NYC Trip Wrap Up 1/18/10-1/20/10 (continued)

I can wrap up my trip in one simple statement: I love NYC. I think it is one of the greatest cities in the world!

NYC Trip Wrap Up 1/18/10-1/20/10

1/18/10 - What I Did:
Walked around NYU
Chinatown
Brooklyn Bridge
Financial District
Statue of Liberty
Bodies Exhibition
World Trade Center Site

1/19/10 - What I Did:
Natural History Museum
Grand Central Station
Bryant Park
Shopping!

1/20/10
My final journal entry...

Sunday 1/17/10

What I Did:
Slept in!
Explored the Village
FRIENDS apartment
Groceries at TJ’s
Dinner and FRIENDS Scene It


It should be noted that my dream concerning Billy Crystal might be the weirdest dream I have ever had. Let it also be said that shortly after my dream, I saw an interview with Billy Crystal on a late night show and don’t blame my dream self for any of my dream self’s actions—the man’s got some charm.

Also, I love Trader Joes.

Saturday 1/16/10

What I Did:
Central Park
Central Park Zoo
5th Avenue
F.A.O. Schwartz
The Met
The Guggenheim
Top of the Empire State Building
Drinks and Dessert at Olana
Movie – It’s Complicated


This entry talks about Saturday 1/16/10 (it only says 1/17/10 because it was written at 3:45 am, so technically it was 1/17…)

I had a great Saturday though. Central Park was wonderful and I can only imagine what it would be like to see it during the spring when it is all blossoming, or in the fall when the leaves are all changing. When I was walking through the park, a man who was walking his dog (a pit bull) checked me out and said “Nice” in that long, drawn out, creepy way. I honestly felt like I was in a sitcom or movie of some sort. I wonder what guys like that think is going to happen. “Maybe if I shoot a creepy sort of compliment her way, she’ll swoon or fall instantly in love with me…” Hmm…

The Central Park Zoo was extremely disappointing because it was small and the penguin exhibit was closed. However, I did get to smash a penny—instead of Lincoln, it now has a toucan on it! (Note to anyone who might ever think about giving me a souvenir—I adore smashed pennies)

Fifth Avenue shopping was great. They had real men dressed as toy soldiers standing outside F.A.O. Schwartz. I also got to see the big piano (you know, the one Tom Hanks plays chopsticks on in the movie Big…if you haven’t seen the movie, you need to go out and rent it right now) However, I didn’t get to play anything on it because of some stupid kids ;) I’m kidding, kids aren’t stupid, they just have a tendency to hog the toys…

The Met was HUGE and beautiful. If you have ever been to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, (which is fantastic) the Met is like that, but multiplied by 17. I forgot to grab a map on my way in and got lost. When I finally got a map, I still got lost, only for not as long as the first time. You could spend a whole day in each wing, if that. It was amazing to be in the presence of such historical sculptures, tombs, carvings and paintings by artists like Raphael, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, etc. Not to mention the photograph section was great too.

Unfortunately, only two small floors of the Guggenheim were available since they were setting up for a new installation. It was still cool to see it in person though! The top of the Empire State Building was just as breathtaking as the view from the top of the Rock. I did the Rock during the day, which was awesome because in the light you can see each little building—it really highlights just how much is squeezed into the city. I did the Empire State at night though, which was a whole different type of beautiful because of all of the lights. At night, the city is just one big ocean of lights for as far as the eye can see! It was amazing to see the city both ways ☺

For drinks and dessert we went to Olana, which is where Katie’s sister Emily works. Then, after she got off we went to see the movie It’s Complicated (the one with Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin) It was pretty funny—we did quite a bit of laughing. It was one of the longest days of my trip, but also one of the best. The city has so much to offer!

Friday--1/15/10 (Continued)

The Paley Center was cooler than I expected. Like I said, it was a digital library of Radio and T.V. events. I wasn't quite sure what to watch, so I looked through what they had highlighted and found the news coverage of the Challenger explosion--which was incredible (in a bad, but amazing way of course).

I had never seen the footage before and I cannot imagine what it would have been like to watch it first hand. Well, actually, I can imagine since I saw the footage of 9/11 first hand. But what I mean is that, if you have seen the footage, it literally just explodes. There was no warning, no signals--it just bursts and then disintegrates into a ball of billowing smoke. It was breathtaking (again, of course, in a bad way).

The city is one of the best in the world. There is always something to do, always people to meet and, my favorite, always food to eat! The world really is a beautiful amazing place, where every nook and cranny has something to offer. Even within our own country, we have everything-beaches, mountains, deserts, forests, tropics, Alaska.

I think of how much there is to see in this world and I am baffled. I feel like one of the biggest disservices to ourselves that can be committed is to not travel. To stay where you are in your bubble and get too comfortable. There are so many people who are wonderful and different to be met. So many awe-inspiring places to be seen. So much history to be learned from on so much soil.

To not open your mind to this wonderful world, to not venture outside of your comfort zone to learn from others, to not embrace each culture God has grown--that is the ghastliest of crimes.

Friday--1/15/2010

Well, I didn't have an entry for 1/14, but I covered what I did in my 1/15 entry.

1/14 What I Did:
MoMA
Radio City Music Hall Tour
NBC Studios Tour
Paley Center for Radio and T.V.

1/15 What I Did:
Lunch at Benjamin's Steakhouse
Shopping Day (Times Square, Manhattan Mall, Obscura)

I must comment again on how cool the MoMA Tim Burton exhibit was. Because he has made so many successful films based on his art, you could really see the exhibit come to life in connection with his films. Not only did they have doodles and drawings, etc. But they also had sculptures Mr. Burton did as well as pieces actually used in his films (i.e. a cape the headless horseman wore in Sleepy Hollow) I think Tim Burton personifies the artist/filmmaker if this day and age.

Radio City Music Hall was also great. Did you know that they only have about 15-20 events a year because of how much time it takes to put up and take down sets. For some reason, I always believed it was a lot busier than that. Did you also know that everything in the theatre is original? They have never renovated, they have only ever cleaned it. So the walls and carpets, etc. is all what has been there since the beginning. Amazing. I could go on and on about all that I learned, but I won't :)

Seeing the SNL set at NBC studios was really cool too. Especially since we got to see Sigourney Weaver practicing for the upcoming episode she was hosting. Well, we got to see her from above and behind some glass...it was much like being at the zoo.

Wednesday--1/13/10

What I Did:
SoHo
Rockefeller Center
Wax Museum
Da Vinci Exhibit

I realize now that I never actually clarified why the friend was relevant. Well, because he laughed at me when I gasped about the landing. I would have laughed at me too.

I honestly loved the city from the moment I set foot in it. And going to the top of the Rock on the first day only assured me of my love. The view was spectacular. City as far as the eye could see. Now that is definitely not for some people, but its for me. It was like it was all just sitting there waiting for me.

Wednesday--1/13/10 (Continued)

The driver's in NY are crazy, but not bad drivers. It doesn't seem like that is possible, but it is. Here in CA we have some pretty awful drivers. In NY they all seem to know what they're doing-they're just crazy about it. Being in a taxi was like being on a roller-coaster or something.

NYC Journal Entries

While on my trip to Manhattan, I tried my best to keep journal entries and chronicle what I did while traveling. I thought posting the actual entries would be easiest for myself and the most candid for the reader. On a couple of days, I wasn't able to write anything down and occasionally I'll make notes or elaborate on the days I already have an entry for. I also gave a list of what I did each day! (Jan 12th-20th) I'll publish each day as its own entry, so as not to be confusing :) Hope y'all enjoy reading them it!

Love and peace,

Trin

Keeping an Open Mind-New York Style.

Another way you can exercise a closed mind is to take a trip. It doesn’t have to be a weeklong trip to a place 3000 miles away, even a day trip can work. I suggest a trip because after spending 7 whole days in New York, I feel as though I have made even more progress in keeping an open mind. Its not as easy as one would think to keep an open mind in an unknown place. In fact, I think it’s harder. When so much is unknown it can be really easy to find things that are familiar to cling to—especially in a city like New York. When you are in an unfamiliar place, the important thing to remember is dive in. Have fun and try new things.

That is exactly what I did when I got to New York. It was by no means easy or comfortable in such a big city, but I still opted to go for it. I explored the city alone when my friend was working and I ate places I normally would never eat. Let me tell you, New York has everything, especially food. And every place is fantastic because if you serve bad food in a big and busy city, you’re done for. I also learned all about the subway systems—and for someone who grew up in a place with virtually no public transportation, I’d like to think of it as an accomplishment!

I won’t go into too much detail about my trip because I’ll be blogging about it soon, but I did want to mention it because I think trips can be vital in keeping our minds open. Trips allow us to escape from the normalcy of our routines and let loose a little—assuming that we break out of our comfort zones when we travel. Each time we travel we are reminded that life exists (and thrives) outside of what we know. Traveling helps us see that our way of doing things is not the only way there is, which can help us develop an understanding for the different.

I would encourage everyone to take a trip. If you don’t have any vacation time coming up, even a weekend trip or a day trip can work. When you go on your trip, make sure to avoid attachments with the familiar. Don’t eat Mexican food if you are always eating Mexican food at home. Look for activities you would never normally do and don’t be afraid loosen the purse strings some. I know most people aren’t doing as well as they could be financially, but spending on vacation can be liberating. Most of us spend our time at home looking for great deals or only treating ourselves to something on special occasions. So, if you can, spend a little money on yourself—and enjoy it!!

Happy travels!

Peace and Love,

Trin

New York, NY

Well, I am finally home from my trip to NYC. It was absolutely fabulous and I really want to give details. However, I am seriously sleep deprived as of right now and, as it turns out, it is extremely hard to type with the jitters.

After I catch up on sleep, I will update everyone on how the trip went, what I did and how taking a bite out of the Big Apple has played into my January plan for opening my mind!

Love and peace,

Trin