We were introduced to another mode of transport as we rode the bus to the northernmost point of Manhattan to see the Cloisters Museum. The greatest gift that John & Joan have afforded us, is teaching us by example, how to use mass transit. it can be a daunting task. On the way we rode through Spanish Harlem and Randy leaned over to say he was looking for a rose...lo and behold he found one! Rose Beauty Supply. We rode through Washington Heights on up the hill to the Cloisters.
We were early and it was not busy yet so the space was quiet and felt like a worship space...so peaceful. My little history buff was enthralled by the 14th century stones, walls and doors that had been moved from Europe and installed. We found one door that was just her size!
The medieval
Joan offered us a much nicer spread of salads, breads, and sandwich fixings, which included one more afternoon of conversation and piano playing. Reluctantly, we packed our bags and thanked our hosts, and were grateful to them for helping the "Quale's take (the upper west side of ) Manhattan.... now on to take Midtown! The doorman on duty today was Boris, and he liked Stella's Hitalia shirt! He told her he grew up under that now extinct flag of Russia. He kindly took a photo of us all in the foyer of The Strathmore, (aka 404 Riverside) before we departed for parts unknown!
The bear cave
Walking home the other way around the block we found the Amish Market with anything we might want for breakfast or snacks, and good coffee! Found a drug store too, so Randy stocked up on cold medications to fight the last of his bug. :( and cough drops to make it through the Broadway shows!
We were early and it was not busy yet so the space was quiet and felt like a worship space...so peaceful. My little history buff was enthralled by the 14th century stones, walls and doors that had been moved from Europe and installed. We found one door that was just her size!
The medieval
gardens were fascinating with deadly nightshade, henbane and downy thorny apple, plants used in sorcery, and the medicinal plants, one was called Marsh Mallow!
I loved the silver kettle drums and tried very hard to capture the stained glass.
It took me a minute to see the "IHS" design in the center. I love the blue.
As Stella was walking in the garden and a medieval quince fell on her head! The guard said she could keep it.
Every time I mentioned heading to New York, people would say, you need to see the Cloisters. They were right. It was great.
We returned via bus to 112th and we talked about eating lunch at Tom's Restaurant (from Seinfeld), which is just a block from 'home'.
After the initial Crazy Mouse cab ride from the airport, crammed in the back of NYC Yellow cab with all our luggage, Joan suggested we call a car service! Oh my YES! A luxury leather interior Honda Odessy , driven by Chris from Santo Domingo, arrived to take us to the Skyline Hotel. He was funny and informative and we have his card and number for the next time we need a ride!
The hotel is lovely, centrally located, is a suite so Stella has her own space, which she wasted no time closing herself into!
The bear cave
However.....my lamp does not work, and you know how well I can see, there is no free WiFi, and worse yet....NO COFFEE!!! I might cry. If I can blog, and drink coffee, life will be good. I am adjusting to the new place. The Strathmore was w~a~y better!
I am looking over 'The List' and I have crossed a few things off, but we have much to do, and so little time!
Randy & Stella rested while I solved the world's problems....getting wirelessly connected for an exhorbitant fee, finding where to get coffee in the morning, trying to get someone to fix my lamp...(the outlet plate is missing and has electrocution potential, the guy told Stella not to stick her finger in it..good advice), updating the blog and connecting with my cousin Krystl, to make some plans for the weekend. I ordered our 9/11 memorial tickets, the front desk printed them for me....for free...I was shocked.
It was getting late and we had not made a dinner reservation anywhere, so Randy did some recon and found a couple options. We went to Hibernia, a little Irish pub on 49th street. Loud, people only drinking and no service for about 10 minutes, so we decided to make a run for it. We saw a little hole in the wall Italian place call Uncle Mario's. It was bright, clean, windy (no A/C), not busy and Carmella, the waitress, called us in to sit down by the fan and I don't think we could have left without her permission. She is a one woman show, and kept us entertained as she shouted orders across the room and took orders from two tables away from where people were sitting. Glad we were able to decide quickly, she was not one to wait around for us to think about it. The food was not fantastic, but it was good and we were hungry.
It started to rain as we got close the hotel. We wondered when the Minnesota weather would wander this direction, maybe it has started.
Our new Midtown home.
Tomorrow #1. Coffee #2. More coffee #3. Times Square
We have tickets for the Tenement museum in the afternoon. Stella and my first foray into the big city on our own. Will update tomorrow night.
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