One slight movement for a woman...

 

This picture surprises me with its clarity. I was on the ground near the Statue of Liberty (we couldn't go inside because all the tickets were long gone.) I guess my brother was right when he said, "stop buying cheap cameras." This is how good the closeups can be. Facinating place, everyone should see the Statue of Liberty. (Now I know of a smaller one I have yet to check out. On the river in Paris.)

Billy Eliot!

 

On Wednesday we saw BILLY ELIOT, the winner of best new show! This was fantastic! The young man who performed the lead that night is an amazing dancer and actor. One great song- Merry Christmas Mrs. Thatcher! My favorite number has Billy and his friend dressing up in girls' clothing and giving a full-out spectacle of a dance number. Even better than the movie.

Empire inspires

After Shrek we went to the Empire State Building. This meant taking my brother on his first New York subway ride. He has heard many bad things about the subway; this means he has NOT been listening to me for the last 10 years! I've said it is clean, safe, cheap and efficient. Because it is. So, after figuring out which way to go (it may be the 'nearest thing to heaven' but there are an awful lot of tall buildings in the way- and I can't see through them.) we decended to the depths, bought our tickets and stepped onto one on New York's nicest subway trains. Little brother was impressed.

We arrived at the ESB (Empire State Building) around 10:30 pm. Last elevator up is midnight. We have time. Fortunately I bought tickets online. Oddly, we do not have a long wait because the place is not busy. That's right; after the shows the ESB is not busy. It is not a simple ride to the top. No. Escalator, walk, elevator, cattle drive, elevator, top. Along this path there are places to take tourist photos (Look, I;m standing next to the ESB and I can touch the top. My brother did so in the pic I took of him. I wasn't thinking and just stood there, I think.)

Once we got outside, into the night air with a great view of the city, my brother was the most impressed I've ever seen him. He took LOTS of pictures! He had two cameras with him. It sounds like a 'typical' thing to visit the ESB, but it really is something to experience. The first time I saw it was during a warm drizzly day in 2002. This was so much better.

I love New York!

Shrek

 

My brother Karl had never been to New York City. I have gone almost every year since 2000. This year my mother allowed Karl to go in her place. This is the trip: a 6am bus trip with two rest stops and a lunch break at Perkin’s Restaurant; 3pm check-in; show at 7pm; next day show at 8pm; day after leave at 11am for home with two rest stops and dinner with shopping in Lewisburg. Most of our time is unplanned.

After unpacking, we joined a friend of his who had taken the trip the year before and explored Times Square and that area. Then back to the hotel for a change of clothes and off to dinner with Mary (the friend) and her husband. Cool little Asian restaurant called ‘The Blue Chili Bowl.’

And then we saw SHREK! This is my brother’s first Broadway show and I must say we were all impressed! Marvelous set! Great performances! Rousing show!