We got an early start yesterday morning. We had big plans. First, Ground Zero, then on to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We took the subway down to the World Trade Center. When we got off the subway and came up, the first thing we saw was Ground Zero. Immediately there was something in the air - I can't really describe how it felt, but I think you can imagine. We were walking around trying to find a viewing site of Ground Zero because currently it is fenced off and makeshift wooden walls are behind the fence. You can't see anything from the street except cranes and construction. Unfortunately we couldn't find the viewing site, but we did find the 9/11 Memorial Preview site. It's a small leased office space with the 9/11 story, a memorial to what happened that day and a layout of what the site will eventually look like.
It felt so strange listening to a mother explain to her young child what this place was. She told him that some bad men crashed airplanes into buildings and a lot of people got hurt that day. The child asked how many. "Almost 3,000," she said. It is a story we will tell generation after generation. It was incredibly sombering, but I was reminded once more of why we send our men overseas to fight terrorism. To keep us safe and to never let this happen again.
We made our way down to Battery City Park where we would catch our ferry to Ellis Island. On the way we passed a fire station. There was a giant brass mural on the side of their building as a memorial to all their men that were lost that day. I can't imagine being a part of something like that. It must have been so unreal.
We made it to Battery City Park. From the park we could see Lady Liberty. It was a beautiful, sunny day. The perfect kind for sight seeing. We stood in a long security line to get on the ferry. It was airport type security. We had to remove anything metal and put it through a scanner and then walk through a metal detector. It took quite a while. Soon enough we were all crowded onto the ferry and arriving at Liberty Island. To be that near to the statue was quite amazing. I have to be honest, though. It wasn't as big as a lot of movies make it look. Don't get me wrong, it's huge. But the way it's depicted in movies, it seems like it's as big as the Empire State Building. Yeah....not quite. We spent about an hour there, walking around the island and capturing different views of the statue and the city with our camera.
Soon after, we were on the move to Ellis Island which is a quick boat ride from Lady Liberty. Ellis Island was incredible. So much of our history revolves around the people who came through that place. We could have spent all day there. Immediately, Andrew and I started using their database to search for our relatives who passed through long ago. My dad's family, the Kefgens, came through. As did Andrew's family, the Rechichis. I searched and searched but came up empty handed with the family name my dad had given me. I was disappointed, but it was still very exciting to be standing in the same place they came to many years before. Andrew found his Great Grandparents' names in the computer database as well as on the stone wall outside. That was really exciting for him. I decided to search on the stone wall one last time to see if I could find any names. The name my dad had given me was Frederic Wilhelm Koppchen. The original spelling of Kefgen was Koepfgen (right dad?). When the Kefgens came through Ellis Island, the spelling got mixed up and changed, so it was possible that it was recorded incorrectly. I came across a Carl Friederich Wilhelm Koeppen. Pretty close...I'm not sure if this person is related to me at all, but just in case, I took a picture with his name along with the other Koeppens who came through Ellis Island.
By the time we were finished searching, it was about 4:30pm. We had spent almost the entire day learning about American history. Pretty exciting when you are learning right at the source of the history. We made our way back Uptown to Chelsea. I had found a Venezuelan restaurant called El Cocotero that had gotten rave reviews on Yelp. It sounded so amazingly delicious and I couldn't wait to eat there. When I was in Venezuela, we ate traditional Venezuelan food, but I'm going to go ahead and call it the poor man's Venezuelan food. After all, we were living as missionaries. We weren't exactly eating gourmet. I remember liking what I ate, but we all grew very tired of eating the same thing all the time. I think this is what we would have eaten if we were "eating well" all the time. It was the same traditional food that I ate all the time, empanadas, arepas and tajadas (fried sweet plantains). The difference was in the fillings of the empanadas and the arepas. They were just heavenly. Slow cooked chicken and beef with cilantro, cheese, black beans, tomatoes, plantains, Venezuelan cheese....oh so yummy! I was kind of hoping the waitress would have been a little more friendly so that we could have chatted in Spanish about Venezuela a bit, but she didn't really seem interested in making small talk so I left it alone. Oh well, their food was still amazing. I think I will have to recreate what I ate in my own kitchen at home.
Andrew and I were stuffed, but didn't really know what to do next. We were too full for dessert or drinks so we decided to go back to our hotel. We relaxed after our long day and got caught up with Dexter. By the time we had finished the 2 episodes it was pretty late. Too late for dessert, even in NY. We kept searching for dessert places and found many but none of them were open. Bummer!! We finally gave up and just walked down to the Duane Reade (a drugstore) and grabbed some Oreos. Hopefully we can find some dessert tonight!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Bartering, Cannoli, 5th Ave, Rockefeller & Broadway
Today started off at a small coffee shop called Culture Espresso Bar. It's a few blocks from our hotel. I ordered a mocha and a chocolate croissant. Andrew had a latte and a ham and cheese croissant. I must say, all were absolutely divine. The chocolate in my mocha was rich perfection, but not too sweet. Just right. And my croissant - chocolate and bread. Need I say more? Andrew didn't add any sugar to his latte, which is normal for him. I usually need a little bit of sweet in my coffee, but according to my taste, his latte didn't need a thing. Delicious! His croissant was also very tasty.
Next, we made our way downtown via the subway. Our destination: China town for some cheap knock off shopping and Little Italy. We bartered our way through Chinatown. I found several things I liked and I think I did a good job of talking the prices down to what I wanted. I can thank my trips to Mexico for that learned skill. After passing through Chinatown, we arrived in Little Italy. I loved the feel of this part of the city. It felt warm even though the weather was cold, crisp and windy. There was just a feeling of life in the air. Little Italy still looks Italian, but sadly there aren't as many Italians inhabiting the neighborhood as you might think. Most of the people in the store fronts had eastern European accents, though I think they were trying to fool the tourists into thinking they were full blooded Italians. Andrew and I were searching for a pizza place he had found on Yelp that got rave reviews. After passing the block it was supposed to be on a few times, we gave up and decided to try one of the many other Italian restaurants. We picked De Nico's. It was very warm and inviting and filled with beautiful Christmas decorations. And a bonus - the waiters were speaking Italian to each other! Though I've never been to Italy, this restaurant seemed like the real deal. We both ordered pizza. He had the sausage, I had the zucchini. When we finished, the waiter brought us complimentary zeppole, which are basically Italian doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. Very yummy!
On our search for the restaurant Andrew wanted to find from Yelp, we passed a few cannoli stands along the way. We decided that even though we were stuffed, we couldn't just walk past them. I have made cannoli at home and they honestly weren't that great. Probably because we bought the pre-made shells and just stuffed them with sweetened ricotta. We weren't expecting them to be very good but decided to buy them anyhow. We ordered the chocolate with pistachio filling. They were fantastic! So good we are even talking about going back just to grab a few more!
After Little Italy, we made our way back Uptown to Rockefeller Center. Our goal was to go to "The top of the Rock." We wanted to wait until dusk to see the view of the city because we read that was the best time to go. We got acquainted with Rockefeller. We saw the giant Christmas tree, the ice skating rink, Studio 1A where the Today Show broadcasts, and 30 Rockefeller Plaza. We still had quite some time so we decided to walk down 5th Avenue. This is what shopping New York is all about. They had the high price stores and some lesser expensive ones as well. Best of all - the H & M! I was determined to pick something out, but it just didn't happen again. I think I just felt too rushed. I still tried a few things on, which was a good enough experience in itself.
Next, it was time to head back to Rockefeller to see the view of the city. On the way we stopped at a hot dog stand. I must say that I was not impressed. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either. I'll stick to the hot dogs outside Safeco before the next Mariner's game I go to. Of course, if we come across a stand that is supposed to be really good, I'll give it a try. But this was nothing to write home about.
We rode the elevator up to the 67th floor of the GE building. The view of the city was very beautiful. It was, however, freezing outside so we took all our pictures quickly and headed back down.
Our next stop - the Broadway musical, Elf! We made our way toward the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Apparently Google maps was messing with us because we couldn't find it for quite a while. After walking back and forth a few times, we finally realized we were on the wrong street. Sure enough, it was the next street over. We grabbed our will call tickets, but we still had an hour to kill before the show. We decided to sit down at the restaurant on the corner so I could grab a cup of coffee. I was so sleepy. We ducked into Charlie O's which seemed like a chain restaurant and may very well have been, but it was way over priced! My cup of crappy coffee was $4.50. Oh well, it kept me awake for the show.
Which by the way was amazing! Elf was so much fun! I am sad to say that all of the major productions I've been to in Seattle (the list isn't very long) have been pretty disappointing, poorly written and terribly acted. This show was the opposite. Andrew and I both loved the actor who played Buddy and all of the other actors were very convincing in their roles. We both left with smiles on our faces and songs running through our heads. It was a blast and I would love to go to another musical at some point.
Needless to say, our feet were killing us and we didn't have much left in us after the show so we headed back to our room. On the docket for tomorrow - Ground Zero, Wall St and Ellis Island. Stay tuned!
Next, we made our way downtown via the subway. Our destination: China town for some cheap knock off shopping and Little Italy. We bartered our way through Chinatown. I found several things I liked and I think I did a good job of talking the prices down to what I wanted. I can thank my trips to Mexico for that learned skill. After passing through Chinatown, we arrived in Little Italy. I loved the feel of this part of the city. It felt warm even though the weather was cold, crisp and windy. There was just a feeling of life in the air. Little Italy still looks Italian, but sadly there aren't as many Italians inhabiting the neighborhood as you might think. Most of the people in the store fronts had eastern European accents, though I think they were trying to fool the tourists into thinking they were full blooded Italians. Andrew and I were searching for a pizza place he had found on Yelp that got rave reviews. After passing the block it was supposed to be on a few times, we gave up and decided to try one of the many other Italian restaurants. We picked De Nico's. It was very warm and inviting and filled with beautiful Christmas decorations. And a bonus - the waiters were speaking Italian to each other! Though I've never been to Italy, this restaurant seemed like the real deal. We both ordered pizza. He had the sausage, I had the zucchini. When we finished, the waiter brought us complimentary zeppole, which are basically Italian doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. Very yummy!
On our search for the restaurant Andrew wanted to find from Yelp, we passed a few cannoli stands along the way. We decided that even though we were stuffed, we couldn't just walk past them. I have made cannoli at home and they honestly weren't that great. Probably because we bought the pre-made shells and just stuffed them with sweetened ricotta. We weren't expecting them to be very good but decided to buy them anyhow. We ordered the chocolate with pistachio filling. They were fantastic! So good we are even talking about going back just to grab a few more!
After Little Italy, we made our way back Uptown to Rockefeller Center. Our goal was to go to "The top of the Rock." We wanted to wait until dusk to see the view of the city because we read that was the best time to go. We got acquainted with Rockefeller. We saw the giant Christmas tree, the ice skating rink, Studio 1A where the Today Show broadcasts, and 30 Rockefeller Plaza. We still had quite some time so we decided to walk down 5th Avenue. This is what shopping New York is all about. They had the high price stores and some lesser expensive ones as well. Best of all - the H & M! I was determined to pick something out, but it just didn't happen again. I think I just felt too rushed. I still tried a few things on, which was a good enough experience in itself.
Next, it was time to head back to Rockefeller to see the view of the city. On the way we stopped at a hot dog stand. I must say that I was not impressed. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either. I'll stick to the hot dogs outside Safeco before the next Mariner's game I go to. Of course, if we come across a stand that is supposed to be really good, I'll give it a try. But this was nothing to write home about.
We rode the elevator up to the 67th floor of the GE building. The view of the city was very beautiful. It was, however, freezing outside so we took all our pictures quickly and headed back down.
Our next stop - the Broadway musical, Elf! We made our way toward the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Apparently Google maps was messing with us because we couldn't find it for quite a while. After walking back and forth a few times, we finally realized we were on the wrong street. Sure enough, it was the next street over. We grabbed our will call tickets, but we still had an hour to kill before the show. We decided to sit down at the restaurant on the corner so I could grab a cup of coffee. I was so sleepy. We ducked into Charlie O's which seemed like a chain restaurant and may very well have been, but it was way over priced! My cup of crappy coffee was $4.50. Oh well, it kept me awake for the show.
Which by the way was amazing! Elf was so much fun! I am sad to say that all of the major productions I've been to in Seattle (the list isn't very long) have been pretty disappointing, poorly written and terribly acted. This show was the opposite. Andrew and I both loved the actor who played Buddy and all of the other actors were very convincing in their roles. We both left with smiles on our faces and songs running through our heads. It was a blast and I would love to go to another musical at some point.
Needless to say, our feet were killing us and we didn't have much left in us after the show so we headed back to our room. On the docket for tomorrow - Ground Zero, Wall St and Ellis Island. Stay tuned!
Taking a bite of the Big Apple
We've made it to the big city. Andrew and I are here in New York for our 4th anniversary. This trip was a surprise for me. Andrew had been planning it and keeping it a secret for 2 months. I can't believe he didn't slip up and say anything. His family was in on the secret too and they had to hold it in as well. They did a great job keeping their poker faces on.
Andrew and I had a date night at home a few weeks ago. The kids were with his parents so we went to the store and bought a couple of puzzles to do together. One of the puzzles we picked out was a panoramic photograph of Times Square. We had been working on the puzzle little by little for the last few weeks and had talked a few times about how we would love to go to NYC.
On the eve of our anniversary we finished the puzzle. The next morning, Andrew told me it was time to open my present. He told me to go downstairs and clear off the dining room table because my gift was big and needed a flat surface. I went downstairs and was confused. I asked him if he wanted me to take the puzzle apart and put away. I picked up the puzzle box and found it much heavier than an empty box should be. I asked him if I should open the box and he said yes. Inside was a book wrapped in blue paper. On the outside he had written, "Pack your bags. We leave Friday." I unwrapped the book. It was Fodor's 2011 Guide to New York City. I was so excited and so surprised. I asked him if he was serious. Of course he was.
We left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa, flew out of Seattle Friday morning and arrived in Newark, New Jersey on Friday afternoon. The flight was the most pleasant one I've been on in a while. I loved flying over the US. We looked down across the snowy plains, saw the Great Lakes and the rolling green hills beyond. We came in just over the New Jersey Turnpike. When we landed in Newark, I couldn't help but think of the Sopranos. Looking down on the city reminded me of the landscape of the show. Thankfully we didn't have any mob run ins.
From the Newark airport, we took the Air Train to New York's Penn Station. We were finally in the Big Apple! The subway system is huge! It would take weeks and beyond to figure it all out. I'm so glad Andrew is with me, otherwise I would be lost already. The streets were very crowded with Black Friday shoppers and lots of trash heaps from the parade on Thanksgiving. We walked past Macy's on 34th Street and on to our hotel which is on the corner of 35th and 5th Ave.
After we got settled into our hotel, we decided we should go see Times Square and grab some dinner. We took the subway again. Again, I cannot believe how huge the underground transportation is in this city. It's a fantastic way to get around. We got off at Times Square and immediately we were surrounded by the big lights of the city. It was so awe inspiring to see the huge buildings and lighted signs. Pictures don't do it justice because you can't understand how enormous it is until you are standing in it. We took many pictures, walked into the giant Toys R Us, and then went on to our restaurant - Sosa Borella. It was an Italian-Argentine restaurant. I enjoyed sangria, Andrew a beer. We shared the picada which was a meat and cheese appetizer. It was delicious. The bread and pesto was also very enjoyable. Andrew had the fettuccine with prawns, broccoli and a spicy red sauce. I had a spinach ravioli with lamb bolognaise and ricotta. Both dishes were scrumptious!
We decided we would grab some postcards to send to family. Nobody sends postcards anymore! Kinda cheesy, but fun. Then we went to Macy's on 34th. It was amazing and magical to step inside the building. It is obviously an old building that hasn't been updated in a while, but the Christmas decor and the bustling shoppers made it come alive. We used what we are guessing was the original escalator. It was wooden and kind of rickety. But still in good working condition. There were floors and floors and floors of women's clothing. Andrew told me I had to buy something. I just couldn't pick something out. I kept finding things I liked but there was so much to choose from. Maybe we'll go back later and I'll be able to choose. We didn't even find the men's department or the children's department. We had already gone up 6 floors and it was late so we decided to head back to our hotel.
We have much more to see!
Andrew and I had a date night at home a few weeks ago. The kids were with his parents so we went to the store and bought a couple of puzzles to do together. One of the puzzles we picked out was a panoramic photograph of Times Square. We had been working on the puzzle little by little for the last few weeks and had talked a few times about how we would love to go to NYC.
On the eve of our anniversary we finished the puzzle. The next morning, Andrew told me it was time to open my present. He told me to go downstairs and clear off the dining room table because my gift was big and needed a flat surface. I went downstairs and was confused. I asked him if he wanted me to take the puzzle apart and put away. I picked up the puzzle box and found it much heavier than an empty box should be. I asked him if I should open the box and he said yes. Inside was a book wrapped in blue paper. On the outside he had written, "Pack your bags. We leave Friday." I unwrapped the book. It was Fodor's 2011 Guide to New York City. I was so excited and so surprised. I asked him if he was serious. Of course he was.
We left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa, flew out of Seattle Friday morning and arrived in Newark, New Jersey on Friday afternoon. The flight was the most pleasant one I've been on in a while. I loved flying over the US. We looked down across the snowy plains, saw the Great Lakes and the rolling green hills beyond. We came in just over the New Jersey Turnpike. When we landed in Newark, I couldn't help but think of the Sopranos. Looking down on the city reminded me of the landscape of the show. Thankfully we didn't have any mob run ins.
From the Newark airport, we took the Air Train to New York's Penn Station. We were finally in the Big Apple! The subway system is huge! It would take weeks and beyond to figure it all out. I'm so glad Andrew is with me, otherwise I would be lost already. The streets were very crowded with Black Friday shoppers and lots of trash heaps from the parade on Thanksgiving. We walked past Macy's on 34th Street and on to our hotel which is on the corner of 35th and 5th Ave.
After we got settled into our hotel, we decided we should go see Times Square and grab some dinner. We took the subway again. Again, I cannot believe how huge the underground transportation is in this city. It's a fantastic way to get around. We got off at Times Square and immediately we were surrounded by the big lights of the city. It was so awe inspiring to see the huge buildings and lighted signs. Pictures don't do it justice because you can't understand how enormous it is until you are standing in it. We took many pictures, walked into the giant Toys R Us, and then went on to our restaurant - Sosa Borella. It was an Italian-Argentine restaurant. I enjoyed sangria, Andrew a beer. We shared the picada which was a meat and cheese appetizer. It was delicious. The bread and pesto was also very enjoyable. Andrew had the fettuccine with prawns, broccoli and a spicy red sauce. I had a spinach ravioli with lamb bolognaise and ricotta. Both dishes were scrumptious!
We decided we would grab some postcards to send to family. Nobody sends postcards anymore! Kinda cheesy, but fun. Then we went to Macy's on 34th. It was amazing and magical to step inside the building. It is obviously an old building that hasn't been updated in a while, but the Christmas decor and the bustling shoppers made it come alive. We used what we are guessing was the original escalator. It was wooden and kind of rickety. But still in good working condition. There were floors and floors and floors of women's clothing. Andrew told me I had to buy something. I just couldn't pick something out. I kept finding things I liked but there was so much to choose from. Maybe we'll go back later and I'll be able to choose. We didn't even find the men's department or the children's department. We had already gone up 6 floors and it was late so we decided to head back to our hotel.
We have much more to see!
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