Our trip to NY went very smoothly, and was a nice beginning to our holiday festivities. Our friends' apartment couldn't have been more conveniently located; Grand Central Station (one of Ray's favorite places on earth) was just around the corner, and it was also two blocks from the Midtown Tunnel. There were doormen to help us get up and down the few steps in the lobby using movable ramps, and the apartment itself was the first one on the ground floor, so we were well looked after. It was convenient not having to use the elevator either. There is a private garage in the basement so our car was safe and sound, while we hoofed it all over....well I did, Ray got pushed by me. I'm seriously thinking about an electric wheelchair before our next trip in, even though he claims he doesn't want one anymore. I really got a workout!

The first night, we got in just as it was getting dark, so we walked around Grand Central and Times Square, looking for something worthwhile to eat. I was going to make reservations at Michael Jordans or some other fancy joint beforehand as usual, but decided to just play it by ear for the first time in my life. Which ended up good and bad...hard to find anything that wasn't mobbed with Christmas visitors and/or had several steps up; no way to get in those with the heavy duty wheelchair we brought. We bought some spring rolls in the Grand Central food court (Grand Central is excellent as far as any handicap issues) but then there was nothing accessible everywhere else we roamed. Finally, I saw a Pret a Manger, a European sandwich chain that I have heard good things about, and there was no one in there except a lone employee. Ground level entrance too. But when I pulled the door, I found out why it was empty...they had just closed! But as we walked away, hungry as could be since it was now 9:00, the employee flung open the door and said, would you like some free sandwiches? He had them already made, and gave me three different ones, all on whole wheat bread, all with slices of hard boiled eggs and avocado, plus mesclun greens, and one had turkey and one was chicken salad too. I wouldn't hestitate to stop there again, they were both delicious and nutritious!

The next day, I warned Ray I was planning a LOOOONG walk. I wanted to take him up to FAO Schwartz to see the train layout, which is right on Central Park so maybe roam the grounds a bit, meanwhile we'd pass the tree and St Pats on the way, and then stop somewhere for lunch; then back downtown to the Empire State Bldg. I had purchased advance tickets to tour both observatories there, plus paid double for express service, meaning we didn't have to wait on line for a second. Most of the day worked out fine, we didn't really have time to wander Central Park, because once again we were hungry and couldn't find an interesting place to eat. So finally we settled on Fridays near Times Square, where for an appetizer that we split, a salad for me and a burger for him, plus two drinks, cost $130! But at least we ate, I wasn't going to starve until we started snapping at each other like the night before.

The toy store was OK, but the train layout was sort of disappointing compared to the one we have in our basement. But we were able to warm up with a hot chocolate so Ray was happy. They had elevators for the wheelchair (and for strollers too of course) which was good because all the older kid stuff was upstairs. The Lego displays were astounding, life sized statues of tin soldiers, science fiction characters,and even the Statue of Liberty (that one wasn't life sized but at least eight feet tall). The Empire State Bldg had the most magnificent views, we both have been there at some point in our lives, but couldn't say when, probably when we were very little and definitely before the original World Trade Center was built. They whisked us past everyone else, they probably thought it was because of the wheelchair, but no, and it was worth the extra money not to have to wait one second, even thought it wasn't overly crowded at 3PM. It felt like back in our nightclub days, when they lift the velvet rope and everyone looks to see who you are!

Once we were back in the lobby, I tried to use the coupon for free drinks at the lounge that came with the tickets, but they were having a private function so we couldn't go in. A friendly jewelry store owner that was hanging in the hallway told us to go across the street to Foley's Irish Pub, so we did and they treated us swell. The waitress even took a photo of the two of us together, which is always priceless to me nowadays, so that was lucky. Luck of the Irish! We went back to the apartment after that, planning to watch the 12/12/12 concert for Sandy on AMC, but the cable in the apartment was funky and I could only get Channel One; the rest were blank no matter how I fiddled with it. I got annoyed and then gave up around 8:00 and we both laid down on the bed, and immediately fell asleep until the next morning. I would have missed the concert anyway I guess.

Our last day was more my style. First we walked over to Eataly, a relatively new mall that specializes in all things Italian. A Manhattan version of Arthur Ave. I stocked up for our Christmas feast with some high end cheeses and pasta, and we visited the espresso cafe (one of six or seven restaurants there) which was just like being in Rome. They even had authentic Italian style hot chocolate, which was basically just melted chocolate. It was so thick, every time Ray took a sip there was a big blob of thick chocolate stuck to the tip of his nose, like Rudolph the Raindeer. We also had a chocolate panna cotta and some cappucino, both of which were perfection.

Then we went back to the apartment, threw our things together and picked up the car. Next stop was the Lower East Side, Ray had been waiting the whole time for the pastrami on rye at Katz that I promised him before we came in. Neither of us could finish even half of the sandwich, they were so big. Mooch our cat was happy with what we brought home with us. Then a few doors down, Russ and Daughters, who are famous for their lox. I got that for breakfast the next day, plus some roe/caviar and a tube of duck foie gras for our antipasta on Christmas. We finally arrived home, again just as the moon came up; we had left the cats to their own defenses for once, and they made out fine. The fish too, I remembered there is food that lasts for a week so I didn't have to have anyone come in to feed him. I just got all my cards mailed yesterday, and started my cookies today which MUST be done by Tuesday latest so I can get them in the mail too. Then all I have to do is clean and cook, but my batteries are sure recharged right now!