NYC Update - All work and no play...

So far it had been all work and not much play for me in NYC. I had seen my hotel, my office, and a couple restaurants for meals...all of which were great - but I decided last night it was time for a little play time.

I gave myself a walking tour of the NYC touristy parts, and it was great. I love that you can pretty much walk everywhere if you want. I love that there are ALWAYS people around out and about - and an eclectic group of people too. I just love the energy of the city. After nights like these, I could see living in the city. However, if I think about the needs of my "real life", I love AZ much better. It's just nice to have a departure now and then to something totally different!

First I walked down to Madison Square Garden. It was very cool. (Note- MSG is neither Square, nor a Garden).

Basically, it is right at 34th street...a la Miracle on 34th Street - a la the biggest most amazing Macy's I've ever been in. I had to go in. I got sucked into shopping for about 30 mintues and then came back to reality that I was not on my "walking tour" too see a dept. store - no matter how huge it was.

So, on I went, another 6 blocks or so and I rolled up on Times Square. Very cool.

I was last here almost 2 years ago and at that time they did not have it this way - but right now they have the streets blocked off for a certain amount of it with chairs and tables out so people can sit, stroll and meander like aimless tourists now. It was cool.

I just sat with my Starbucks and people watched, news ticker watched, and took it all in. It may sound boring to you - but in my real life I don't often get time to just sit and "smell the roses" and not worry about my other responsibilities or who needs to be where next.

I wandered into a few touristy souvenier shops so that I can spoil the kids with some NYC gear when I finally get back home this weekend. And I came out of one and ran into these Mounted Policemen. They were so nice. I shyly snapped a quick photo, embarrassed to be so blatantly dorky - but then I realized they were surrounded by people taking their pictures, talking to them, and they were so nice about it. They even let some kids be lifted up to pet and talk to their horses. Ainsley would have LOVED that!

The pictures portion of my tour stops here, because my phone battery went dead. However, the tour continued with Broadway, Pizza and Beer in a hole in the wall pizza place, a mini-cheescake from a great bakery/deli, and an interesting walk home to my hotel behind what was obviously a very rich man and his younger, attractive, assistant/bodyguard/companion type guy.

all in all - a great day!