Tuesday, December 9, 2014

NYC for Christmastime

Rockefeller Center
I hadn't been in NYC for the holidays in many years - so this was the year to make it happen.  I grabbed the Turk, reserved our apartment in Chinatown, and headed to the city.  We were greeted with marches protesting the police killing of an unarmed black man - making the news a lot lately, Prince William and Kate who paid a visit while we were there, and a nor-easter that hit just as we were leaving. So it was a typical visit to NYC.
The list of things to do included:  Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, 911 Museum, Metropolitan Museum, chocolate, lots of eating.  We even worked out in the Chinatown YMCA.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  I didnt realize that Ellis Island was flooded in hurricane Sandy which required the park to remove the artifacts until the systems were repaired that would monitor air temperature and humidity. So we saw the island and its buildings, but very few artifacts.
One of the newer bolts supporting the Statue of Liberty

Her mask

the original torch, replaced in 1986

Sculpture from World Trade Towers - at Battery Park

Ms Liberty to my right



911 Museum was memorable as I reflected on working in Tower 2 for two years. Mundane items took on significant meaning. The personal memorials were very impactful.



Actual bathtub wall holding back the water


Survivor stairs

Christmas windows!





More NYC pics

pot stickers at Vanessa's

more yummies at Vanessa's

hot chocolate at Jacques Torres

the YMCA in Chinatown


Wall of chocolate at The Meadows on Hudson
Metropolitan Museum






Cece Gets Married

A December wedding in Germany for Cece and Nate Brown.  Nate barely made it because of an unexpected schedule of continuous flying missions. But it all came together with Kevin and Georgie getting to Germany to see it happen and deliver the rings.  Nate's suit was still stored with his personal items that arrived months ago to Germany. But since Nate was assigned to fly in the middle east, his boxes remained in storage.  No tailors were available with such short notice.  Cece's maid of honor was a pilot friend.








Saturday, October 18, 2014

Napoli - Florida Style

Sunset

The Turk and I got to spend a week in Naples at a condo resort. We loved the beaches, the food and the resort.  And we got to catch up with some friends who winter there.  On the way, we stopped at Ft Myers to the Edison Museum where we explored his winter home and laboratory. We really enjoyed the gardens along the Caloosahatchee River.

Mark meets Edison


Old dock on the river - access to the property

Edison house






The fishing was fun!
Picnicking on the beach

Wildlife!


Lovely beaches