Rob and I had our anniversary May 1st, but decided to delay the celebration until the end of the month. I had my heart on attending Book Expo America (BEA), so we postponed any celebrating and money spending until then. To see New York was our gift to each other. This was only our second get away together for more than just an overnighter in seventeen years. I think it was about time.

Day one:

After taking the train into the city and finding our hotel, we gave ourselves a walking tour. I was fairly proud that we didn’t resort to taxi service the entire time. We got ourselves Metro passes and traveled by bus and subway. The subways reminded me of the ones in Russia, except without the grand mosaics, statues, and frescoes. These were just gray tunnels. Since it was Memorial day, there were folding chairs set up all over Times Square.
People watching, eating, shopping, and street entertainment filled most of the day.

Rob thought I should get a psychic reading. No joke! He thought it would be fun, and it might have been, but the psychic wasn’t in. Guess she couldn’t see paying customers coming her way.

Here Rob is making friends with the kebab guy. If you get a street kebab, get the chicken. The beef one is kind of chewy.

And you can’t deny a free National Hebrew hotdog. They were passing them out at Times Square.

That evening we met with some friends from Second Life. Okay, sounds weird to find people you meet online, but they were so terrific. They took us to yummy Thai restaurant, to central park (picture on Imagine memorial), then to get the most decadent dessert in that restaurant from You’ve Got Mail where Meg Ryan waits for her secret online friend to meet her. Sort of ironic, huh?

Day two:

Spent almost the entire day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When we got back home my sister said, “You know that fee to get in is just a suggested price. You can really pay whatever. A dollar if you want.” A little heads up next time.

For dinner, Rob’s coworker and wife took us out for sushi. A wonderful meal and great company with genuinely caring people. I could shoot myself now, because I didn’t get any pictures of them. I must have been too engrossed in the conversation.

Day three:

Alicia’s Day: Spent at BEA (click here for details)
Rob’s Day: Spent at the Hudson bay with a couple friends looking at ships. It was fleet week.

We went to see Wicked on Broadway. I’d have to say I was somewhat disappointed. I expected much more. More dancing. More scenery changes. More memorable songs. The storyline was stale with an unrealistic love story and forced angst. Would whats-her-face really turn Wicked because they were taking away the people-animals? I think they should have ditched that concept and just played up her outcast situation. I couldn’t even sing one of the songs now. Too many words packed into blase tunes. And when the wicked witch was singing to her love (can’t remember his name), they were just kneeling on the floor the whole time. MOVE! You’re boring me. I did enjoy Glenda’s role, though; they did an excellent job with her. I wish we would have seen Billy Elliot. I know I’d be enthralled with the dancing.I can’t end on that. So I’m gonna say it…I’m gonna say it…I LOVE NEW YORK!!