Monday dawns another beautiful sunny day. We’ve had such good weather the whole time. A few rainy days here and there, but mostly sunny and not too cold. Most evenings we’ve got away without the need for gloves. It really is a wonderful time of year to visit. Part of our annual visit includes a tour of the Christmas windows, which we’d planned for tonight.
Mardi cough and chest are still congested, so she decides to take it easy for much of the day.
I head out for a long walk. Just taking in the sights, sounds and vibe of the city. I walk to 5th Avenue and decide to do the big triangle formed by 5th, Broadway, 44th and 23rd streets. 42 blocks in total, about 90 minutes. It takes me a little over two hours as I stop to photo the Empire State Building, Flatiron building and a few other sights on the way. The weather is perfect snd the streets are abuzz with people.
As I pass the Empire State I marvel at the Art Deco features and try and avoid the army of ticket sellers offering me the best view in the world.
I continue down to 23rd and gaze and walk around the Flatiron building. The runs in a good place for a couple of photos.
I then make my way back up Broadway. This busy thoroughfare runs the entire length of Manhattan. It defies the grid design and snakes it’s way across the island making for interesting intersections. 23rd is one of them, as is 34th and 42nd. I arrive at 34th, Macy’s is located here, we’ll be back tonight for photos, so I continue my journey up Broadway. As I get closer to midtown the lights snd noise of Times Square appear. The souvenir shops proliferate, street characters appear (Elmo, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey Mouse etc) and the massive advertising boards, static and digital loom large.
Shortly thereafter I get to 44th and turn for home.
Mardi is feeling a bit better so we decide to go to Bergdoff Goodman, Mardi is after a specific cosmetic. We wander this high brow department store, located next door to the plaza hotel, on 5th Avenue. After wandering the cosmetic section we head out. The Apple Store, opposite, is lit red for world aids day (1 December) and has remained red for a few days now. We cross the road and I take some photos of the iconic glass cube located above the store, which is entirely underground.Â
We then head under the Plaza Hotel for a quick snack. The food court is decked out like the Plaza. Plush furnishings, lots of gold and mahogany. A nice space for a snack. After a quick snack, cup cakes, we head home.Â
We take it easy for a couple of hours before heading out to dinner. Steak tonight from Keen’s Steakhouse. A beautifully cooked steak and veggies in an old world setting fortifies us for part one of our Christmas window walk.Â
We start at Macy’s, then go to Lorde and Taylor. Check out the photos and videos. Tomorrow night Bloomingdales and Barneys. The effort that goes into these windows is amazing and there are big crowds out tonight. We walk the ten blocks home and call it a night.
