Better Late Than Never... Day One in New York City

So we got up for our trip to Hartsfield Airport at 4:30am! Sooooooo early but we wanted to have plenty of time to park and ride to the airport and get through security. Well that happened and we had a LOT of time to kill in the airport as our flight was at 8:30. Better to be safe than sorry, but oh the missed sleep! So we looked for breakfast at the airport. In our concourse , there weren't great selections. I had a bagel and OJ. We waited patiently for our flight. The flight itself was uneventful. We landed in Newark and enjoyed a slightly long taxi ride via the Lincoln Tunnel. Upon arriving at the Hampton Inn Times Square South and depositing our luggage, we were free to travel the city. I decided we could walk this whole day. It was as warm in NYC as it was in GA. High 80's.

Let's talk about walking!!! Our hotel was at 39th street between 9th and 8th avenue...... our first destination - Serendipidity 3 was in the 60s of streets and around 2nd Avenue. Yes lots of walking. But there was frozen hot chocolate was on the other side and it was a great way to show Brad a brief run through of major,anticipated sites of New York on Day One. We walked and walked, growing hungrier. I remembered that when I was in NYC with Nicole four years prior we actually couldn't find Serendipidity on our first attempt but I knew Brad and I were close. We stepped into an Urban Outfitters where I charmed the "yankee" salesman with Southern charm and he informed me Serendipidity was right around the opposite corner. There Brad and I shared a lunch of nachos and of course, a frozen hot chocolate as featured in the movie Serendipidity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsdale.

On our way back down from Serendipidity, we traveled back towards our hotel down 5th Avenue. The strip of major shops. We saw all sorts of sights like Trump Tower and the Apple Store. One of our most fun stops was FAO Schwartz. I at once found a wayward monkey and made it my mission to find his "home". I really would have preferred to bring him home with me. We saw the traditional big keyboard, walked through Clifford the Big Red Dog's house and had a great time. Though we did walk away with no animals purchased.

As we went down 5th Avenue, we stopped at two H and M's . I love H &M but surprisingly didn't find anything. The major Dillard shopper that day was Brad. He got two shirts, maybe more. At this point our feet were killing us.... it was like 50+ blocks already. So we slowly trudged back to the Hampton Inn and took a nap in our room.

For dinner, we headed to Greenwich Village on foot. Again a far distance from our hotel but in the opposite direction. Greenwich Village is such a cute collegy area and warm...especially for NYC. We went to a restaurant called the Blue Ribbon Bakery and both ordered the whopping plate of Fried Chicken , mashed potatoes and green beans. A great southern meal in the North? It happened folks. They even served the fried chicken with honey for dipping. That was good. A yummy trick. We trudged back to the hotel , two tired travelers ready for the next day of fun.