new york, new york

i don't know about you, but in no other place do i feel like i'm in a movie more than new york city. maybe it is because over half of the movies ever made are set in NYC? just a guess. (but, 70% of statistics are made up on the spot, so it's quite possible).

last weekend i traveled up to new york to spend a few days with my sweet husband! while waiting for his arrival, i was able to visit with my brother and sister-in-law, catch up with a friend from years back, and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather in the city! i missed not being with my little boy, but i appreciated the time away that gave me a chance to spend quality time with my husband!

how did we spend our time? we walked. and walked. ask me how i spend any time in a new city and that is usually the answer. for me, it's not so much about an agenda of "things to do" as a time to just soak in a new place, learn my surroundings, and enjoy the scenery. you miss so much otherwise! a favorite and not-to-miss area of new york city is central park. absolutely beautiful and one of the few places in manhattan that you don't feel claustrophobic with buildings. walkers, runners, dogs, aspiring musicians and artists, etc. all surround you as you meander through this park, but it is wonderful!

husband and wife, enjoying every second together

22 weeks!

oh, and we ate. mmm. we decided to eat at the well-known Carnegie Deli. you got it, right down the street from Carnegie Hall. the portions are enormous, the prices equally large, and the cheesecake worth walking 10 miles for! we split a meal, then split the cheesecake, too, and left absolutely stuffed!

carnegie deli cheesecake. melt-in-your-mouth perfect with every bite!

the 30-year-old, ready for her day of adventurous travel!

on my birthday, i drove to a train station in new jersey, took a train back to the city, walked a few more hours around manhattan, navigated the most direct subway route to get me close to the airport, then took a bus just in time to catch my plane! whew! i think few things leave you feeling as accomplished as successfully using public transportation in a new place! a lot of fun, but makes me thankful for living in a neighborhood, owning/driving a car, and being familiar with my surroundings!

this is a sculpture called "the sphere". it was damaged on 9/11 and moved from the world trade center to this location near battery park to be a temporary memorial for all the 9/11 victims.

the view of manhattan after takeoff
(can you see central park? the large grassy area in the midst of all the buildings?)

the view of charleston and the ravenel bridge as we were about to land (this view beats out the above picture in my book!)