It's Always An Adventure

Well, it has a been a few days since I have written a post. I always find the return from vacation and back to reality to be a wee bit hectic and chaotic. On top of that, we also returned to NYC in the middle of a massive heat wave. The temperatures have topped out into the 100’s and that is without the humidex!! Not much fun in the concrete jungle where the sidewalks and pavement absorb the heat and send it sizzling upward. It is essential to find ways to stay cool and keep your cool 😉

We had a lot of fun this past weekend reuniting with good friends visiting from Ottawa and touring around the city, but we had to be a bit more creative than normal so that we would not all dehydrate or become cranky messes- I am talking about ME here :). NYC, is a walking city, a cab or subway will only get you so far and then it is your own two feet that carry you to your destination. In a heat wave it would definitely be preferable to get in and out of an air conditioned car but that isn’t how it works well, unless you have a driver and we don’t. Hmmm, maybe Ron should work on that 😉

Stopping for a drink in Central Park

I have to admit the kids really were troopers and there was very little complaining. On Thursday we walked through Central Park making sure that we stopped at a playground to cool off in the sprinklers and then continued on our journey to all of the important AIR CONDITIONED stops such as FAO Schwarz, American Girl and Lego World. We stayed hydrated with the two hot weather musts- water and ice-cream. We topped the evening off with a picnic of Shake Shack burgers on the steps of the American Museum of Natural History.

Playing the BIG Piano in FAO Schwarz

On Friday, one of the hottest days in history, we played it pretty low key, taking the ferry to Staten Island to check out the lovely Lady Liberty and then returning to the apartment to chill out (literally) and conserve our energy to go and see Mary Poppins that evening. Mary Poppins was a huge hit with everyone as the magic of the show and the charming story, portrayed by talented performers delighted us all.

The girls patiently waiting for "Mary Poppins"

No visit to NYC would be complete without a trip to Times Square. We decided the best plan of action to avoid massive crowds and try not to get too overheated would be to go as early as possible in the morning. So, up we got and headed to Ellen’s Stardust Diner for breakfast. This is a fun spot which will certainly wake you up as the energetic singers belted out numerous tunes while serving. Note: Definitely do NOT go here hungover as it is loud 🙂

One of the singing stars/waiters at Ellen's Stardust Diner

The rest of of the morning we spent visiting all of the favorites- M&M World, the Disney Store and of course Toys R Us, where we even rode the ferris wheel. It was a great weekend enjoying the sites and sounds with wonderful friends.

The kids in Times Square

Stinky and I in Times Square =)

On another note, one of my favorite things about living in NYC is that it is a city where people want to come and visit which means I often have the opportunity to connect with friends even if it is for a quick cup of coffee. Last night I had the pleasure of having dinner and wandering around the ‘hood with a friend from high school. We had not seen each other for 20 years!! Our daughters had a great time together, the husbands bonded over electronics and Colleen and I were able to catch up. A very special treat!

A little MSS Falcon reunion 😉

Our girls becoming fast friends!

Right now, the girls and I are currently on the train on our way home after being upstate for a couple of days. We had some fun escaping the heat and spent some fabulous time swimming and roaming the wide open spaces. Ah, summer, how I love you, even when you are hotter than hell 😉