From there, I made my way to Grand Central Station. I've always seen it in films and thought that it would be so so in real life. It wasn't. The hustle and bustle of people running to actually catch trains, combined with the massive amount of tourists made this girl seek a restaurant with peace, quiet and great food...after a number of photos of the beautiful ceiling and the purchase of a book from the Grand Central book store. I headed out the front doors, and immediately recognized Pershing Square from a number of NY based films (I watch a lot of movies) and decided to head into the lush, wood paneled restaurant with brass fixtures. My book and I settled into a table for two, and I ended up ordering a chicken pot pie. A delicious hour later, I was sufficiently full and ready for more walking.
I thought that I was heading in the direction of Central Park, and only realized my folly when the street I was on dead ended into water. To my left, I saw a giant glass building with flags on the outside. Disappointed in myself and my lack of navigation skills, I pulled out my trusty iPhone and got directions to Central Park-about 20 blocks away. As I turned, I heard Tony's voice in my head, talking about the UN building THAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. COOL!
Turning around, I continued my walk back towards Grand Central, turning onto 5th and heading for the Park. I passed tourists, business men, kids, old people...people watching at it's height. I was walking with purpose, and almost passed a walkway cutting between two buildings that looked interesting to me...so, I crossed the street to check it out. I was at Rockefeller Center! WOW! I'm way better than I thought.
Continuing on, I gandered at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trump Tower, and all sorts of amazing architecture on my way to the Park. I finally found my way to Central Park and headed in, not knowing where I was, where I was going, or what lay ahead of me.
I happened upon a visitor center and purchased a map of the Park. On my list of things to see were the Alice in Wonderland Statue and the Belvedere Castle. Again, I trusted my ability to read a map. I shouldn't have. After walking in circles for about an hour, I stopped at a coffee shop in the center of Central Park and asked directions, cause I'm a girl and I know when I'm defeated. He pointed me in the general direction, saying it was right next to the duck pond. There was a pond...with no ducks. But there was a Hans Christian Andersen statue, with an Ugly Duckling that was so adorable my face almost cracked from smiling at it for so long. And just up the way...Alice.
After taking pictures of this beautiful sculpture from every angle, I made my way to the Belvedere Castle. Footsore and chilled at this juncture, I decided to await Tiffany's arrival home at Little Brown, a chocolate themed coffee shop where I purchased a salted caramel hot chocolate that made my evening. My book and I waited patiently, and Tiff picked me up so that we could order some dinner in before I was to catch a cab to La Guardia. Deciding to nix dinner as I was full and slightly ill from 3 hot chocolates in one day, so we watched Party Down until I had to leave.
I walked a block from her apartment after our goodbyes, hailed a cab and had the cab ride from hell. The driver did not believe in staying in a lane for more than 5 seconds. At the tollbooth, he screamed at me in broken English for $6, when at the outset I told him I only had a credit card with which to pay for my fare. Speeding, he hauled it to the airport, jumped out, and threw my luggage out while my head was still spinning and my stomach churning from the toll road action. Checking in, I headed to security, where they picked the woman in front of me (with way too much perfume on for someone about to be trapped in tight confines with others) and myself for a random security check. We were forced into a clear booth with a lock on one end while our belongings lounged on the conveyor belt. I repeatedly saw my backpack and jacket get smashed between bins and other people's belongings as person after person passed by me. 10 minutes later, a security guard noticed me still in the plastic box of frustration, and swabbed my hands before telling me to leave.
WHAT THE EFF, LA GUARDIA?
Hungry now and thinking some sort of sustenance would keep me from barfing all over everyone. I settled into a barstool at the NY Sports Bar, and awaited service. 10 minutes later, the staff had still not looked at me, nor approached me for any kind of greeting, beverage, or even a go fuck yourself. Not feeling too wonderful and being a bit cranky, I grabbed my belongings and stormed out. Luckily, I was saved by a panini vendor, and ended up dining on an Italian panini, POP chips, and Sour Patch Kids. Not exactly the dinner of champions, but it kept me from killing everyone in my path.
I boarded the plane quickly, as it was not a full flight, and ended up seated on the aisle with a lovely elderly woman at the window of a three seat row. To my left was the woman with too much perfume. Nauseated again, I closed my eyes and counted. Moments later, the annoying allergy attack on legs complained to the stewardess that her light was not working, and was moved 5 rows ahead to a seat that worked. I breathed a perfume free sigh of relief, and grabbed my book out of my backpack to hopefully finish it by the end of the flight. The elderly lady had a small notepad out, and as I watched her she skillfully sketched the profile of a Hacidic man in the row parallel to us. It was beautiful to watch, and I mentally thanked this woman for bringing me back from the brink of animosity and hatred of my fellow man.
