What a wonderful surprise!!

I don’t know how he did it, but Mathieu planned a trip for us to New York City, and kept it a surprise from me for months. He finally told me where we were going the morning we were heading to the airport. Finally… I was going to NYC!

We spent 8 days day-tripping from our stylish boutique hotel in Midtown. We walked and biked all over Manhattan, visiting the “must see” sights… Times Square, the Empire State Building, Chinatown, Central Park, etc… and the World Trade Center Memorial, where we paid our respects (“gone but not forgotten”). It was definitely a highlight to finally visit the places and landmarks that make NYC so iconic.

And as we ferried past the Statue of Liberty, I must admit I got a little choked up. Seeing her there, standing strong and glistening in the sun, a beacon of hope for us all. [Of course, Mathieu made sure to remind me she was a gift from the French.. ha!]

Other highlights for me? Celebrating my 54th birthday with a picnic in Bryant Park… sipping tequila and munching on tortilla chips while enjoying a free concert with the locals, Perfect!

The street art! We spent hours wandering through various neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn, hunting for colorful, provocative pop art in public squares, on street corners, along alleyways, sides of buildings, rooftops, and bridges. Such a great way to discover the lesser-visited parts of the city.

And… I LOVED being in the birthplace of… hip hop.., imagining the music scene as Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC and the other founders were coming up. And yes, I sang lots of Beastie Boys, especially “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” as we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.

There’s a reason NYC is such an iconic city… the architecture, the culture, the art, the vibe, the people… amazing. But don’t take my word for it… see for yourself!

Enjoy!