NYC!

It is good to be back. On the 11th I was able to travel to New York with a good friend of mine who was seeking a medical consult for a rare medical condition. We left early on the 11th and flew from SLC to Atlanta, where we had a short layover, and then on to LaGuardia airport in New York. The flights were sooo turbulent, on the last leg of the flight they didn't even pass drinks because it was too bumpy for even the flight attendants to be up.



We picked up a rental car at the airport since we were going to Great Neck which doesn't have the public transit that New York City does. The car rental was less than the cab fares would have been. It was dark and rainy, and rush hour, so the drive to our hotel in Westbury was quite the white knuckle adventure. Our hotel was nice for what we paid, comfy beds, clean, fairly quiet. We were right in a shopping center to it made finding food and other necessities quite easy.



Friday morning we got up early and went to the medical clinic. Driving was still an adventure, but at least it was daytime, dry, and traffic was light. The folks at the clinic were very kind, and we learned a lot. I have a little medical background, and I was so grateful for the understanding it gave me as we talked with these specialists. We found the answers my friend was looking for, and while the road will not be easy, they can help her get back to a normal life. After we left the clinic we drove back to the hotel quickly to avoid rush hour and hid out at the hotel for a while. Later in the evening we went over to the mall nearby and walked around for a bit. It was very crowded and noisy, so we just grabbed some food and went back to the hotel.


Saturday morning we slept in a little and then set out for the fun part of our adventure. We drove our car to the nearby train station and got on the Long Island Railroad, which is the commuter train, and rode into New York City. We got off the train at Penn Station and ventured to another area of the station where the subway was. On the way we laughed at the Kmart in the subway station.




We took the subway all the way to the south end of the island. From there we caught the Staten Island Ferry, which is the free commuter ferry that runs to Staten Island and back. I would highly recommend this ride to people who love to take pictures. The ferry runs right past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. You also get fabulous views of the skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge and some other bridges.




When we got back to Manhattan, we walked around Battery Park and saw the Castle Clinton, and the sphere that had stood on the plaza of the World Trade Center, but was moved to the park during the construction at Ground Zero as a temporary memorial. That was really kind of cool.



From there we took the subway back north and saw things like Macy's, the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, and many other things. Another awesome place was Times Square. The first time we went through it was just before dark, and it was cool then, but when we went back that way after dark, it was almost overwhelming.







Our final destination was Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree. The tree was huge and beautiful, but the most incredible part of this was the number of people there. They were having the Radio City Christmas show, a game at Madison Square Garden, and some kind of show on the ice skating rink. It was like the crowds from a Jazz game and General Conference times ten. We stopped against a railing and half way behind a ticket booth to take pictures and we were still getting shoved around. I have never seen anything like it.












Sunday morning we got up early again and checked out of the hotel. We made the drive back to the airport, which was a lot better this time, and turned in the car. We flew from New York to snowy Minnesota, to Salt Lake. The flights were better this time, but still bumpy.


We were greeted at the airport by my husband who told my friend "forget the luggage, I just want my wife back." I get the feeling I was missed a little bit. When we got to my mom's house where the kids were they were almost hysterical with excitement. From the looks of things they did okay, but my house would have been in real trouble if I had stayed away much longer. I wish we could have done more while we were there, but I am so grateful for the chance to go. The circumstances could not have worked out more perfectly. Under any other circumstances I would never have been able to go. I am so glad I could help out my friend and have this once in a lifetime adventure.