New York City: DAY ONE

So, okay -- I finally woke up from my post-NYC coma. IT'S A LOT, PEOPLE...! It's a good thing I've been "in training" for this trip since January.

I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up with my nieces...I've been going to the YMCA pool five times a week, trying to work up my stamina.

Here's how and why I created this itinerary. With limited time in New York City, you best do these two things:

1. PLAN your one major food event of the day (everything revolves around this).
2. Geographically "zone" your day.

It's pretty easy to waste a lot of time getting from one place to another...it can be very frustrating to be really hungry, but you can't find food...or everyplace is packed, and you don't have a reservation.

Our first day in the city was about Times Square, Herald's Square, then a subway ride up to Morningside. I wanted our first meal in NYC to be at the iconic Seinfeld restaurant, which is way up at 110th and Broadway.  It's basically a family-owned Greek diner --and the food is delicious, the portions are huge -- and we shared entrees.  The prices are just like Iowa...and I wanted the girls to see that...

Saturday April 6, 2019:

We had to get up at 4:00 AM to catch our 6:00 Moline to Chicago flight...where we connected to the NYC flight.

·          Took an Uber from LGA – it only cost $63.00

·          Checked into the Hotel Edison before 1:00. The lobby was full.

· Walked out onto Times Square!!

· Went up to the 7^th floor lobby of the Marriott Marquis, created the MONEY envelope ($300 per person).

· Walked down to Macy’s – THE FLOWER SHOW..!!  Herald Square.

· Walked over to Empire State Building

· Cabbed up to Grand Central Terminal, had a nosh in the food court.

· Walked over to Library, visited Rose Reading Room, walked through Bryant Park...completely forgot about the magical library sidewalk!!  (Darn it, Laura!!)

·   Went down to subway station at Bryant Park, bought MTA cards took the orange B train to Columbus Circle, then transferred to #1 up to Tom’s Diner for supper.  It's the famous restaurant from "Seinfeld" -- and we had a WONDERFUL first meal in New York City.  Our  waitress was terrific, and we had an "egg cream"...AND our first NYC cheesecake.  Our bill was  $60.....(for the four of us!)

· We walked around “Upper West Side”.

· Went up to the rooftop bar at the Mexican restaurant, had a Margarita

· Took a bus down Broadway, got off at Lincoln Center…hopped inside for 30 seconds (building closes at 9:00)

· Subway back down to 50^th St. (get off at Ellen’s -- but there was a long line around the side of the building)…

·Walked 8.2 miles!