Scattered Thoughts . . .

As with all my blog entries related to our trip to Manhattan, this one will  also be heavy in photos. There is also a relatively short video at the bottom of the page. W e were scheduled for skating sessions at Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park during our stay in Manhattan.  First up was Rockefeller Center though.  I don't remember why we chose Rockefeller Center first but it might have had something to do with being able to make a reservation much farther in advance than at Bryant Park. Sheila scheduled their skating session at Rockefeller Center for 7:20am which happened to be shortly after sunrise.  This meant we would be walking to Rockefeller Center in the dark which we didn't realize until after she chose the time.  Walking in the dark is not a problem.  We simply were not expecting it.  We wanted to beat the crowds and figured the earliest times would be best for less crowded rinks.  Actually, since it was still dark out, that made the walk even nicer with all the Chris

A fter arriving at our hotel, the Hilton Midtown, we were anxious to go on our first site-seeing walk of this blustery cold Christmastime trip.   There would be plenty of walking over the next few days but I'm sure this first nighttime walk in midtown Manhattan was the most impressionable for Lukey and Kenzie.  This was a bit of a culture shock for them...  the skyscapers, the architecture, the lights, the hustle and bustle of crowds, the horns, the sirens, the trucks...  this was something different, for sure. We dropped off our bags, dressed warmly for the cold wind whipping off the ocean and through the canyons of tall building, and then headed back down to the lobby so we could make our way out the front doors of the hotel to Sixth Avenue.   Here is the very large, expansive lobby of the hotel... As you step out of the lobby onto Sixth Avenue, there is an old Checker Cab in front of the hotel.  Personally, I miss those unique giant cabs.  I'm not at all fond of all the new