New York City Day 4: Dinner and A Show

Saturday morning I took advantage of the hotel's fitness room. I hadn't ran for days and was having withdrawals (not to mention the chocolate indulgence the night before)! I had fun watching the city life outside my window.

On our way to meet Joanna at Rockefeller center, we walked through St. Patrick's Cathedral. I had never been in a catholic church like this. It was pretty incredible.

Next up: Rockefeller Center!

(Right outside where Hoda and Kathy Lee take over the TODAY Show...)

Joanne and I went to the 'top of the Rock' for an amazing view of the city.

(Top left: The Empire State Building. Top Right: The little blue square in the middle is where the ball drops at Time Square on New Year's Eve. Bottom: Central Park.)

(Radio City Music Hall.)

Lunch: Street cart chicken gyros. Yummy, yummy.

A definite to-do for all of us was to visit ground zero. I don't know what I was expecting to see, but it was different than I had imagined. The base of the towers was still one big construction site. Flowers were on the fence with a note "We'll never forget." There is a memorial park in construction and these murals in memory of the lives lost. It was a bit surreal to be at the actual sight where it all happened and to think of the chaos of that day. I felt reverence and gratitude for all I have. I'm glad we went.

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped by Mario Bitatli's 'Eataly' in search for our Sunday Dinner ingredients, then ended up at Trader Joe's to see just how crazy grocery shopping in NYC is. After waiting in a line that wrapped around the store, we double bagged our groceries for the subway trip home. (A little different than we are used to!)

Then it was time to clean up for dinner and a Broadway show! We met Mike for dinner #2 at the Carnegi deli. (By this time, Nonie had informed Mike we were past the handshaking and on to hugs.) In New York, they serve pickles at the beginning of a meal, like they do bread here. By that time, I was turning into a pickle fan. After my huge cheese sandwich we shared a heavenly piece of strawberry cheesecake and set off for our show.

We saw 'Jersey Boys', a musical about Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. We sang, we clapped, We had such a blast. :)

(The stage)

Oh, and we passed Letterman on the way home!