On December 21 through Christmas Eve, I was able to go to New York and experience the magic of a city that never sleeps. We woke up around 4 am and took an hour to get ready, eat breakfast etc. We arrived to the Tampa airport around 6 and our flight was 7. Once we got through security, we went to a Starbucks and got a drink to wake ourselves up. I got my usual: a tall pink drink with light ice. Basic, but it's good. Our flight started to board around 7:30. We were in the very back, so we were one of the last to board. I was more nervous than I usually am on flights. I'm not afraid, it's just that once I knew about 9/11, my feelings etc on flying changed. Of course, I tell myself that it is very rare now, because of the great security airports have.
We got to the JFK airport around 9 or 10. (I always have a hard time exactly remembering the exact time I landed or arrived to a place.) Once we got an Uber, we headed to a hotel we were staying at. We had to wait until 3, but thankfully, we were able to keep our stuff in a room where the luggage is kept. It was around lunch and we went to a small pizza restaurant. I just got a cheese pizza and a coke. We mostly walked around until we got our room around 3.
After checking in and getting our room, we walked to St. Patrick's Cathedral.
We walked a little more and got something hot at a small cafe near the Rockefeller Center. We saw the tree in the day and headed back to the hotel.
We had dinner at a really good Japanese restaurant and got some Udon and an appetizer of something I forgot what it is called.
Around 7, we were going to see the New York Pops play some Christmas songs. Hopefully this will get me in the Christmas spirit. We were not allowed to record at the Carnegie Hall where they were playing. I was able to record the finale because that was the very last song they were going to play. It definitely lifted up our moods, but it was also a little emotional at some parts, but I would say that seeing the New York Pops is worth it.
It was around 8 or 9 when we got out, and it was cold as usual. We disappeared into the crowds in New York, and headed too Times Square for a little peek. It was very crowded. Tourists were everywhere, including us and policemen were watching us. As the 3 of us were trying to get through the crowd, there was a sudden explosion. The explosion echoed through the area we were at and pigeons flew away from whatever that sound was. It scared the crap out of us. I naturally said "Shit!" a few times and mom got mad at me that a yelled. When we were trying to get away from what ever that noise was I saw policemen huddle up and try to figure out what that noise was. Thankfully it was just a stupid person backfiring their car engine. I immediately thought "Great, I'm in a terrorist attack." I was in panic or concentration mode as I followed mom and Malia out of the crowd.
Day 2
We had to wake up a little earlier than we usually do.
We were able to ride a helicopter and see the city a different way. I never ridden a helicopter before, so I was a little nervous. It was so worth it. We had to wait until the rest of the group came to where we were getting picked up by someone. When we were finally picked up, we all rode in a minivan. Once we arrived, the sun was up and we walked in another building where we wait to be called to actually get in the helicopter. We had to wait a while, and we were finally called into a room where there is a table and t.v. An employee said that we were going to watch an introduction video. It was actually the open door version instead of the closed door. We wanted to do the indoor cause' it was tooo cold. I still wanted to do the outdoor, cause' that sounded awesome! If we did the open door, we would just be allowed to dangle out feet while having our bodies attached to a strong strap.
No, we would not be hanging in the sky holding onto a rope attached to a helicopter like Casey Neistat.
Or hold onto a rope...attached to a Jeep... while snowboarding in a snow storm...in the middle of NYC. You know what I'm trying to say here. lol.
Once we took off, we were able to fly around upper Manhattan, and lower Manhattan. We also saw the Statue of Liberty, which was awesome.
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