b.
It's a beautiful station though; you wouldn't see marble like that in Euston.
When we came out of the station I was confused as to why everyone around me was taking photos of something behind me. Like the idiot I am I didn't realise that the Chrysler Building was right there.
Wow, that framing is really something.
The architecture in New York was one of my favourite parts. It's also all my mum could talk about. I quote, "everything looks so different to each other".
Everything is so iconic, I kept having to spend a few minutes at a time just staring at it to make sure it was real.
The walk to Macy's is long, but I would do it all again to be honest. Nothing compares to everything you see on the way.
We hadn't taken into account what we would pass along the way, we just knew where to turn and when.
Somehow we found ourselves outside the New York Library.
Traffic is annoying. Can't they just stop for one minute?
Then, slightly further down the way was this other place, you might have heard of it, called the Empire State Building. It's quite unknown I think.
Honestly though, I kept being so surprised to suddenly be outside such famous landmarks, I didn't know what to do with myself.
What felt like 10 hours of walking later, we arrived at Macy's. To tell the truth, we were only there for the Christmas floor. We could not find it. The signs told us to go to one floor but when we got there, it was all women's clothing. My stubbornness paid off for once here and I refused to leave empty handed and I eventually found a hidden wooden (very creepy) escalator that took us up to festive paradise.
Needless to say, after all the walking and excitement, the long walk back to the hotel was a no-no and I got to have the full NYC experience with a journey in a yellow cab.
Then, it was Wicked time.
LOOK AT THESE SEATS. I AM STILL IN SHOCK.
Wicked is my favourite musical of all time. Elphaba is my favourite musical character. New York is my favourite city. This was big.
I was having a bet with myself about how long it would take me to cry and I was pretty much bang on. Overture. The music at the very beginning when the lights go down got me. It was only a tear or two but still; I was crying within seconds. I calmed myself down and was fine until Elphaba (played by Christine Dwyer) came bounding onto stage. Then it was all downhill. I managed to keep it together for the majority of the first half, until it happened. Defying Gravity. I lost it completely. The intermission comes directly after that (uhh spoilers?) and for those 15-20 minutes I was in an emotional daze. I couldn't even decide what drink I wanted. I could barely speak. The second act I was a goner from start to finish. Don't get me started on As Long As You're Mine and For Good. I was a mess. The walk back to the hotel afterwards was a complete blur. I was so so happy but drained of all emotions. How often do you get to tick off seeing your favourite musical in the place it all started?
Wednesday was our last full day and we had our open top bus tour of the city. I have so many photos from this day but I'm only going to post my favourites!
I said earlier about the architecture in the city, and my favourite building has always been the Flat Iron Building. I don't know why, it just is. When I saw it coming round the corner, I grabbed my mums arm out of excitement.
I just love it.
We made our way further and further south and saw Wall Street protesters, as well as the Bull (and lots of people surrounding it, touching it all over for good luck...or something) and we got off at the pier near Lady Liberty herself.
My mum doesn't do well on boats so we decided not to do the ferry tour, but seeing the famous statue from the other side of the river was good enough for me.
A few blocks away is the site of the 9/11 memorial. I can't describe it. It's so peaceful and thought provoking. I was only 8 when it happened but I still remember it clear as day. I felt emotional just being there and I didn't know any of the victims. I can't imagine what it must be like there for their families.
What I didn't expect to see are dedications on the walls to women "and their unborn child".When I saw that, I went cold.
As we were leaving, I heard my mum gasp and I was aware she was no longer walking with me. I looked back to see what had happened and she was in tears. She'd spotted the name of someone she knew. We both knew he had lost his life in the attacks but I don't think either of us expected to spot his name.
We took some time after this to collect our thoughts, get a coffee and then we were back on the bus to the Rockefeller Center.
I could feel Jimmy Fallon's presence, let me tell you.
We were booked on to go to the Top of the Rock observation deck which I'd been looking forward to the entire week. The lift ride to the top was horrifically fast for someone with an irrational fear of heights like me, but once I was out and on solid ground, it was 100% worth it.
I still look at these photos and I can't believe I took them. They look like something I've ripped out of a magazine or taken off the internet. How can a city so grey be so beautiful to me?
A month or so before we left, my mum's friend gifted us with tickets to see Aladdin. I have to admit, it's never been my favourite Disney movie so I didn't know how I was going to feel about it. Luckily, it just so happens to be one of the greatest shows in the entire world. James Monroe Iglehart, who plays the Genie is incredible. His voice and stage presence are spectacular. I would fly back at the drop at the hat just for the 3 hours to see him in that once more. Rumours are flying around about it being brought to the West End and, if that's really happening, I hope they bring him with it.
How often can you say you saw not only the original Broadway cast of what i'm sure will be a long-running success, but also a TONY WINNER in the role he won it for?!
Then, the next day, we had to leave. We spent the morning reading in the park (sounds boring but I did not want to leave that spot) and all of a sudden it was time for our taxi and I was back over the pond.
I literally ache with missing New York and I have done since the second I stepped off the plane in horrid, cold, Heathrow.
And its 1.30am again. Wow. This is great going.
I chose the titles for these posts from the famous song "New York, New York" - obviously. The one I chose for part one - "my little town blues are fading away" - is my absolute favourite. WARNING Y'ALL ITS ABOUT TO GET DEEP. I'd had a rough few years, personally, and being in New York, fulfilling so many dreams at once, made everything I'd been through disappear. It was the beginning of what's shaping out to be the best year I've had in a long while and I cannot wait to go back someday soon (I hope!).
Thank you for reading these. Please honestly let me know if you like this kind of thing. I know I've somehow slipped into talking about deep, serious things but I want to be more upbeat and let my personality shine through. I'd love any ideas for future posts so let me know in the comments section below!
