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Trip to visit Helen in New York City
Saturday & Sunday 12/28 & 12/29/02

Since we were on the east coast, we wanted to see Helen, and she was gracious enough to fly us down and put us up for the weekend.

Pa dropped us at Logan Saturday morning.  We took the Shuttle flight to LaGuardia airport, and a $20 cab ride across the river to Helen's apartment in Manhattan.  Ian was down with a bad flu, so we didn't go upstairs.  Helen met us in the lobby and we took another cab over to the Mayflower Hotel on the SW corner of Central Park.

After settled into our room we took another taxi over to Rockefeller Center.  It was jammed with tourist.  Helen wanted to take us to lunch at a restaurant looking out on the skating rink.  The line was about 40 minutes, so Helen manned the line and we went off to do some sight seeing.  We toured through Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  Huge crowds everywhere.  We wanted to do some window shopping, but there was another half hour line to look in the store windows.  Helen rang on the cell phone and we headed back to the front of the line for lunch.  Snapped some pictures by the ice rink after lunch.

Took another Taxi to Central Park and went to the Zoo (no line).  Walked back to the hotel from the Zoo.  Pam and Sam took a short nap.  Helen & Tom had tea and caught up.

Took another Taxi to Dinner.  Yes, 5 taxi rides since our arrival.  It's actually cost effective with 4 people riding.  Same price weather you have one or 4.  Short distance rides were typically about $5.  An oriental resturant.  Helen did the line again.  Tom, Pam, and Sam took a walk over to Lincoln Center.  Cell phone notification and back to the front of the line.  Tom had fish with the head on, not what he expected.

Our tour guide opted for a bus to Time Square because the view was better heading down the broad boulevard.  Snapped a few pics and went into ToysRus on the corner.  Yes, another line to get in the store.  Pretty impressive with a Ferris Wheel in the lobby of the 3 story retail space.  Lots of fun displays.  The Ferris Wheel was sold out, so Helen got tickets for the next day.  We stayed till closing and took the subway back to our hotel.

Had a good nights sleep before heading out via taxi to the Hansel & Gretel Puppet Show in Central Park.  Sam initially sat in the front row, but the story line is a bit much for a 3 year old (the witch wants to eat the kids), so he retreated to the back of the theater to sit with mom and dad.  Met Helen after the play, and took a walk up to the Central Park Castle.  Took another stroll through the park to the west side and hopped a bus back down to Time Square for the Ferris Wheel ride at ToysRus.

Sandwiches to go at a Deli around the corner.  Took the Subway down to the Ferry Terminal.  Had to get to the front subway cars to disembark at the station, so we needed to walk forward about 5 cars while the train was going, just like in the movies.  Got to the Staten Island Ferry right on time so no wait.  Herded on and found seats upstairs for lunch.  Sam was excited to see the Statue of Liberty.  He'd seen it in cartoons, but didn't realize it was real.  The ride out to Staten Island was downwind, and the ferry was moving about the same speed as the wind, which equals no wind, so it was nice.  Coming back was up wind, so it was cold and windy on deck.

Wanted to go to the Empire State Building, but Helen checked and the line was several hours long, so we opted to stroll along the water front toward the Twin Towers site.  Stopped in at the Winter Garden for a hot drinks & snacks.  You could view the construction work through a large window.  Walk back to the subway station and took the train up to the Mayflower to get our bags.

Taxi to Helen's to visit with Ian.  He was felling a bit better, but Helen was nervous we would catch something, so we didn't stay long.  They have a great apartment on the NE corner of the 34th floor of a 34 floor building.  Ian's corner office overlooks the river to the east and also up to the north out the other window.

Taxi back across the river to LaGuardia airport, and shuttle back to Boston.  Pa collected us at Logan about 9 pm and got us back to Medford.

Super great weekend.  Great to see Helen in action on her home turf.

J Tom