I woke up later than I meant to today. I left the hotel around 11, and came back around 5:30. Believe it or not, I saw everything I set out to see - and so much more. I quickly ate my doughnut and set off. I should have eaten 12. It was gone before I got to Times Square. In Dunkin Donuts, I noticed these guys in suits with duffel bags. It said something on the side, but I couldn't read it. When I finished eating, I went outside, and here comes another group of suit people with their duffels (same writing on the outside of the duffel). I walk a block further, and here they come again. Oddly enough, they all dressed alike, too. I started thinking that they might be the NY branch of the Mormons? But the part of the duffel writing that I caught said, "The Department of". I only mention the suit people because I saw them again just a few minutes ago walking down the street. Now, I have my mystery to solve for the week.
After my tiny breakfast, I headed north. I wound up on 34th St, where Macy's is. Since my friend, Karen suggested that I go there, I went in. THAT is a store. The Macy's we all know and complain about their prices....THAT is not Macy's. This is 8 floors of stuff that you will never see because all you have is the watered down mall version of the real thing. First floor was cosmetics and frangrances. I look off to my right, and there is Starbucks in what they call a balcony. On the other side, opposite of Starbucks, is the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store (where I bought my nephew's birthday gift - it's not boring, I promise). On to the 2nd floor, which was clothing and a bit more cosmetics. 3rd floor - more clothes - but this was the one that was familiar. This is the floor that looked like what we see in our mall. 4th floor - clothes and shoes. I will take a moment right here to tell you that their store is actually in two buildings that are close enough together that they just punched holes in the walls and you can walk through. Imagine a shoe section that takes up almost an entire floor. It starts halfway in the first building and goes all the way back into the other building. And they had styles and designers that I had never heard of before. Moving on to the 5th floor, kids clothes. I look up at the sign for this floor, and I notice they have a McDonald's on this floor. They really did! It was genius. 6th floor was the teen clothes, and I skipped walking through that one because the only person that I know that can fit in them is my friend, Brianna. 7th floor was bedding. 8th floor was china, crystal, and the wedding stuff. Now, on the 8th floor is a big restaurant also. It's called Au Bon Pain, and it looked good, but I was too intrigued with the wooden escalator that I just rode on to really think, "Oh, it's time to eat." (It was time to eat, by the way - the donut was looooong gone.) So, I went back downstairs. Down the wooden escalators....those were really fascinating. Before I stop talking about Macy's, I have to mention this. There were three Starbucks in that place. If I read the signs right, there was an ice cream place on the skinny people floor. THAT is a store.
Then I went off towards Times Square. You actually see it before you get there, the signs are so big. I have to say it isn't as impressive from the ground as it is in all the cool pics you see. Those are taken from a building or something. The first thing you notice is the hordes of people that are coming toward you as you cross the street. Times Square is not the place for claustrophobes. I take my pics, and realize, "I AM SOOOOO HUNGRY." Enter McD's once again. I just wanted something to tide me over until I found a real place to eat. So, I ordered a cheese burger and a large Dr. Pepper (believe me, I walked it off long before I ordered it). She looks at me, and says, "You want a cheeseburger and a DIET Dr. Pepper? I mean, Dr. Pepper?" I said, "YOU HAVE DIET DR. PEPPER?" "No, but we have Diet Coke." I said, "That's gross." She laughed. This McD's was packed with people, and it had a second floor. I went upstairs to sit down, and praise God that there just happened to be a small booth to sit in, because this McD's could have used a third floor.
Next, I look over and see a huge billboard for "Cowboys Verses Aliens". I took a picture of it for a certain someone who will remain nameless. You know who you are. I look ahead and see Mickey Mouse leaning from a building. It was the Disney Store. I went in because I thought, it would be something to tell my friend, Stef. But I was wrong. It was something to tell everyone because THAT Disney Store is awesome! I know, it's all about tourism, but really....they did a great job with the whole imagination thing. There were white trees, which they projected images on. There were different images, but they were all scenes from Disney movies. I took a lot of pictures here because well, you have to see it to believe it. Again, the Disney stores in our malls.....watered down mall versions.
I went into the M&M's store. Not much to brag about there, except their NY color mixes. After I came out, I look to my right, and what did I see? Radio City Music Hall. So, that is where I went next. Took my pics of it, and looked again to my right, and there are the NBC Studios. Take my pic of that, and walked on, finally coming to Rockefeller Center. Took lots of pics here. Check out my LEGO store pics. They are amazing. They built all of the Rockefeller Center statues out of LEGOS. Really, it was cool.
After that, I went down 5th Avenue. Um....that was not my favorite although the churches were neat. Saks 5th Ave. is a little blah. I didn't like it. 5th Ave. did not hold my attention long. I went back to Times Square and headed back to the hotel. At this point, I have to add that I had slowed way down. BUT I pretty much walked right into my last planned stop. It was Whole Foods, and I hit that one in Chelsea (not an area that I cared for all that much - I am sooooo glad that I didn't book the hotel there). Just goes to show you that you should always follow the peace of God when making decisions.
So that is my day. AND I AM POOPED! It is 9:00 here, and I was back here by 5:30 (okay, I did take a stroll down to 11th St. around 6:15. That was a mistake. My legs did not like it.) Still, here is what I learned today:
1) Everyone goes to Times Square. I can't tell you how many languages I heard passing by me.
2) When you walk that far, your legs hurt in places that you didn't know that they could hurt.
3) There is a Starbucks on every corner here.
4) There is also a McD's everywhere - but if you do eat there, just eat there. Don't order the cheeseburger thinking that it will tide you over. You will forget that you're hungry again and wind up wanting to buy everything at Whole Foods Market.
5) The people running around with suitcases are actually smarter than they look. They are shopping. How else are you going to carry all your stuff? Hook it to your bag like me? That hurts after an hour or two of it hitting you in the knees.
6) Showers are best after you are covered in NY street grime. If you don't believe me, it's okay, but this street grime was worse than being outside at camp. When I came back to the hotel, I looked down, and my ankles were covered in black.
7) There are cars everywhere, but no gas stations (where are they getting this invisible gas?)
8) The best music I heard all day came out of BB King's restaurant. For real.
9) NYer's walk. Not only do they walk, but they walk fast. At the beginning of the day, I could keep up with them. It's my normal pace - but to keep it up that long is amazing. That's why you don't see that many overweight people here.
10) NYer's have this uncanny sense of timing when it comes to crosswalk lights. I can't tell if they are watching traffic, the lights, or what....they just KNOW when it's about to turn, and they go.
Well, I have a Bible to read. I am praying that I can keep my eyes open for it. No 12:00 bedtimes for me tonight! Ha!
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