it took long enough but here it is!
So I finally got to take a vacation (in Sept.). First stop was to St Louis to visit my good friend Mbear or Maven Mama and her family. What a fantastic city! full of wonderful culture and history out in the open for you to see. A raw city full of history as raw as the materials that it once produced in its industrial rein! the true gate way of the mid west. an interesting feeling when your standing there thinking about it. A person that has never been to any where other then the east coast. its interesting to see this city it really took me a sec to wrap my head around the fact that it is very different from the east coast in there manor and culture far different then what I'm used to! My experience left me intrigued to say the least as if you got a sample of cheese at the store and didn't buy the block to take home. I got a small taste of what St. Louis has to offer but didn't get a full bite( my own fault I only spent 48 hours in the city). def. a place to come back to and plan on as long as they will have me:)
Maven Mama
and the wee one!!
Why sir that is a rather large horse your riding!
Fall on the Horizon
One of my favorite garden flowers!
After I left St Louis and spent all day in airports I finally landed in my second destination and my home town of New York! When I landed in White Plains that day I couldn't help but feel misty eyed thinking I was home! Seeing the city in the background of the airport I felt butterflies in my stomach. The nerves finally hit me! What if I didn't fit in anymore? What if it had forgotten me? Or even worse what if I had forgotten it? I got into my rental car and started my drive to my expectant aunt who was awaiting my arrival at her house! First I had to take the long way to do my usual tour of the old neighborhood. First was the high school full of horrible but life changing memories. Next Stop! The house that I say we abandoned and was horrified by the outcome of what the new owners had or should I say had not done to it. Then it was off to my destination....I pulled into the drive the kids came out to greet me and I walked into the house and hugged my aunt who I miss everyday and it started to feel like I never left!
This is a city that has no real way of describing it.... My heart truly beats for this city! this is something a true New Yorker will tell you when they leave...... I told myself when I went back this time I was going to experience it like I have never done before. I wanted to take as much of it in as I could.... I was going to do my best to try and get to everything but I knew this couldn't happen......as my list was so large and I think I might have gotten to 1/4 of it! There will be other times!!!
My first day in new york was full of much needed rest and sleep. As I got out of bed I had every intention of going out and exploring but never got to it! But my family was taking me out to dinner! Aurthur ave...... everyone who lives in New York knows that this is the mecca of fresh baked bread!!!! Some of the BEST bakeries are on this road!!!! I also went to school down the road at the New York Botanical Garden....... Again I shocked myself when I started giving directions on how to get there!!!! My uncles where thinking I was wrong but much to there surprise and myself I was right!! It was all coming back and it felt good that I could start remembering the old New York me. We went out to a restaurant called Mario's and where I haven't had food taste that good on my tongue in a very long time........ I was home and it was getting better and more familiar every second........ I'm not Italian and my family is very proud of there Irish heritage believe me!!!! But going down that road full of Italian pride woke up my heart and love for this wonderful city full of the best food I have ever put in my mouth! Its also a remarkable sight that you will not see in any other city and I can say that I was born and raised there and could not have felt any prouder of my birth right then I did at that moment!!
The following day was my big day in the big city..... This was the test to see how much I could remember and how soft I really did get moving away from the cold hard steel and rushing traffic, honking horns, taxi cabs, street vendors.... Everything your heart desires. I made it down there in one piece found my usual parking spot and left the car after being yelled at my a cop for being to aggressive that's when I really knew that my heart was still in all the right places! I started my trek on to my usual stopping spots. First stop Sanrio store on 42ND St. I spent way to much money and alot of time here cause as everyone knows I love Hello Kitty! As some people know 42ND street and Broadway is Times Square the heart beat of New York! Next stop was Lunch where we Dinned at Juniors cheese cake in the theater district. (unfortunately I have lost some of these pictures ) Next stop China town. After our lunch it was down to the subway and off to canal street....
Only place that you can find anything and everything on one street. These crowded streets are full of people looking to score stuff of name brand that are REALLY CHEAP! Only rich people will tell you that this is wrong and would never take part in! But to tell you the truth the average American( me and most of you) cant afford those things without braking the bank! So... as a result I took part in some of this illegal activity and scored some ripped off finds!
after getting through the mob of people we ducked out onto mulberry street and any New Yorker will tell you that this is the place to eat and be merry if you LOVE Italian food! And that I do! To our surprise a street fair was taking place and the streets where closed off to cars and it was wonderful to walk around and not have to worry about a car or taxi taking you out!
I bought some ravioli and did a little street shopping and I couldn't have been any happier! At that moment the excitement subsided and the depression started to set in and my heart broke because the reality is that I don't live in this magical city anymore! It was a bittersweet moment and it made me sad! and before you knew it we were on foot again to head back to the subway and head back home! As we got home everyone realized that I was leaving the next day and and it just didn't seem right! As my family says you need to come back! these are your roots and your just not taking well to the transplant. No amount of water can fix this slowly dying flower! It needs to go back where it came from so it can bloom and grow! If it only were that easy!
So as I drove myself back to the airport and returned my rental car and passed through security I couldn't help but feel as if i were abandoning something that was important to me. I boarded my plane and as we took off It started raining as if to say we will miss you! As we were being lifted above the clouds and the city beneath me I said farewell old friend I will see you again but next time it wont be so long before I come back I promise!
