Mekenze and Me in NYC...

So the day finally came for me to escort Mekenze to the Big Apple for her Summer Ballet Intensive workshop! The only problem with me using the word "escort" is that I had never been there! Mekenze had, however, so she was the "expert."

We took a red eye flight and landed in NYC at 10 am. Feeling overwhelmed with finding our way to our hotel in New Jersey (my brother Zach found us a room at a rockin' price of $29.95 a night...so it was worth the extra travel time) on no sleep and virtually no experience, I decided it would be worth it to pay a taxi driver $70 to take us there. (Hey, I actually talked him down! He wanted $100!) So he found 4 other ladies to make it "worth it for himself, and we piled into his SUV (which made everyone but me nervous cuz it wasn't a traditional yellow NYC cab...I guess I'm naive, but he was nice and spoke French even! and we made it safely...so...)

Here is the picture of our cabbie and the other riders. They were fun!

We took a the New Jersey Transit bus from the Hampton Inn-Meadowlands for $3.40 each way. It was easy and kinda fun! Our first attempt was interesting as we didn't know if it would really stop for us...we waited like 20 minutes past when the schedule said it should be there.

Here is Mekenze at the bus stop, wondering if her Mom is a dork for agreeing to stay in New Jersey instead of downtown Manhatten...

Trying to get back on the right bus at 11 pm was a different adventure. We weren't sure at first if we would ever find it! Our instructions didn't match the real deal...gate 409 will always hold frustrating memories for Mekenze...

Our first day was full of "figuring things out." The subway, avenues compared to streets, uptown vs downtown...it was awesome! I can't believe this is real life to some people! and I can't believe how much I loved it! It's dirty, crazy, chaotic, and wonderful!

Billy Elliot...my first Broadway show. I still can't believe how such a narrow, compact, filthy street could be home to such brilliance! You walk into what seems like a tiny little store front and it opens up into this glorious theater!

I have to admit...while I really did enjoy the show--the music, the dancing, the staging and props--I was taken aback by the language. Wow! I've never been so exposed! But if you take away the "cockroaches" it was great! I will see Wicked and/or Lion King and/or Little Mermaid and/or Mary Poppins and/or Phantom next time I go.

Mekenze got some really cute shorts--souvenirs from the show. She collects playbills, merch, etc from all the shows she has seen...

Mekenze will be on Broadway someday. Hopefully she can find something that is becoming to a "Latter Day Saint girl..."

We spent a lot of time in Central Park. It is huge! So much to see! We took a little bike tour. A kid from Russia pedaled the bike while we sat in a little carriage. It was awesome...poor kid! Ha ha..He showed us the sites of the park. It was very enchanting...

The famous fountain from "Friends." I don't watch the show really so I don't recognize it, but everyone else probably does. Mekenze is in LOVE with Friends! I feel honored to be in this Friendly Foto with her!

Isn't this a great view! Somewhere back there is the Hotel from Home Alone 2 and Madonna's apartment and one of the Trump Towers...

Strawberry Fields and the monument to John Lennon. This is a serious shrine for some people. It was very cool to see, but I especially loved the building across the street where he lived and was killed. Incredible!

Here are some scenes from the times when we just "hit the pavement" and explored. That was my favorite part. My husband told us we needed to "blend in" to be safe. I think we did pretty well with that! 2 people asked us for directions!

Times Square...Absolutely amazing!

Super Man Dude selling "designer" purses for $10 each! He was dancing and rapping. "Half price! Half price! Today only...blah blah!"

He loved that I wanted to take his picture. I was trying to sneak, but he was all for the pose!

I am such a people watcher, and he was definitely fun to watch!

Mekenze picked a purse out for me and for her. Heaven for her! Street vendors are fun.

Finally I had to drop her off and go home. It was easier for me after having spent 2 and 1/2 days in the city with her. She is very smart and very strong and she will be fine. The area where she is staying was my favorite part of the city (that we saw) It reminded me of The Cosby Show! Quaint and "peaceful" (relatively) and I would seriously live there if I had to live in NYC.

Here she is in front of her dorm. The inside reminds me of the orphanage on Annie. Small, run down, and really fascinating! So much character! I heard that a little room like hers would cost like $4000 a month. Who knows, but man! I feel lucky to live where I live!

I really learned a lot about Mekenze and about myself on this trip. It was good time and I plan to spend similar time with each of my kids as they grow up! Incredible trip! Can't wait til next time!

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