Internet Friday

When my blog friends read this post, Hubby, Amélie and I will be making our way back to Rochester.  We spent the last 6 days in New York City and have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  My boss has taken the Fourth of July week off for the past two years, so it always seems like a natural time to go on vacation.  Last year, we went to Delaware with friends, and this year, we decided to visit NYC.  This was Ami's first vacation, and she did pretty well.  She does get a bit anxious in the car, but she settled down after awhile and almost seemed to enjoy the drive.

I figured today would be a good day to talk about the lessons I've learned about visiting NYC (you'll get what I mean as you continue reading).  I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July and I'll be back in Rochester soon!!

If you're planning on visiting New York City, first off, you're going to want to have a good map of the subway system...if you have to get it on your t-shirt, that's just fine.  This one is available from TransitMuseumStore.com for about $28 bucks.

You're also going to want some good walking shoes - I made the mistake of buying sneakers that were a bit too small (my feet are really hard to fit) and I was forced to pick up a more comfortable pair at a nearby Payless :)

I got these for $16.00 and they are actually quite comfortable.  If you're planning on walking a lot, I would highly recommend them - they're wearable without socks and are made from a nice, breathable material.  I know because my feet didn't sweat or stink, and they usually do... (ewwww)

You might also want to consider downsizing your purse size...if you're anything like me, this might be a challenge, but it was well worth it.  Hubby bought me this wristlet/clutch as a birthday gift and it worked out really well for our NYC trip.  Just big enough for the essentials: money, cell phone, point and shoot camera, lip gloss and face powder, and my subway card!  I didn't have to worry about carrying a purse all the time, which was good, because I ended up with a major sunburn and I know purse straps would have been super painful to deal with!  BTW, this purse is available at Target for around $20 bucks - go out and get one!!

And speaking of sunburns, remember to bring sunscreen, ibuprofen or tylenol, and migraine medicine with you.  Also, be prepared for the motion of the subway to stay with you the first few days you're here - it's more annoying than anything, and definitely takes some getting used to.

You also may want to consider bringing an umbrella with you - if you do get caught in a rain storm, there are a lot of stores to duck into, but it's a good idea to keep an umbrella with you anyway.

This umbrella is kind of cool - showing the architecture of the Grand Central Station ceiling - although with a $30 price tag, you're probably better off just getting a cheap umbrella (that way, in case you happen to leave it in the subway while you're waiting for the train, you won't be out that $30.  I didn't leave mine, but I know someone who did...)  If you really like this umbrella, check it out here.

Lets see..my only other advice really, is to drink plenty of water and be prepared to pay $3.00 a bottle if you don't bring your own bottle with you.  Oh, and be prepared for standing room only on the subway, especially during rush hour traffic - go ahead and push your way onto the subway car, you gotta do whatcha gotta do!!  New York City is a busy place, with so many things to do that you could never do it all.  Keep your eyes peeled for unique little shops and stores, go to Central Park or the Brooklyn IKEA, take the water taxi into Manhattan - whatever floats your boat, so to speak.

It's been fun...but I can't wait to get home!!
Have a great Friday!!