Christmastime in the City

It has been over a week since my friend Jana came from Minnesota.  Things have been a little crazy, and I've been working on a little Christmas project that has been a bit more all-consuming (but fun!) than I anticipated.  So, this is long over due.

Jana and I met twelve years ago, when we both signed up to be Team Leaders of our respected teams during Mission Year in Oakland, CA. After our year ended, we both (and a few others) stayed in the city and remained connected. She has been a constant and consistent friend, which is hard to accomplish considering half the time we've been friends I've been overseas!

She turns 40 later this month so was treating herself to a little R&R (she has twins who turn three next week) in New York City.  And it just so happens that I live near there.  We had a GREAT time having her, and seeing the city with her.  She had the day all mapped out for us so we just went along for the ride - the best way to go, in my opinion.

I felt bad that the one vacation she was taking included a visit with a 20 month old, but it worked out OK, and she and Kyalo were fast friends.  By the end of her visit he only wanted her to read books to him.

After breakfast we headed into the city.  And the sight seeing began!

Jana was pretty excited about this poinsettia Christmas "tree" and even went into some random building to get pictures.  It may have been the only pics she took of the day!

First stop on our tour was Grand Central Terminal.  We went in through the food markets which I loved.  However, $15.00 for a box of clementines? City living is tough! (I got them for $5 last week at my local store).

We grabbed lunch  at a seafood joint there, and then headed to Central Park.

Did I mention the city was P A C K E D?  Everyone was there to do their shopping/see the sites/see the tree, so it made for getting around place slow going.  If you're going to come visit us, come in March.

The thing she wanted to see was waaaay on the other side of the park, so we settled for a stroll through, a stop at the Central Park Zoo where we got to see them feeding the seals, and a visit to Strawberry Fields, and/or the John Lennon memorial.

Even though we look well bundled, it was cooler than I thought - I'd seen reports for mid 50s so thought lugging my big winter jacket around would be a drag.  I was basically cold the whole time.  I was thinking Kyalo was well bundled.  I mean, he managed to fall asleep and  he looked cozy to me:

But Dexter saw it differently, because a second after taking that picture, this happened:

After the park it was getting pretty late and much colder, so we scrapped some of our plans and just headed for the tree.

Which is what everyone else was doing, of course.

 

the tree is from NJ this year!

And that was that.  Apparently, Dexter and I only get into the city when we have visitors, so please, come on over.  Just be sure to bring your smart phone and a plan, because we're not very good at figuring things out.