New York

This weekend we took Bluet and Ilona for an overnight trip to New York. First stop, the Upper East Side, where we ate lunch then took a walk to the apartment we used to live in on 79th Street.



Onwards, to Rainbow Hardware, where we used to buy our DIY supplies (they also stock more or less everything else you could think of for your home), where we also took a look at paint colours for our new house.

We then walked further downtown to the hospital where Bluet was born, then took a taxi down to our hotel near Grand Central. After dumping our bags, we headed up to Central Park via Bloomingdales, where Ilona got a new pair of shoes



And then Central Park, the kids favourite, where they ate ice cream and climbed big rocks.




There was time to visit Whole Foods Market for refreshments



And then for dinner, then bed





Sunday we headed downtown to get the best view (land based) of Bluet's current obsession, the Statue of Liberty




Then the train home

First time in New York

We even managed to fit in Wilder's first trip to New York (and Ilona's first one she can remember). It was more or less in and out, a quick stroll to Central Park via the Lego store. We ate lunch in Bryant Park and Ilona vaguely saw the Empire State Building

Central Park

So let's see. We were staying in our old hood, Yorkville, on 88th and 1st. Of course the first thing Bluet managed to do was get her fingers caught in the door of the lift. They were stuck for what seemed like several minutes, but was probably 10 seconds. We thought she was going to have to go to the Hospital, but we realised she was ok when she started asking for Hello Kitty plasters. And although 2 fingers swelled up, the next day they were not bothering her at all. Phew!

One of my favourite New York things is to walk many, many blocks to get somewhere. We started with breakfast at PQ, then as one of Bluet's favourite things is to run around, and another is to climb stuff, we took her to Central Park (unfortunately only one time, although she did go to the Ancient playground later in the week). Bluet was thrilled to have the long, winding paths to run down without us telling her she had to stay close to us. Then we walked all the way to the Lego shop in the Rockefeller Centre, and she made three Lego people. Then she fell asleep in Ilona's buggy (Ilona was in the carrier), allowing us a quick trip to Bloomingdales. Emily has good photos of the latter part of the trip.... In fact, Bluet was so happy in New York (as were we all - Ilona was definitely stimulated by all the things to see around, her little head would poke out the carrier, eyes wide open) that we were sad that she isn't living somewhere so walkable right now, but thrilled to be moving back to Europe where places like New York are the norm, albeit on a smaller scale.

Stay tuned for tomorrows exciting installment of 'What we did on our holidays'

Breakfast in PQ

To the park! Wrap up warm

All aboard the Alice in Wonderland Statue (Bluet was a little apprehensive of giant Alice)

Snug as a bug in a rug

Asleep in Bloomingdales, Lego bag held tightly in hand

Ilona wakes for coffee time

Farewell to New York, Part I

Last weekend, Bluet and Emily did their farewell tour of New York, visiting many places that you will no doubt recognise from the blog. We started at Central Park and the Zoo, so that is where today's photos are from, and more will follow later in the week. Central Park must be the place that Bluet has spent the largest portion of her life so far (aside from our apartment).

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This is early morning, so Bluet needs her coffee

Outside the Zoo

In the Zoo, waiting to play with those curtain things

Advent Day 16 - the Zoo

This morning we headed to the Central Park Zoo. To be honest, the weather wasn't that nice - very drizzly, but this was good as it meant the Zoo was fairly empty. We even got to stand and watch the Sea Lions perform (and Bluet even learned to say "Sea Lion").

Here is Bluet looking for a snake


She actually really liked this blue lizard, the name of which I have temporarily forgotten. She even asked if it did the tongue thing that snakes do


She also likes the mongooses (mongeese?) - the Zoo sensibly keeps the snakes side by side with the things that eat snakes, just in case the snakes escape


Here is Bluet looking at the sea lions (and trying to lick the glass)

Bluet, looking at piranahs


Ok, so the thing Bluet really likes best at the Zoo isn't the animals, it's these fabric barriers they have to separate the darkened, snake and mongoose filled room from the stairs leading up to them. Bluet ran through these dividers so many times, I thought she never would stop. Eventually she did (i think when she saw the blue lizard), but we should probably hang some in our next house instead of doors, just to keep her amused.