Though depressingly grey & overcast, NYC was still set to be a major turning point of the trip so far as plans were afoot to surprise Miranda! Unfortunately however these didn’t get off to the best of starts as the secretly booked hotel (The Best Western Presidential hotel at Times Square) was broadcasted to all & sundry (by a typically loud mouthed American taxi driver) the second we stepped out into the airport foyer! With surprise number 2 down the pan (M had already caught me booking the Broadway show) we simple boarded the taxi bus & watched the suburbs pass by for 2 hours on route to central NY.
Checked in & changed, we headed out for our first glimpse of the city that never sleeps and my god NYC certainly lives up to that reputation as even when it’s -3C and hailing, you can get your hot food at any time of the morning – which suited our very confused body clocks.
Above:- Global warming would have been welcomed at the time.......oh it's cold!
'Ruby Tuesdays' off 7th Avenue, was the venue of choice & as expected we were astounded by the size of the portions, since even your average non-obese diner would be hard pressed to devour such a meal – and still the waiter asks "would we like a side with that sir!” Overly fed & watered we returned to the hotel & crashed out from jet lag.
As you might have guessed from the start a ‘plan was afoot’ to surprise Miranda further! Unfortunately things again got sidelined when my attempts to steer the first morning’s city excursion to Central Park failed as M insisted on walking down 6th Avenue & shoe shopping! After several hours we finally rounded the corner & crossed 34th street to the Empire State building – the alternative venue!
Above: The avenues of NYC & iconic buildings.
After clearing security (thankfully my hidden package was not detected) & rising to the 102th floor we stepped out of the express elevator, opened the pop up map (much to M’s delight!) & gazed around at the magnificent NYC skyline - Central Park to the North, Grand Central Station to the East & the Husdon river to the West, we very much enjoyed the view before M finally noticed I’d relocated to one knee!
With time standing still, M’s initial hysterical laughter subsided as the reality of the moment settled in & the words “I WILL” crept out! Cloud 9 didn’t take long to reach from that point onwards & the rest as they say is history!
Left: Surprise! Right: Delighted!
Above: the view from the top.
After some time, we left the dizzying heights of the Empire State building & descended to the ground floor bar. Toasting our engagement with a glass of champagne & still riding on the euphoria of cloud 9, we eventually headed back across town to Central Park & enjoyed that arm in arm walk I’d been planning all along.
Left: Bubble blower in Central park. Right: Horse draw carrages of Central park.
Whilst much more could be said about our final few days in NYC ( including the magnificent Lion King show on Broadway we watched & Statue of Liberty) the highlight for me, in fact the highlight of the entire trip occurred when the lady I love dearly said “YES” & no amount of waxing lyrical could possible communicate that state of euphoria so I'm not going to try. Instead I’d just say that if it wasn’t for M, I wouldn’t have seen half of the things in life I have, I wouldn’t have travelled the world for almost 10 months & I wouldn’t have acquired the numerous happy memories I shall hold close to me till the day I die. So thanks a million M & roll on the future!
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