New York City Vacation, Day One

I’m back in Georgia after a wonderful whirlwind week in the Big Apple. I had such an amazing time seeing family and the sights. I was sorry to miss seeing some friends and some of the places I had hoped to get to, but hopefully I’ll get back again someday to see some more. I have a lot of catching up to do at home, but will try to post highlights in batches.
On Monday morning, bright and early, Joan and I arrived at cousins Billy and Becky’s home in Tudor City. It was raining a bit, but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm!

Becky showed us around their fabulous apartment, and then she gave us a grand tour of Manhattan, including lessons on using the subway and flagging a cab. Here’s a view of Times Square from a moving taxi’s window.

We didn’t get to make it to the Met that day as planned, because Becky is on a brief hiatus, so access to the closed museum was not an option, but we did get to go the next day with the rest of the public, and it was glorious. Pictures to come soon. . . .
That night more family came to town, and they treated us to dinner at Lupa, a restaurant started by Mario Batali–his first in the city, as I recall. It was divine. Bill and Dave confer over the wine list.

They chose well. So well that Joan said, I’ll take white and red!

Here are a number of yummy dishes. I believe one was eggplant, one beets, and I forget now what the other two were, other than pure yum.

Dave ordered the oxtail sausage for us, which was beautiful, and actually rather tasty. The best way I know to describe it is that it tasted like beefaroni, but sumptuous and fine and tender and melt-in-your-mouth.

I had some amazing grouper. We shared some gnocchi with sausage and fennel. I resisted taking as many pictures as I wanted and drawing excess attention to the fact I was a rube in the city.
Then came dessert! Joan and Bill enjoyed some Limoncello (ew!) with their Lupa Tartufo. You can see the waiter is delighted to be included in the photo op.

Afterwards we hung out at Billy and Becky’s for a bit before (l-r) Dave and Jane and Kim and Bill headed home. On the right are Becky and Chili, the cuddliest dog around.

All I can say is, I managed to get born into a fantastic family.
And that’s only the first day! Four more to report!