New York, New York

Quote of the day: “No, I’m not going ashore today. I’d only get lost.”

Today was more about people, and less about sights. We’d visited New York some four years back, so the pressure to hit the tourist hotspots was off. That meant that I could kick back and really enjoy the day…

Well maybe not the start of the day. Waking up at 5am for the sail into port was a challenge. An alarm clock on a cruise? What sort of masochist am I? OK, so we’d been told it would be worth it, so I struggled up and hauled myself up onto the deck. (BJ just rolled over and went back to sleep, despite my best efforts to rouse him.)

And yes, it was worth the effort. As planned, the ship passed the Statue of Liberty just after sunrise, so that was a lovely sight. The Manhattan skyline was also worth seeing at that time of the morning, and quite different viewing it from the Hudson River than being in the city.

I let the rush to get ashore pass, and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, and my customary coffee before getting organized. Why rush off on a Sunday morning, when nothing opens until 10am? New York may well be the city that never sleeps, but it’s definitely a little sluggish on a Sunday morning!

I wandered into town in good time to meet L, a former exchange student now living in New York, at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art, which is my favorite) at 10am. We did coffee, then the museum, covering most of the good stuff before the crowds built up. Loved it just as much this time around. Then it was off to meet up with B, and the 3 of us had brunch in a very nice cafe on the edge of Central Park. From there we did a bit of shopping (nothing flash, just basics like almonds, peanut butter, and the long awaited deodorant…) before hunting down a New York cheesecake… yum! Thanks guys for your patience!!

After getting caught in the rain, I headed for C & E’s place, and met their 2 year old for the first time. When the rain cleared, we strolled through Central Park for a while, and watched the “bubble man” doing his thing… what a cool place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. Music, dancing and families just out enjoying the lovely weather. Which all goes to show that it doesn’t have to be all rush and hustle in the Big Apple…

A quick dinner, then a scoot back to the ship for sail away. And just after dusk we glided back down the Hudson, and off to the Caribbean… I only wish I had a week in New York, not just a day – but thank you L & B, and C & E, for making this one day so memorable… I had a blast. Shame that BJ isn’t talking to me now because I left him behind on board the ship… Oh well…