Another amazing day today with Mary on our NYC adventure. We spent the day Walking and touring the sites of lower Manhattan and the city was buzzing today. There is an incredible amount of foot traffic this week which is annoying to some, but really adds something to the day for me. People are genuinely thrilled to be here and although tours and events are packed, everything works out for all. Here are my highlights of today:

1. The Statue of Liberty is cool but Ellis Island is better

We spent the afternoon on both islands after navigating the throngs of people at Battery Park. Lady Liberty really is a “have to see”when 

I thought it was good enough to see her from shore in past trips. Wrongo! The sheer size of the statue is enough reason to pay your respects but the views of lower Manhattan are even better. The hidden gem of the trip is the ferry stop at Ellis Island where every immigrant entered the US though that building for 50 years. The exhibits are chilling and moving, especially if your family came through those gates. See it.

2. The 5th Avenue window displays are mind blowing

I have been up and down 5th Ave several times in the summer and it’s a retailers dream. Beautiful stores and unbelievable traffic make this a wonder I of the world to me. The amount of time and money put into the Christmas windows are over the top and make you stop for long stretches wondering “how?”Macy’s is really cool and the shops of Rockerfeller are amazing but Saks 5th ave is eye popping.

3. The security around Trump Tower was startling

Mary and I stumbled across the tower on the way to the Nike store. I have never had to be patted down and metal dectectored to buy shoes before. There were less Uzi machine guns in Rambo than I saw in front of the building. Security is at an all time high this weekend anyway, but wow. It was the most entertaining moment of the day watching these dudes guard this clown.

Tomorrow is the big night. There will be an incredible energy on the streets all day tomorrow and we will soak it up. We got a preview of the ball drop today and the whole scene is hard to process. Hang onto your hats 2016.

Marco

Rough nite of drinks and and an early start to the day was not the optimal combo for a kick start this morning. Mary and I were dragging our asses this morning. We pulled it together by 10am and headed out to brave the suddenly rainy weather of the day.

The first challenge of the day was finding gluten free food that would work with Mary’s diet, We would have thought that NYC would be a progressive food network but we have struggled today to solve this puzzle. There are literally thousands of breakfast places in Manhattan, all of which have never heard of gluten free. It may become the mission of the week to answer this puzzle.

The second challenge was the rain. It certainly takes the fun out of a stroll around Midtown but it didn’t deter us from seeing the sites of the city. With dual umbrellas in hand, we forged our way through the crowds.

My best three observations of the day:

1. I was amazed at the sheer size of the Rockerfeller Christmas tree.

This tree is imported in to the city annually to be lit up in early November and stays lit until NYE. It’s presence and importance to the people here is significant. Even those New Yorkers who avoid the tourist areas like the plague will come here to celebrate the season. It really is a marvel to see it.

2. The Diamond district of the city is under appreciated.

We took a stroll through this area this morning and the jewellery in the windows is staggering. Ring after ring after ring at $40K and beyond. It is the jewellery capital of the country for a reason and you have to see it to believe it.

3. The Empire State Building is more amazing beside it than inside it.

It is an architectural masterpiece and has been for years. It hangs over the city (all lit in Chrsitmas colours to boot) and it’s visible as far as you want to see. We had a nice dinner in a sushi place underneath the tower and enjoyed the views to the sky.

On that note, The funniest thing we saw all day was the drinking games that groups of NYU students were playing in this sushi bar. These dudes were challenging another group of dudes to out drink them in Sake-bombs and these guys could pound booze. Mary and I laughed that this was likely what our university aged son does with his buddies but nonetheless these guys made us laugh with their frat house games. I’m sure the sushi bar staff were less pleased as they took over the place.

We have another jam packed day ahead, Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street and my first visit to the ole girl herself, the Statue of Liberty. Hopefully the weather stays clear as it was tonight. Stay tuned.

Marco

The dreaded travel day. Get up early, rush around, probably forget something on the counter and get to the airport early enough to sit and wait. No fun but a necessary evil to getting to somewhere that is more fun than here. After a long day of watching Westjet entertainment, we landed at JFK airport and the NYC experiences begins.

The fun began after we landed. We had to navigate our way from JFK airport to Midtown Manhattan through the train and subway system. Not such the easy task all the way from Queens. We asked a few questions to newsstand operators and people who looked like they knew where they were going and we made it. The subway system of this city has always amazed me. I have never taken a cab in all my trips here and don’t intend to now.

We checked in at the Kimpton Muse hotel which to my surprise it literally 50 yards from the big stage used for NYE and likely close to where we will settle in on Dec 31. We went for a walk in the evening and we took a look at the marvel that it Times Square. The amount of people on the streets tonight was impressive enough that I can’t imagine what this will look like in a few days. We found an Irish pub named O’Malley’s where we walked up the steepest set of stairs I have been on to get to the 3rd floor bar. We sampled some comfort food and one too many Dark and Stormy’s while we had some laughs and cries and watched the place fill up with strangers from across the land. It was amazing how the staff managed those stairs up and down with food and drinks and we wondered how many drinks had fallen down them. We would soon find out as the comedy was yet to come for us. The ensuing short walk home was interesting as two tipsy jokers navigated the big city, but we made it safe.

Onto day 1 and night 2, The Top of the Rock at sunset is on the agenda tomorrow.

Marco



Calgary is a great city. It has everything you could want in a metropolitan centre including scenery, people, architecture and commerce. There aren’t many better places to be in this world but Calgary plays in the minor league of cities compared to my favourite, New York City. Tomorrow, Mary will make her first trip to NYC and I will make my umpteenth. New York is a fantastic city.

This trip is special for me in a few ways. Firstly, I get to share the experience with Mary and see, feel and smell the city through her perspective. I have done almost everything you should do in that city but I haven’t done it from a romantic perspective. I can’t think of a greater backdrop for romance than there. Secondly, I get to see the big city in the winter and through the holidays. This city is electric at the best of times and even more so at Christmas. Lastly, Mary and I get to knock one off the ole’ bucket list. We get to stand with a million of our closest friends and bring in the New Year under the giant ball in Times Square. There are things you do in your life that you look back on and think, “Holy shit, we actually did that!” This is surely going to be one of the those moments that we tell people about for a lifetime. It won’t come without it’s interesting scenarios though.

If you have ever read anything about this experience, it is not an easy day. A million plus people jammed into a small space creates it’s own challenges. If you hate crowds, being jostled and shoved, conversing with strangers and frankly standing on your feet for 9-12 hours, this is torture for you. That would explain why “only” 40+ million people have ever taken on the experience from across the globe over the years. To my eyes, those experiences are what make this so interesting to me. I will be completely enthralled with the mass of humanity who have come from everywhere to celebrate a new beginning. I want to enjoy as many of their stories as possible because we all have our reasons for being there. Mine is just less interesting. I want to see it with my eyes and ring in the year hanging out with Dick Clark’s ghost.

We have some challenges to overcome though. The cold will be a factor as NYC is not exactly balmy this time of year. Try packing a suitcase that ranges from boots to suits to everything in between. We will stay warm no matter what. The real issue is surviving the day without being able to use the bathroom. You have little choice as there are no public restrooms (nor could there be even enough) for the million people. The rule is simple. With all the security that exists and the masses, if you leave to pee, you are gone for the night with your spot taken by some dude with a bad hat from some country you have never heard of. No point complaining about it. Either dehydrate your bladder or get creative with your ability to whizz in a bottle in the middle of a crowd. I know Mary is worried about it and I am too. My bladder isn’t what it used to be. Stay tuned for the sordid details.

We are going to have a great time. We don’t get to enjoy holidays often where it is just the two of us so I plan to enjoy the time. We will see some of the greatest historical sites in the world and do it all within this concrete jungle. Stay tuned for daily updates from our adventures around the city, the people we meet and the moments that only New York, New York can offer.

Marco