The end.

Okay, I have a really bad memory, and I've been home for more than 2 weeks, but I am now going to try my best to remember what exactly we did the last three days in New York.

Wednesday:

The day after we got home from Boston, we got up kind of early to try for Shakespeare in the Park. Unfortunately, we got there later than the rest of NYC's population, and missed the ticket cut-off by about 1000 people. Ay me. On the way out of Central Park (or what I thought was the way out), Patricia caught a glimpse of the lake and rowboats... well, naturally, she insisted we rent a boat and we ended up walking halfway around the lake trying to find the boathouse. Then it cost like $12 or something.

Anyway, it turned out to be fun. Perhaps a little too romantic for the two of us, but we made do with Titanic reenactments and tunnel explorations. Of course, Patricia was happy to do all the actual rowing while I sat back and got a tan. Thanks, mac.

Um, I think this was the day we also hit up Chinatown for some shopping? Yeah...and SoHo, where we met some hippies selling their artwork. They were so funny and strange. We both ended up buying something from them, and Patricia even got a free poem out of it. 

Oh, we also bought more books, but don't tell my mother.

Thursday:

We finally saw the Statue of Liberty, wooo. We opted for the free Staten Island ferry view and skipped actually going to the island, especially since no one's allowed up past the pedestal anyhow.

Then--Coney Island. First things first, we grabbed delicious food from Nathan's. Patricia got one of their famous hot dogs but I was craving a cheeseburger and so got that. We also shared some chili fries. I think 2 weeks later I am still full.

Then we went on the INSANE Coney Island rides. I almost lost my purse and everything in it on the first ride. Then we went on the famous Cyclone roller coaster. TERRIFYING. Also, when we got off and sat down to breathe, I realized my water bottle popped open in my purse and drenched everything! That sucked. A wet purse is no fun. Then we went on this upside-down ride that's like the Hammerhead at Knotts Berry Farm, except way more intense and scary.

I think all these rides are illegal in most states.

It was a fun time, though, and I think it was worth the hour-long subway ride each way.

Friday:

Friday we went to Chinatown again because Patricia needed a necklace. Then we wandered through SoHo, ending up at the Cupping Room, a cute little restaurant/bar/bakery. It was expensive, but delicious. We even got dessert. Yum.

Then we went home and packed. Yuck.

Saturday:

On Saturday we FINALLY went to see Patricia's prospective culinary school. It was SO HOT on this last day that we wanted to die. Oh, we also got lost for an hour or so and had to call and reschedule the appointment. They were cool about it though. We took the tour and got the whole spiel. Then we wandered about looking for some food and also Pashminas that Patricia desperately needed to buy. We ended up being in the wrong neighborhood for tourist shopping, so hopped the subway to Rockefeller center. 

It started raining on us in Times Square, but we were fine with that because it was at least a little cooler.

Unfortunately, though, by the time we headed back to the apartment, it was just as hot and humid again, to the point where we were sweating so much that we each took a second shower before we left for the airport.

Did I mention our plane was delayed an hour? It was.

Then our taxi was 20 minutes late and we had to haul our stuff out in POURING rain.

Then at the airport we had to repack some things to be under the 50 lb weight limit.

Then in security my NBC carry-on pack split in half!

Then we had to walk a mile to find our gate.

Then they didn't let anyone board for a while.

When we finally boarded, we couldn't take off for TWO hours. I would have slit my wrists, but razor blades aren't allowed on planes.

So we ended up spending a restless flight, cramped in our seats with all our stuff, and landed in LA 3 hours later than planned. 3 AM-ish for CA, 6 AM for us.

In any case, I am home. I now sleep nonstop. I had fun. I am happy.