Getting to Trumbull was exciting for us for multiple reasons-we would be using it as a home base to see one of our big stops, New York City! After some brief stops it was going to be a nice change staying somewhere for 4 nights, and of course to see Elaina's Auntie Becky and Melanie. We had an amazing homemade meal and got the chance to catch up with Auntie Becky and Melanie.
After an amazing french toast breakfast Auntie Becky made for us, we hopped on the train to the city. Our first day we met up with Colin who is in school at the Culinary Institute of America a couple hours outside the city. First thing we saw of the city was the amazing Grand Central Station. Colin took us to an Italian specialty food store that was selling some of the fanciest ingredients we had ever seen. They sold everything from quail eggs to homemade pasta to thousands of dollars worth of truffles. Next we checked out Little Italy and Chinatown. When you arrive in Little Italy the streets become very narrow and decorated- how we picture Italy never having been there before. Walking down the streets everything smelled incredible and there were hosts left and right trying to convince you to come into their restaurant in their thick Italian accents. The fish market in Chinatown was pretty gnarly-watching them skin the live fish and toss around squirming eels. The smell itself had us in and out pretty quickly. We were bummed knowing we wouldn't see the Christmas tree up yet but was so pretty seeing Christmas lights and ice skaters In the Rockefeller Center. Seeing the NBC set in person was so strange after seeing it on TV so many time throughout our whole lives!! After saying our goodbyes to Colin we headed toward none other than Times Square. Time Square was unreal. Incredibly overwhelming to just stand in the middle of all the madness. We met some people and went the very top of the empire state building! The elevator ride is so fast that your ears pop as you go up... so strange. The veiw was like nothing we've seen. You could see the city lights for as far as you could imagine. We will never forget the feeling of seeing the whole city below us.
City day 2 we got an early start on the train, fell asleep, and probably looked like zombies when we woke up and strolled into Grand Central. We took the Staton Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. She was, of course, unbelievably majestic. After the ferry, we went of to the 9/11 Memorial. It was so beautiful. There is no way to describe how well they designed it. Its absolutely magnificent. The flowers in the engraved names, resembled it was that persons birthday. Our heart goes out to the families and friends.
The next day, Sunday, Auntie Becky, Melanie, Brooke and I drove to Springfield, Massachusetts to my grandfathers grave. Papou, being the incredible gardener he was, was in need of a beautiful garden around him. I had no idea how much I would love gardening(I think this trip got me started on a new hobby!) I feel so grateful to have even gotten to see his grave again since he passed last year, but to be able to give something back to one of the most amazing men in my life, was something I will cherish from this trip forever. After finishing with the new little garden around him, we got to visit my second cousin Peter and his family. Such a loving family, always with open arms. What an unforgettable day.
~Elaina
The last day trip going into New York City, Melanie came with us! We spent the day slacklining and bouldering in Central Park. Who knew in one of the largest cities we would be rock climbing. It was the best weather we could of ask for with the sun shining all day. We met some really interesting people, who do Parkour (an activity where you jump and flip off of obstacles in any setting). So fun to watch them flip. They taught us the best way to jump over a fence! We must be using that one day in our life... right?
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