Farewell, New York

I no longer feel sorry for small New Yorkers: yes, they may not have large backyards, or any backyard for that matter, but they do have Central Park - and who could ask for more? Today I saw a pack of them tearing madly about with a soccer ball and to the side beneath the trees were hay bales! Who needs to play kick the can when someone is laying out hay bales under trees for you.

And with no connective thread, I move on to the subject of heavy doors. I found it odd, in a nice way, that men would stop and hold the door for me. Not just once, but all the time - it got to the point where I'd forgotten how. Then I came to New York and started going to girly places where men don't frequent so they aren't around to hold doors open when you want to pass through and I learnt why they bothered to in the first place: America has the heaviest doors known to man. I could lean into these doors with all my body weight and have nothing happen. I can't fathom what the doormakers were thinking - all I could come up with was they must all be men.

And again I jump about: my first Broadway experience was wonderful. I went to see Memphis, a musical about race relations in the 1950s. Warm, funny, heartbreaking with dance-around-in-your-bedroom music that was composed by a member of Jon Bon Jovi's band (thought that might interest you, James and any other once-were fans out there). The box office attendant took pity on me and put me in the front row; I was close enough to see the flying spit and the loose hem on the lead's dress. And as a bonus, I have never before seen a more attractive sigh-worthy male cast.
Yesterday, as Margs said, I was on a Europe organising mission, so we went our separate ways. By mid-afternoon I was restless so decided to go on a treasure-seeking outing. My aunty Vick had sent me a list of places to visit so I dutifully entered them in Google and made my map.

First stop: Zabar's. I've gone on a lot about food, I know, but nothing compares to this place. It's a food palace; you walk in and the smells get you straight away. There are teetering stacks of cheeses; row upon row of deli meats; freshly baked bread, pastries, cookies, bagels,muffins, donuts, brownies, baklava, pie, croissant; baked goods I can't name but could identify again based on smell alone; food from every conceivable country; strudels, knish and puddings and curries; salads and sushi and dumplings; a coffee aisle that smells better than chocolate tastes. I left with a bag of goodies for dinner, desperately sad I wouldn't be able to visit at will.

Across the road, I pretended not to see the BOOKS sign and turned into Filene's Basement, a discount designer store my aunt promised would hurt the budget. I truly intended to have a quick look only, skirt the edges and be on my way, and walked out the proud new owner of a cashmere jumper. I jumped on the subway down Broadway and got out on 18th street. There I found my last stop, the poorly named ABC store. I was skeptical when Vickie had suggested this as it conjured up Play School images, but she had described it like an Aladdin's cave and it was. I wanted to be like Aladdin and find a genie and then sensibly wish all these goodies straight home to my bedroom. I finally pulled myself away but only because I had a movie to get to - a romantic comedy set in New York, so was fun to point out things to the stranger next to me and say, hey, I've been there!

Today, our last proper day, was again, surely you can't be surprised, dedicated to food. I dragged Margs back to Zabar's where we got goodies for a picnic lunch - mmmmm to the almond croissants, then we walked back to our hostel, where we had to change buildings (that's another story) and then we walked down to Greenwich Village for dinner at Katz's, made famous by When Harry met Sally (or is it the other way around - either way, I've never seen it). Best cheeseburger I've ever had and stomach agreed. Went in search of dessert and ended up back at Magnolia's for a So Long New York cupcake.

I've made myself hungry with all these food talk but shall have to wait until morning as I'm off to bed. We depart for Boston tomorrow - if we make it to the bus stop with our heavy loads, that is. Fingers crossed. Good night all.