Easter in NYC

I left DC Saturday morning in route to NYC on Bolt Bus Line. It was a very nice bus with leather seats and free wireless...not a bad deal and way cheaper than the train. My trip was pretty painless except for my seat buddy. We stopped at a rest stop and when she gets back on the bus she had bought fried chicken and biscuits and sits and eats it at 10am...then proceeds to reapply her cheap perfume that smelled AWFUL and then got on her cell phone and spoke mixed English and some other unrecognizable language with arms flailing for an hour! After I got over that part, the trip wasn't too bad. I really did fall asleep for a bit, so it went real quick.

Jacob Moore met me at the bus stop and picked me up and guided me through the subway of NYC to get back to his place in Brooklyn. Thank goodness he was there because I would never have found my way. I did great with DC metro, but DC required elementary map reading skills...NYC is a whole other ball game. Jacob is a friend of mine from church, we grew up together in Sunday school and youth group.

So we made it back to his apartment, grabbed lunch and then I headed out to attempt to see Ellis Island with Thomas (Taylor's twin who was randomly in town visiting friends from his old base...he's now living in SC) while Jacob met up with some friends. I had written directions to get to the Subway and to take the R line straight over to Manhattan, and I made it! Unfortunately, we got there 15 minutes too late, the last ferry left at 330. So instead we went to McSorley's, a pub that is the oldest continuously run establishment in NY. They only serve beer, and it's only light or dark! So needless to say, beer isn't really my thing so I just hung out with all the guys and observed the scenery. I sort of felt like I was in a movie with every stereotypical NYC tough, rough guy you could imagine drinking out of their beer mugs. It was very amusing and fun. We then went to dinner and then Thomas and his friends walked me to meet up with Jacob and we headed to one of his friend's band's show while Thomas headed back over to Jersey. Jacob and I wandered about the city to different places so I could meet a lot of his friends...it was a good, but late night. Although Jacob kept saying...we're getting home so EARLY...it was 2:30!!! Whoa, we're on different schedules, hahaha!!

Anyway, I got up early this morning and headed over to Manhattan again to go to a First Presbyterian Church on 5th Ave that Jacob had told me about for Easter. (And PS can I add that two different people asked me questions about where the Subway train would stop and I knew the answer to both of them??? I was very impressed with myself!!!) So, back to church...It was a gorgeous church built in the 1800s with a very nice service. There was a big choir, organ and brass ensemble. It reminded me a lot of our service...although...I missed the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah that our choir performs on Easter...you just can't beat that! But we did sing the classic "Jesus Christ is risen today...aaaaaallelujah", which my mom woke me up to in a text message this morning!

After church I met Jacob and his friend back in Brooklyn for a brunch at a South African restaurant. His parents treated us to brunch for Easter (they're not up here...but offered to pay for it), so that was SUPER nice of them. We had a very nice lunch and then Jacob and I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to get take a look at the city. It was beautifully sunny but very frigid today! I think around 45 with lots of wind!! I didn't bring nearly enough winter clothes on this journey...I'll know for future trips...spring in TN is definitely NOT spring in the northeast! I know it sounds obvious, but when attempting to conserve space I convinced myslef that my light little blazer jackets would suffice...they dont. Anyway, we then went home made some devilled eggs and headed to a friend's Easter party. We lasted for about an hour before we headed back home and are now watching a movie and heading to bed EARLY. Jacob has to work tomorrow at 6am and I'm going to explore Manhattan. Maybe Ellis Island...definitely Ground Zero, Central Park, Time's Square, 5th Avenue, and maybe a museum depending on time. I then head out for Philly on a bus leaving at 7pm to go stay with Meg for a night!! Big plans...I'll update with some pictures later...I'm done for tonight!

Happy Easter to you all!!!