Saturday Night NYC

New York City on a Saturday Night - sooo many people, lights, good spirits - a blur of colour.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Taking the subway to the Upper East Side, past Central Park, we went to the Met. There are so many exhibitions to see at the Met but I headed straight for the bliss of a) probably the biggest collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts outside of Egypt, and b) a huge gift shop! My inner 10 year-old was in heaven. See Mum, all those Standard 3 projects were worth it!

Out and About

Dan was "fired" at Trump Towers - the lobby is open to the public and there is even a Starbucks inside! I had to leave the giftshop smothering my guffaws of laughter - Trump-themed everything! It is so hilarious. Meanwhile, just out of pure chance, we happened to run into Jo (previous Shimonoseki JET) outside Tiffanys. It's a small world even in NYC!!! Then we experienced the massive grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral in the city. So old and beautiful, and they had big wreaths decorating the massive pillars inside.

Rockefeller Center

Going to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center is a tradition at this time of year. The area around the skating rink is decorated with red, green and gold flags and sculpted angels herald everyone a Merry Christmas. I bet the massive snowflakes looked great at night, too.

Shopping!

Think the Apple Megastore, MnM's World, Times Square Toys R Us, Barbie World and FAO Schwartz. I was overwhelmed with all there was to buy! Guess which two lucky babies are getting lollipops from Santa this year! The parcel must have come via New York from the North Pole...

First visit to NYC - yeah baby!

Yellow cabs, Broadway theatres, Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square - I had one of those (very rare) moments where I just couldn't speak! This is such a dream come true.

The people are so diverse - there are conversations in many different languages all around. I never thought advertising could be so beautiful.

The Final Countdown....

Off to New York and Washington D.C next Thursday! I am so excited. I have been reading about all the amazing things to see and do in D.C and wishing we could stay there a week rather than just two or three days. Oh well...

Drooling over the advertisements in every D.C tourist brochure for steaks and pub food. Looks like there are some amazing restaurants - but we just want western food! Surround me in English!

I feel exhausted, life has been so busy this December. Not only is my house a huge mess but my washing machine has broken and there is water and soggy clothes everywhere. My fingertips are raw from wringing out clothes that didn't make it through the rinse cycle. But I don't care! I'm going off on an adventure.

I have so many happy memories from our past two Christmases in Japan which were surrounded by lovely people - and also the fantastic knowledge that my next Christmas will be in NZ.

Blessings to all my friends and family who I miss so much. I hope to be blogging regularly from the White House soon!

Watch this space. Rosie xoxo