First Full Day in the "Big Apple" (Day2)

The first morning in NYC and I woke up to blue sky and the sun shining. I also woke up to sirens and cars honking along with all the noises that come with a big city. I was surprised that I actually fell asleep, but I guess my venture of walking around exhausted me to the point of falling asleep and getting a decent night of rest.

As I crawled out of bed...the reminder that I did not have a coffee machine in my room saddened me at which point I threw on clothes, tossed my hair in a bun and braved the hussle and bussle to go grab coffee. Thankfully Starbucks was just down the block from where I'm staying. So I promptly went it and waited my turn in line. I noticed the shop was quite small from what I had expected in a big city. The amount of people that were in their too surprised me, and the cultural diversity was interesting.
Waiting patiently in line..I had friendly faces and people smiling and then I had people who were a bit rude. One specific example is a guy standing who wasn't even standing in line, had rudely gotten in front of me and demanded to order extra food. Not saying excuse me or getting back in line himself, he just rudely tossed himself in front of me. How rude...is all I could think about. I felt bad for the starbucks worker as she then helped me with what I had wanted and just looked frazzled and irritated. I ordered my drink and said " Thank you" and gave her a quick smile as I gave her a tip. I hope in some small way...maybe the jester of gratitude to her helped her day go a little better.

Nothing like a simple breakfast at a diner to start my official morning in NYC.#theaterrowdiner

My next to do for the morning was to find breakfast food. As I walked around the street, I ran into this quaint diner that had fun pictures of people and events in the past. The food was simple and filling, the service was quick and a good way to give me energy for the possible day ahead.

After breakfast I headed back to my hotel to get ready for an event of a lifetime. Something I had always wanted to do and now was going to be checked off my bucket list.
The ballet performance of "George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" in NYC.  I will say, I was lucky to get these tickets as when I purchased, there were only one ticket available for the whole time I was going to be in NYC. The tickets were so expensive and I felt myself feeling guilty for even considering to pay so much for a performance. But then I took the plunge and just went for it...and I'm so glad I did. 
I got myself all dressed and even curled my hair and took lyft to go to the performance as I was wearing pretty high heels and I was not about to walk 20 blocks to the show.

The performance was at the Lincoln Center at David H Koch Theater where New York City Ballet is performed. Walking up the stairs of the structure I was so full of excitement and shock that I was actually there. A place I had dreamed of, a place I had always wanted to be, and the place I wanted to study when I was growing up. As I walked thru the lobby area, I couldn't help but notice the art, the way the architecture of the building, and I was already in aw of the place. Then walking up the stairs to find my seat of the performance..looking around, I almost had to pinch myself as it felt like I had the best seat in the house. I was in 1st Ring and A6 was my seat. This Auditorium was beautiful and I was sitting only a little from the middle on the right. 
My pics don't show how close I was, but I could see the smiles of the dancers and all the facial expressions, seeing every detailed of movement and whether they pointed their toes, I was that close to the stage! Now I know why the tickets were so expensive and it was totally worth it. 

Getting to see George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" in NYC. 
The performance was incredible!

A breath taking performance and a once in a lifetime opportunity that finally came true.  Watching the production, I felt my insides melt and yearn for the days of dance. A time where nothing in the world mattered, where the discipline of controlling every muscle in my body gave me life in a way I can't explain. Watching dancers, I couldn't help but want to be in their shoes again. Beautiful yet painful and I wanted to be in them. Obviously my love of dance hasn't gone away and maybe some day, I will have the ability to try and get back into ballet.

At the end of the performance I had a surprisingly question and comment from a gentleman sitting next to me, asking if I myself was a dancer?  I told him I had been and no longer do it, but still love to see the performances. His response" You look like a dancer and I hope you get back into it some day". I had never been so surprised at a person's comment and I felt honored that even after years of not dancing..that somehow my appearance or the way I held myself, came off as a dancer. It made me feel good and warm inside and now I'm driven to try and start classes when I get back home.

When the fairy tale performance was over..it was time for my to take a lyft back to my hotel so I could change my clothes, shoes specifically and find a place to eat for early dinner. As I was browsing my phone, I got interrupted by taxi drivers asking me if I needed a ride and quoting me prices. One guy specifically kept pushing me if I needed a ride and i politely declined probably half a dozen times. Then he asked where I was from, what my plans were the rest of the day, so I answered a few of the questions. When it came to where I was eating...he invited me to go eat with him and I couldn't help but laugh. I denied a ride from this guy multiple times because he was too pricey and now he was willing to take me out to dinner and drinks and supposedly wanted to get to know me..no strings attached as he called it.. The annoyance was becoming increasingly worse as I kept denying his request and all I wanted to do was be alone and not pestered to go and do something with a total stranger.  Don't get me wrong, perhaps if he had looked like a model, I might have changed my stance on free dinner and drinks, but that unfortunately was not the situation.

Needless to say..I finally got away and grabbed a lyft to take me back to where I was staying. After changing my clothes I headed on my way to get food and the main thing on my mind was Korean BBQ. So walking in the direction of much anticipated korean yumminess...I came upon an old style Italian Restaurant.  By this time I was so hungry and the pure fact that Italian is one of my favorite style of food...I totally caved it.

Being a single person, it was easier for me to sit at the bar area instead of waiting for a table. While eating delicious spinach cheese raviolis with meatballs and enjoying a glass of wine, I surprisingly started up conversation with the bartender and other ladies sitting at the bar. Come to find out we were all visiting and the people I had met were from DC but had originally come from China.  The night was full of socializing and drinking and for a moment..it was nice to have company..even if it was only going to be for one meal. The ladies were fun and our dinner socializing turned into an invite to see the Christmas tree at Time square and clubbing.  
I definitely took them up for Christmas tree as that was one thing I wanted to go and see while in NYC around Christmas time..but the clubbing? I couldn't help but laugh at the idea...and feeling so old at the moment..that the though of being out late was exhausting to think about, let alone actually do.  I know..I should have probably tried to go..but its just not my cup of tea, the idea of pretending to have a good time at the club when in reality, its all annoyance and going broke paying for drinks and dealing with sloppy people just did not seem interesting to me. Plus i didn't want to wake up absolutely miserable on my last day in NYC. 
Needless to say..I passed on the clubbing..but enjoyed the conversations while walking to see "The tree".

A walk to Rockefeller Plaza with some new friends from dinner. 
Almost falling into the Christmas ball fountain.
Grabbing some hot tea to keep warm from the cold. 
Viewing the ice skating and enjoying people try to skate.
Ending with the event topped off with a pic in front of the famous Christmas tree! And of course have total strangers bomb our photos. 
#unexpectednightoffun

While on our walking and being a typical tourist..my new friends and I enjoyed taking silly pictures every where and enjoying the atmosphere of Christmas everywhere.

The streets were so crowded and it was so bright everywhere from Christmas lights and street signs, building signs, that it almost felt like daylight. 

Walking up to the tree I couldn't help but feel a little like a kid. Awing all the beautiful twinkling lights and loving all the color and beauty of this moment. 

However my feeling of happiness dwindled as I thought about how much my handsome little man would have loved to see this tree too. How he would have smiled seeing all those colorful lights all lit up. The pain of having him gone during this special time of year.. it was almost too much to handle.  So I politely said good bye to my newly made friends and headed back to rest and cry.